The Town FilesSutton, West Virginia
Town in Braxton County · population 863 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,700
- Household income
- $42,817
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 53.9
Sutton is a town of 863 people in Braxton County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $87,700, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks quieter than 100% of West Virginia towns.
How Sutton 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 Sutton is worth $87,700, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $42,817, which is more affordable than 76% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sutton | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,700 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $684 | $811 |
| Median household income | $42,817 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Sutton
| People | Sutton | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.8% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.4% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Sutton
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 23.2°F. About 52.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.3 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Sutton since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 9, 1991 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1980.
Severe weather in Braxton County since 1996
Braxton County has been included in 24 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 |
| 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4236: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Braxton County
Braxton County had 3,738 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,932 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Sutton itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Sutton
4 public schools with 1,124 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton County High School | 9-12 | 507 | 14.1 |
| Braxton County Middle School | 6-8 | 382 | 15.9 |
| Sutton Elementary School | PK-5 | 149 | 13.5 |
| Little Birch Elementary School | PK-5 | 86 | 8.6 |
Towns near Sutton
- Gassaway, WV3.1 mi · 759 people · home $94,400
- Glenville, WV19.9 mi · 1,129 people · home $108,400
- Addison (Webster Springs), WV21.2 mi · 731 people · home $89,200
- Craigsville, WV24.1 mi · 2,173 people · home $83,500
- Summersville, WV27.2 mi · 3,431 people · home $230,000
- Weston, WV29.0 mi · 3,952 people · home $105,300
Sutton questions
Is Sutton, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sutton scores better for retirees than 45% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 100%. 35.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Sutton?
The median owner-occupied home in Sutton is valued at $87,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,817, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Sutton?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 23.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 17.3 inches of snow.
Does Sutton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Sutton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 9, 1991. 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)