The Town FilesDunbar, West Virginia
City in Kanawha County · population 7,480 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,600
- Household income
- $58,379
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.9
Dunbar is a city of 7,480 people in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $119,600, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 96% of West Virginia towns, hipper than 96% of West Virginia towns.
How Dunbar 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 Dunbar is worth $119,600, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $58,379, which is more affordable than 76% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $935 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dunbar | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $935 | $811 |
| Median household income | $58,379 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dunbar
| People | Dunbar | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Dunbar
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunbar since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 2, 2024 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on October 7, 2014.
Severe weather in Kanawha County since 1996
Kanawha County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, chemical.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4756: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Kanawha County
Kanawha County had 97,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,997 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Dunbar itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Dunbar
5 public schools with 844 students, about 8.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunbar Middle School | 6-8 | 297 | 12.4 |
| Dunbar Primary Center | PK-2 | 271 | 11.3 |
| Dunbar Intermediate Center | 3-5 | 247 | 11.2 |
| William J Raglin Center | PK-PK | 29 | 14.5 |
| Ben Franklin Career Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Dunbar
- South Charleston, WV2.4 mi · 13,647 people · home $155,400
- St. Albans, WV4.5 mi · 10,861 people · home $140,800
- Nitro, WV4.9 mi · 6,624 people · home $128,900
- Cross Lanes, WV4.9 mi · 9,727 people · home $153,800
- Charleston, WV5.8 mi · 48,864 people · home $203,300
- Sissonville, WV10.6 mi · 4,084 people · home $180,800
- Teays Valley, WV11.5 mi · 14,350 people · home $278,000
- Pinch, WV14.3 mi · 2,914 people · home $221,500
Dunbar questions
Is Dunbar, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dunbar scores better for retirees than 60% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 4%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Dunbar?
The median owner-occupied home in Dunbar is valued at $119,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,379, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $935 a month.
What is the weather like in Dunbar?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Dunbar get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dunbar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2024. 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)