The Town FilesWilliamstown, West Virginia
City in Wood County · population 2,997 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,500
- Household income
- $89,013
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 52.1
Williamstown is a city of 2,997 people in Wood County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $182,500, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks hipper than 99% of West Virginia towns, more upscale than 97% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 96% of West Virginia towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia
- #4 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in West Virginia
- #5 in The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in West Virginia
- #10 in The 13 Most Affordable Small Towns in West Virginia
- #29 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #29 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Williamstown 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 Williamstown is worth $182,500, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $89,013, which is more affordable than 70% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williamstown | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,500 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $839 | $811 |
| Median household income | $89,013 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Williamstown
| People | Williamstown | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.1 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Williamstown
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.7 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamstown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 21, 2026 about 4.6 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 64 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on February 27, 2023.
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 Williamstown itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Williamstown
2 public schools with 1,179 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamstown High School | 6-12 | 639 | 13.0 |
| Williamstown Elementary School | PK-5 | 540 | 15.4 |
Towns near Williamstown
- Marietta, OH1.8 mi · 13,385 people · home $161,800
- Devola, OH5.3 mi · 2,639 people · home $235,800
- Vienna, WV6.6 mi · 10,652 people · home $154,300
- Parkersburg, WV10.6 mi · 29,738 people · home $121,600
- Belpre, OH11.0 mi · 6,728 people · home $159,000
- Blennerhassett, WV13.6 mi · 3,118 people · home $179,800
Williamstown questions
Is Williamstown, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williamstown scores better for retirees than 96% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 50%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.1).
How much does a house cost in Williamstown?
The median owner-occupied home in Williamstown is valued at $182,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,013, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Williamstown?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 21.7 inches of snow.
Does Williamstown get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamstown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 21, 2026. 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)