The Town FilesCheat Lake, West Virginia
Community in Monongalia County · population 9,930 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $367,600
- Household income
- $117,014
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.6
Cheat Lake is a community of 9,930 people in Monongalia County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $367,600, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more upscale than 100% of West Virginia towns, better for families than 99% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 90% of West Virginia towns.
How Cheat Lake ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cheat Lake is worth $367,600, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $117,014, which is more affordable than 24% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,124 a month. 83.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheat Lake | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $367,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,124 | $811 |
| Median household income | $117,014 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 83.2% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Cheat Lake
| People | Cheat Lake | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.8% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Cheat Lake
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.4 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheat Lake since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 3, 1980 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 8, 2022.
Severe weather in Monongalia County since 1996
Monongalia County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2018 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4359: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 18, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4331: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Monongalia County
Monongalia County had 59,412 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,814 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Cheat Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near Cheat Lake
- Brookhaven, WV4.4 mi · 5,707 people · home $261,000
- Morgantown, WV5.6 mi · 30,347 people · home $259,400
- Springhill, PA6.3 mi · 2,722 people · home $115,700
- Westover, WV7.8 mi · 3,955 people · home $178,400
- Georges, PA13.1 mi · 6,346 people · home $148,500
- Masontown, PA13.2 mi · 3,276 people · home $126,300
- Wharton, PA14.9 mi · 3,355 people · home $225,200
- German, PA15.0 mi · 4,669 people · home $123,200
Cheat Lake questions
Is Cheat Lake, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheat Lake scores better for retirees than 90% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 47%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Cheat Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheat Lake is valued at $367,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,014, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,124 a month.
What is the weather like in Cheat Lake?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14.4 inches of snow.
Does Cheat Lake get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheat Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 3, 1980. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)