State relocation profile · Federal data
West Virginia
West Virginia sits in the cheaper third of BEA RPP states, rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare below.
- 89.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $945
- 2BR rent / mo
- $62,234
- Median salary
- 65.1
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, West Virginia ranks #1 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (65.1/100, C+), with its strongest marks in safety and rent.
- #1 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 65.1
- Life Score · C+
- 89.5
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $62,234
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: wages (6/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), West Virginia ranks #1 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $945/mo, median salary $62,234; Life Score 65.1/100 (C+), strongest in safety and rent.
Signature: Life Score 65.1/100 places West Virginia #1 of 51 (top third of scored states).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.5 lands in the cheaper third of US states (cuts at 93.3 / 100.7). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $945/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $62,234.
Composite Life Score 65.1/100 (C+) puts West Virginia in the top third (#1 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (7 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet WV · West Virginia 65.1/100 · C+ · #1 of 51
LIFE-CP · RANK-TOP · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-SAFETY · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-CP Life Score C+
- RANK-TOP #1/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.4 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 89.5
- LEAD-SAFETY Lead · safety
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Mississippi ( -0.4 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around West Virginia
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest West Virginia on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
West Virginia childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for West Virginia (infant $8,974/yr leads the book).
West Virginia Life Score breakdown
West Virginia composites to 65.1/100 (C+) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #1 of 51.
West Virginia - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Safety
Safety
100 /100
- Rent
Rent
94 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
84 /100
- Environment
Environment
76 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
68 /100
- Schools 36
Schools
36 /100
- Wages 6
Wages
6 /100
What this shows West Virginia's strongest dimensions are safety and rent; its weakest among scored dims is wages at 6/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near West Virginia on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to West Virginia on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in West Virginia
Explore detailed relocation data for 7 metropolitan areas in West Virginia. West Virginia contains 7 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Beckley, Charleston, Huntington-Ashland and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Beckley metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
West Virginia cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; West Virginia wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.