Relocation profile · Federal data
Wheeling, WV-OH
LiveAbility 68.8/100 places Wheeling #8 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 88.3
- Cost index (US=100)
- $991
- 2BR rent / mo
- $58,635
- Median salary
- 68.8
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Wheeling ranks #8 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (68.8/100), with its strongest marks in safety and housing.
- #8
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 1,769,979
- metro-area population
- 242
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 648
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (21/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Wheeling ranks #8 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 88.3 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $991/mo, median salary $58,635; LiveAbility Score 68.8/100, strongest in safety and housing.
Signature: LiveAbility 68.8/100 places Wheeling #8 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 88.3 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $991/mo.
LiveAbility 68.8/100 puts Wheeling in the top third (#8 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Wheeling area is 52,560.
Wheeling vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
69 Top 2% higher than 98% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Wheeling housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Wheeling MSA; housing RPP 51.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $991/mo.
Wheeling wages and employment
Wheeling posts 52,560 total employment with median salary $58,635 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $29,370 |
| Cashiers | $27,500 |
| Registered Nurses | $78,280 |
| General and Operations Managers | $80,440 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,020 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Wheeling area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Wheeling area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Wheeling's composite Life Score is 65.9/100 (C+), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Wheeling ranks #8 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 68.8/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Wheeling - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Safety
Safety
98 /100
- Housing
Housing
94 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
85 /100
- Schools
Schools
77 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
70 /100
- Climate
Climate
53 /100
- Air quality 38
Air quality
38 /100
- Job market 21
Job market
21 /100
What this shows Wheeling's strongest dimensions are safety and housing; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 21/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Wheeling to
Metros near Wheeling on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Wheeling on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Wheeling cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Wheeling wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Wheeling?
Wheeling runs a $58,635 median salary at a 88.3 cost index, ranking #8 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Wheeling's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Wheeling head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Wheeling
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.