The Town FilesRomney, West Virginia
City in Hampshire County · population 1,724 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,400
- Household income
- $49,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 50.2
Romney is a city of 1,724 people in Hampshire County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $184,400, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of West Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of West Virginia towns, easier by car than 96% of West Virginia towns.
How Romney 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 Romney is worth $184,400, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $49,286, which is more affordable than 13% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $616 a month. 48.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Romney | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,400 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $616 | $811 |
| Median household income | $49,286 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 48.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Romney
| People | Romney | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 34.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Romney
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 38.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.1 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Romney since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 2, 1998 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 2022.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| July 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4378: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3358: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 4,242 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,955 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Romney itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Romney
4 public schools with 1,694 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire Senior High School | 7-12 | 824 | 12.7 |
| Romney Elementary School | PK-5 | 475 | 15.3 |
| Romney Middle School | 6-8 | 345 | 12.3 |
| WV School for the Deaf & the Blind | PK-12 | 50 | — |
Towns near Romney
- Fort Ashby, WV10.3 mi · 1,289 people · home $225,300
- Keyser, WV13.7 mi · 4,864 people · home $143,000
- Rawlings, MD15.2 mi · 687 people · home $144,500
- Bel Air, MD17.2 mi · 1,689 people · home $195,700
- Cresaptown, MD17.7 mi · 5,442 people · home $142,600
- Piedmont, WV18.0 mi · 718 people · home $46,700
- Westernport, MD18.2 mi · 1,812 people · home $86,300
- Wiley Ford, WV18.7 mi · 906 people · home $189,000
Romney questions
Is Romney, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Romney scores better for retirees than 85% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 76%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Romney?
The median owner-occupied home in Romney is valued at $184,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,286, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $616 a month.
What is the weather like in Romney?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.2 inches of precipitation a year and 29.1 inches of snow.
Does Romney get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Romney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 2, 1998. 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)