The Town FilesWar, West Virginia
City in McDowell County · population 623 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $32,600
- Household income
- $29,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.0
War is a city of 623 people in McDowell County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $32,600, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks easier by car than 88% of West Virginia towns, quieter than 81% of West Virginia towns.
How War 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 War is worth $32,600, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $29,500, which is more affordable than 99% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $703 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | War | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $32,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $703 | $811 |
| Median household income | $29,500 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in War
| People | War | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.2% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 36.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 61.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in War
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 44.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.0 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of War since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on April 4, 1974 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 1974.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 9, 1980.
Severe weather in McDowell County since 1996
McDowell County has been included in 27 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 |
| February 26, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| November 28, 2022 | Flood | DR-4678: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in McDowell County
McDowell County had 3,934 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,048 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in War itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in War
1 public school with 293 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside K-8 | PK-8 | 293 | 11.7 |
Towns near War
- Gary, WV8.6 mi · 773 people · home $50,900
- Welch, WV9.4 mi · 3,590 people · home $57,300
- Tazewell, VA15.6 mi · 4,486 people · home $111,700
- Cedar Bluff, VA16.1 mi · 1,069 people · home $111,800
- Richlands, VA17.0 mi · 5,261 people · home $111,000
- Claypool Hill, VA17.4 mi · 1,699 people · home $166,400
- Springville, VA17.9 mi · 1,043 people · home —
- Raven, VA18.0 mi · 1,988 people · home $88,800
War questions
Is War, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, War scores better for retirees than 53% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 81%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in War?
The median owner-occupied home in War is valued at $32,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,500, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $703 a month.
What is the weather like in War?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.6 inches of precipitation a year and 23.0 inches of snow.
Does War get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of War since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on April 4, 1974. 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)