The Town FilesWest Hamlin, West Virginia
Town in Lincoln County · population 524 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $129,800
- Household income
- $17,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 52.4
West Hamlin is a town of 524 people in Lincoln County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $129,800, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000).
How West Hamlin 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 West Hamlin is worth $129,800, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 7.4 times the median household income of $17,500, which is more affordable than 0% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $546 a month. 36.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Hamlin | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,800 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $546 | $811 |
| Median household income | $17,500 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 36.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Hamlin
| People | West Hamlin | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.4 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.4% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.4% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.7% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 60.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in West Hamlin
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Hamlin since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 2, 2012 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 2, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 22, 1979.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, chemical.
| 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 |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 20, 2021 | Flood | DR-4605: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 2,423 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,630 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in West Hamlin itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in West Hamlin
2 public schools with 635 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hamlin Elementary | PK-5 | 428 | 14.3 |
| Guyan Valley Middle | 6-8 | 207 | 10.9 |
Towns near West Hamlin
- Hamlin, WV5.3 mi · 1,039 people · home $95,500
- Barboursville, WV9.8 mi · 4,456 people · home $197,700
- Milton, WV10.9 mi · 2,811 people · home $143,900
- Culloden, WV11.3 mi · 3,016 people · home $197,800
- Pea Ridge, WV11.3 mi · 6,602 people · home $188,500
- Wayne, WV13.7 mi · 1,443 people · home $82,100
- Lavalette, WV13.8 mi · 932 people · home $190,200
- Hurricane, WV13.8 mi · 6,961 people · home $210,500
West Hamlin questions
Is West Hamlin, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Hamlin scores better for retirees than 5% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 67%. 28.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.4).
How much does a house cost in West Hamlin?
The median owner-occupied home in West Hamlin is valued at $129,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $17,500, so homes cost about 7.4 times income. Median rent is $546 a month.
What is the weather like in West Hamlin?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does West Hamlin get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Hamlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 2, 2012. 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)