The Town FilesElizabeth, West Virginia
Town in Wirt County · population 724 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,400
- Household income
- $22,353
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.8
Elizabeth is a town of 724 people in Wirt County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $87,400, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks quieter than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of West Virginia towns, better for families than 89% of West Virginia towns.
How Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth is worth $87,400, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $22,353, which is more affordable than 9% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $552 a month. 50.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabeth | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,400 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $552 | $811 |
| Median household income | $22,353 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 50.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elizabeth
| People | Elizabeth | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 8.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.2% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Elizabeth
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.4 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 16, 2010 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 28, 2016.
Severe weather in Wirt County since 1996
Wirt County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| May 21, 2015 | Flood | DR-4221: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Wirt County
Wirt County had 708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,896 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Elizabeth itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Elizabeth
3 public schools with 899 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wirt County Primary Center | PK-4 | 350 | 12.1 |
| Wirt County High School | 9-12 | 286 | 11.4 |
| Wirt County Middle School | 5-8 | 263 | 11.4 |
Towns near Elizabeth
- Mineralwells, WV10.3 mi · 1,805 people · home $155,100
- Parkersburg, WV15.8 mi · 29,738 people · home $121,600
- Lubeck, WV16.4 mi · 1,309 people · home $236,700
- Spencer, WV18.3 mi · 2,063 people · home $116,800
- Belpre, OH18.3 mi · 6,728 people · home $159,000
- Blennerhassett, WV18.3 mi · 3,118 people · home $179,800
- North Hills, WV18.5 mi · 834 people · home $258,900
- Washington, WV18.9 mi · 1,151 people · home $251,000
Elizabeth questions
Is Elizabeth, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabeth scores better for retirees than 61% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 98%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Elizabeth?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabeth is valued at $87,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $22,353, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $552 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabeth?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 19.4 inches of snow.
Does Elizabeth get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 16, 2010. 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)