The Town FilesSummersville, West Virginia
City in Nicholas County · population 3,431 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,000
- Household income
- $56,571
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 56.3
Summersville is a city of 3,431 people in Nicholas County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $230,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of West Virginia towns, easier by car than 88% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 87% of West Virginia towns.
How Summersville 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 Summersville is worth $230,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $56,571, which is more affordable than 7% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $395 a month. 67.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Summersville | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $395 | $811 |
| Median household income | $56,571 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Summersville
| People | Summersville | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.3 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.3% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Summersville
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 49.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.6 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Summersville since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 14, 1967 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 14, 1967.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.25 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 Summersville itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Summersville
6 public schools with 1,928 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas County High School | 9-12 | 697 | 17.0 |
| Summersville Middle School | 6-8 | 549 | 14.4 |
| Summersville Elementary School | PK-5 | 369 | 13.2 |
| Glade Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 130 | 16.3 |
| MT Nebo Elementary School | PK-5 | 103 | 12.9 |
| Zela Elementary School | PK-5 | 80 | 10.0 |
Towns near Summersville
- Fayetteville, WV21.2 mi · 2,887 people · home $184,000
- Oak Hill, WV27.6 mi · 8,179 people · home $118,700
Summersville questions
Is Summersville, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Summersville scores better for retirees than 87% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 59%. 38.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.3).
How much does a house cost in Summersville?
The median owner-occupied home in Summersville is valued at $230,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,571, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $395 a month.
What is the weather like in Summersville?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 67.6 inches of snow.
Does Summersville get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Summersville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 14, 1967. 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)