The Town FilesWest Union, West Virginia
Town in Doddridge County · population 653 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,600
- Household income
- $60,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.7
West Union is a town of 653 people in Doddridge County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $98,600, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks quieter than 94% of West Virginia towns, easier by car than 86% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 73% of West Virginia towns.
How West Union 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 Union is worth $98,600, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $60,417, which is more affordable than 90% of West Virginia towns. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Union | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | — | $811 |
| Median household income | $60,417 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in West Union
| People | West Union | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in West Union
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 20.8°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.2 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Union since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 1, 1986 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 27, 1996.
Severe weather in Doddridge County since 1996
Doddridge County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Flood | DR-4932: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Doddridge County
Doddridge County had 1,564 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,753 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in West Union itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in West Union
4 public schools with 1,163 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doddridge County High School | 9-12 | 344 | 10.4 |
| Doddridge County Middle School | 5-8 | 325 | 12.0 |
| Doddridge County Elementary School | 1-4 | 313 | 11.6 |
| Doddridge County Early Learning Academy | PK-K | 181 | 13.9 |
Towns near West Union
- Pennsboro, WV10.2 mi · 1,054 people · home $86,500
- Salem, WV11.4 mi · 1,529 people · home $77,800
- Middlebourne, WV15.5 mi · 717 people · home $134,400
- Harrisville, WV15.7 mi · 1,631 people · home $123,000
- Sistersville, WV21.7 mi · 1,412 people · home $95,300
- Matamoras (New Matamoras), OH22.1 mi · 702 people · home $94,400
- Clarksburg, WV22.2 mi · 16,061 people · home $129,900
- Paden City, WV22.8 mi · 2,541 people · home $103,200
West Union questions
Is West Union, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Union scores better for retirees than 73% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 94%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in West Union?
The median owner-occupied home in West Union is valued at $98,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,417, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in West Union?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 20.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 23.2 inches of snow.
Does West Union get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Union since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 1, 1986. 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)