The lack of an educated workforce continues to be one of the key factors hold West Virginia’s economy back.” West Virginia suffers from a resource curse, and studies show states with a heavier-than-average reliance on mining jobs are likely to have lower incomes.
Is West Virginia the poorest state?
West Virginia is the fifth-poorest U.S. state, with a median household income of $51,615 and a poverty rate of 14.6%. West Virginians have the lowest level of higher education attainment in the nation, with only 23.1% of its residents holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Is West Virginia a poor area?
West Virginia is the third poorest state in the United States of America, with a per capita income of $23,450 (2015).
Are people in West Virginia poor?
In 2020, 17.1 percent of West Virginia’s population lived below the poverty line. This was an increase from the previous year, when about 16 percent of the state’s population lived below the poverty line.
What is the poorest town in WV?
| State | Poorest Town | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Farmville | 8,076 |
| Washington | Kelso | 11,983 |
| West Virginia | Kenova | 3,095 |
| Wisconsin | Whitewater | 14,766 |
Is WV a good place to live?
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States. The state offers an active lifestyle, a friendly feel, affordable living, and a good quality of life.
6. Cost of Living in West Virginia.
| Expense | USD $ |
|---|---|
| Other (transportation, material goods) | $150 |
Why is West Virginia so cheap?
Because the population centers are relatively small, the tax base for services is lower in West Virginia than in other parts of the country. The lower real estate costs can save you some money here too, but that also means there are fewer funds available for public services.
Why is Appalachia so poor?
Thus, though the area has a wealth of natural resources, its inhabitants are often poor. In addition, decreased levels of education and a lack of public infrastructure (such as highways, developed cities, businesses, and medical services) has perpetuated the region’s poor economic standing.
How many West Virginians are on welfare?
Here are the 10 states with the most welfare recipients: New Mexico (21,125 per 100k) West Virginia (17,252 per 100k)
Welfare Recipients by State 2022.
| State | West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Food Stamps Recipients (2019) | 307,404 |
| Recipients Per 100K (2019) | 17,252 |
| Food Stamps Recipients (2018) | 311,863 |
| Recipients Per 100K (2018) | 17,502 |
Where do the rich live in West Virginia?
Jefferson County is the richest in West Virginia, according to U.S. Census Data from 2010. Jefferson County, where Shepherdstown and Charles Town are, has a per capita income of $29,733.
What is the racial makeup of West Virginia?
West Virginia Demographics
White: 92.52% Black or African American: 3.56% Two or more races: 2.42% Asian: 0.79%
Where is WV ranked in education?
West Virginia Rankings
| Health Care | #47 |
|---|---|
| Education | #45 |
| Economy | #48 |
| Infrastructure | #50 |
| Opportunity | #18 |
How does West Virginia make money?
West Virginia is considered a national energy hub, leading the nation in net interstate electricity exports and underground coal mine production, while experiencing a growing natural gas industry as a result of the Great Shale Gas Rush.
Is West Virginia rich or poor?
While poverty declined by 1.8 percentage points from 2018, West Virginia’s poverty rate is still 3.7 percentage points higher than the national average, making it the 6th highest rate among the 50 states. West Virginia’s median household income was an estimated $48,850 in 2019, $16,862 below the national average.
What’s the crime rate in West Virginia?
West Virginia’s violent crime rate of 3.6 is 10% below the national rate of 4.0 incidents per 1,000. With West Virginia’s rising violent crime rate this year, it returned to its 2019 rate of 3.6.
Where’s the best place to live in West Virginia?
Best Places to Live in West Virginia
- Vienna.
- Dunbar.
- Morgantown.
- Nitro.
- South Charleston.
- New Martinsville.
- Weirton.
- Elkins.
What is the life expectancy in West Virginia?
Coming in second for the lowest life expectancy is West Virginia, where people live on average to the age of 74.5. Males are living to an average age of 71.9, while females survive to an average age of 77.3. Rounding out the bottom three is Alabama, with an overall average life expectancy of 75.2 years.
Where does West Virginia rank in poverty?
West Virginia was ranked last place for family fun opportunities and 43rd in education and child care. Because of West Virginia’s high poverty level, it received 49th place for average family income and 46th for percentage of families in poverty.
Where should you not live in West Virginia?
According To FBI Statistics, These Are The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
- Beckley. Beckley, WV 25801, USA.
- Charleston. Charleston, WV, USA.
- Dunbar. Dunbar, WV 25064, USA.
- Moorefield. Moorefield, WV 26836, USA.
- South Charleston. South Charleston, WV, USA.
- Nitro. Nitro, WV, USA.
- Martinsburg. Martinsburg, WV, USA.
- Vienna.
What is the safest city in West Virginia?
West Virginia’s #3 safest city is Morgantown, the county seat of Monongalia County picturesquely located on the Monongahela River.
Safest Cities in West Virginia, 2019.
| Rank | City | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Albans | 0.77 |
| 2 | Weirton | 0.5 |
| 3 | Morgantown | 0.4 |
| 4 | Fairmont | 0.05 |
Why do people love West Virginia?
West Virginians are big-hearted people. They are always welcoming and treat you like family. In times of need, West Virginians gather together and support their own. West Virginians put family first.