The Town FilesDespard, West Virginia
Community in Harrison County · population 794 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,500
- Household income
- $24,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 33.6
Despard is a community of 794 people in Harrison County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $86,500, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks hipper than 100% of West Virginia towns, better transit than 95% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 91% of West Virginia towns.
How Despard 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 Despard is worth $86,500, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $24,455, which is more affordable than 15% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $654 a month. 53.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Despard | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,500 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $654 | $811 |
| Median household income | $24,455 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 53.6% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Despard
| People | Despard | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.5% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Despard
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.8 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Despard since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 22, 1970 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 16, 1998.
Severe weather in Harrison County since 1996
Harrison County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4756: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Harrison County
Harrison County had 37,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,286 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Despard itself the ACS puts it at 22%.
Towns near Despard
- East View, WV1.4 mi · 817 people · home $66,500
- Nutter Fort, WV1.9 mi · 1,493 people · home $121,000
- Anmoore, WV2.3 mi · 513 people · home $90,300
- Stonewood, WV2.6 mi · 1,798 people · home $154,200
- Clarksburg, WV2.7 mi · 16,061 people · home $129,900
- Bridgeport, WV4.1 mi · 9,336 people · home $291,600
- Lumberport, WV6.3 mi · 717 people · home $126,100
- Shinnston, WV7.4 mi · 2,328 people · home $153,200
Despard questions
Is Despard, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Despard scores better for retirees than 37% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 54%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Despard?
The median owner-occupied home in Despard is valued at $86,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $24,455, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $654 a month.
What is the weather like in Despard?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.8 inches of snow.
Does Despard get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Despard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 22, 1970. 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)