The Town FilesWashington, West Virginia
Community in Wood County · population 1,151 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $251,000
- Household income
- $60,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 55.8
Washington is a community of 1,151 people in Wood County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $251,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of West Virginia towns, better for families than 87% of West Virginia towns, more upscale than 86% of West Virginia towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $251,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $60,365, which is more affordable than 6% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $251,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $859 | $811 |
| Median household income | $60,365 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.8 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.3% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 30.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 34.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.3 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on September 16, 2010 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2019.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2018 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4359: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 35,511 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,626 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Washington
- Blennerhassett, WV1.7 mi · 3,118 people · home $179,800
- Lubeck, WV2.7 mi · 1,309 people · home $236,700
- Belpre, OH4.3 mi · 6,728 people · home $159,000
- Parkersburg, WV6.3 mi · 29,738 people · home $121,600
- Vienna, WV8.7 mi · 10,652 people · home $154,300
- Mineralwells, WV8.9 mi · 1,805 people · home $155,100
- North Hills, WV9.4 mi · 834 people · home $258,900
- Boaz, WV12.5 mi · 1,321 people · home $244,500
Washington questions
Is Washington, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 94% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 72%. 30.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.8).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $251,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,365, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 11.3 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on September 16, 2010. 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)