The Town FilesCoal City, West Virginia
Community in Raleigh County · population 1,689 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $9,999
- Household income
- $20,491
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 59.3
Coal City is a community of 1,689 people in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $9,999, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks quieter than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for families than 75% of West Virginia towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in West Virginia
- #2 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #2 in 50 Places in America With the Cheapest Homes
- #3 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in West Virginia
- #9 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #9 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Coal City 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 Coal City is worth $9,999, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 0.5 times the median household income of $20,491, which is more affordable than 100% of West Virginia towns. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Coal City | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $9,999 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | — | $811 |
| Median household income | $20,491 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Coal City
| People | Coal City | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.0% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.8% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 39.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 37.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Coal City
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.4 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coal City since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 4, 1974 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 1, 2016.
Severe weather in Raleigh County since 1996
Raleigh County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 26, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| March 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4210: Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Raleigh County
Raleigh County had 32,322 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,223 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Coal City itself the ACS puts it at 22.6%.
Public schools in Coal City
2 public schools with 830 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Middle School | 6-8 | 444 | 13.1 |
| Coal City Elementary | PK-5 | 386 | 14.8 |
Towns near Coal City
- Sophia, WV3.0 mi · 1,130 people · home $116,900
- Crab Orchard, WV4.5 mi · 2,416 people · home $168,200
- MacArthur, WV5.0 mi · 1,376 people · home $160,800
- Beaver, WV5.0 mi · 1,129 people · home $105,200
- Daniels, WV5.6 mi · 1,654 people · home $171,300
- Mabscott, WV6.4 mi · 1,341 people · home $159,700
- Shady Spring, WV6.9 mi · 3,169 people · home $188,900
- Ghent, WV7.1 mi · 582 people · home —
Coal City questions
Is Coal City, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Coal City scores better for retirees than 42% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 98%. 42.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.3).
How much does a house cost in Coal City?
The median owner-occupied home in Coal City is valued at $9,999 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $20,491, so homes cost about 0.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Coal City?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.4 inches of snow.
Does Coal City get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coal City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 4, 1974. 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)