The Town FilesSmithers, West Virginia
City in Fayette County · population 754 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $76,500
- Household income
- $45,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 52.5
Smithers is a city of 754 people in Fayette County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $76,500, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of West Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of West Virginia towns.
How Smithers 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 Smithers is worth $76,500, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $45,417, which is more affordable than 87% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $663 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithers | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $76,500 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $663 | $811 |
| Median household income | $45,417 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Smithers
| People | Smithers | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.5 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 37.4% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Smithers
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.5 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithers since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 26, 1990 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 11 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 23, 2019.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| November 28, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4679: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 10,265 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,615 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Smithers itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Smithers
1 public school with 527 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Pk-8 | PK-8 | 527 | 14.6 |
Towns near Smithers
- Montgomery, WV1.3 mi · 1,275 people · home $133,000
- Boomer, WV1.7 mi · 599 people · home —
- Gauley Bridge, WV4.8 mi · 553 people · home $66,500
- Glasgow, WV7.4 mi · 703 people · home $99,100
- Cedar Grove, WV8.6 mi · 718 people · home $90,700
- East Bank, WV8.7 mi · 822 people · home $98,000
- Shrewsbury, WV9.7 mi · 517 people · home $85,300
- Chelyan, WV10.7 mi · 681 people · home $103,500
Smithers questions
Is Smithers, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithers scores better for retirees than 91% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 33%. 36.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.5).
How much does a house cost in Smithers?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithers is valued at $76,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,417, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $663 a month.
What is the weather like in Smithers?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.5 inches of snow.
Does Smithers get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithers since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 26, 1990. 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)