The Town FilesRichwood, West Virginia
City in Nicholas County · population 1,660 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $70,000
- Household income
- $30,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 100 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.2
Richwood is a city of 1,660 people in Nicholas County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $70,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of West Virginia towns, quieter than 96% of West Virginia towns, better transit than 84% of West Virginia towns.
How Richwood 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 Richwood is worth $70,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $30,833, which is more affordable than 61% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $682 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richwood | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $70,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $682 | $811 |
| Median household income | $30,833 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Richwood
| People | Richwood | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.5% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 36.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Richwood
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 55.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 100.0 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richwood since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 21, 2016 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on April 14, 2025.
Severe weather in Nicholas County since 1996
Nicholas County has been included in 26 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 |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2016 | Flood | DR-4273: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Nicholas County
Nicholas County had 7,321 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,930 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Richwood itself the ACS puts it at 13.5%.
Public schools in Richwood
1 public school with 155 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry River Elementary School | PK-5 | 155 | 11.9 |
Towns near Richwood
- Craigsville, WV9.1 mi · 2,173 people · home $83,500
- Summersville, WV17.1 mi · 3,431 people · home $230,000
- Addison (Webster Springs), WV19.0 mi · 731 people · home $89,200
- Rupert, WV19.6 mi · 877 people · home $104,000
- Rainelle, WV21.7 mi · 1,190 people · home $80,800
- Marlinton, WV24.4 mi · 998 people · home $93,900
- Lewisburg, WV29.1 mi · 3,922 people · home $334,900
Richwood questions
Is Richwood, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richwood scores better for retirees than 35% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 96%. 26.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Richwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Richwood is valued at $70,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,833, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $682 a month.
What is the weather like in Richwood?
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.8 inches of precipitation a year and 100.0 inches of snow.
Does Richwood get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 21, 2016. 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)