5 Secretly Amazing Places to Retire in West Virginia

Trying to find your dream retirement destination? After all those years of hard work, it is only natural to hope for a relaxed and secure environment to spend the rest of your golden years. Fortunately, West Virginia has some great places for retirees to settle down. Flanked by Appalachian beauty, West Virginia is increasingly preferred by retirees for its affordable cost of living, tax-friendly policies, weather, and low crime rates. In fact, in 2023, the state of West Virginia was ranked as the most affordable state to retire in a list compiled by Bankrate.

Beyond affordability, West Virginia also stands out as one of the most beautiful states in the Union, making it particularly appealing to outdoor enthusiasts. With its stunning green mountains, lively white-water rivers, and snow-capped ski resorts, the state is a paradise for those looking to live and retire in a place surrounded by natural beauty. In this article, we explore some secretly amazing places to live and retire in West Virginia.

The Best Places to Retire in West Virginia

1. Shepherdstown

Located along the banks of the Potomac River is one of West Virginia’s oldest towns, Shepherdstown. The town is every retiree’s dream lined with excellent locations for fishing, boating, and tubing as well as art galleries, local restaurants, stores, and boutiques offering finds from seasonal decor, dry goods, and books to cutlery and enamelware. 

Shepherdstown is only about an hour and a half from both Baltimore and Washington DC. The area has a very low crime rate. According to AreaVibes, the crime rate in Shepherdstown is 77 percent lower than the national average. The housing market is competitive though. The median sale price of a home in Shepherdstown is around $418k as of 2023.

The small town has several medical clinics and is only about a 20-minute drive from both the Jefferson Medical Center and the Berkeley Medical Center. Public transportation services include local bus service provided by the Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority (EPTA) as well as multiple taxi services including Uber and Lyft. Amtrak’s Capitol Limited Line also stops at the Martinsburg Station and Harpers Ferry Station which is just a few minutes from Shepherdstown.

2. Morgantown

Nestled amidst the rolling hills of West Virginia, Morgantown is a laid-back city full of scenic beauty and opportunities for exploration. The city is speckled with tranquil rivers, majestic mountains, lush greenery, scenic trails for hiking and biking as well as opportunities for fishing and kayaking. Morgantown earns a mention in several ‘best places to live and retire’ lists.

The median home price in Morgantown is around $337.4K as of December 2023, according to realtor.com. The overall crime rate in the city, although not very encouraging is still not the worst. The crime rate in Morgantown is around 17.4 percent higher than the national average. Public transport options range from bus services operated by the Mountain Line Transit Authority to the more innovative Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system which involves computer-driven cars as an easy-to-use transportation solution. The city has a number of reputable hospitals including the Ruby Memorial Hospital and the Mon Health Medical Center.

3. Richwood

As the name suggests, Richwood is a city known for its abundance of timber. Located in eastern Nicholas County on the Cherry River, the city features countless attractions from historic landmarks, museums, national parks, breweries, and distilleries to stunning waterfalls and National Wildlife Refuges. Fortunate to be situated in one of the most scenic areas in the state, the city of Richwood immediately comes across as a very appealing place to live, work, and retire.

House prices in Richwood range between $27.5K and $399K. There are not many houses on the market though. Crime rates in the area are 42 percent lower than the West Virginia average. The cost of living in Richwood is also luring as it is 8 percent lower than the West Virginia average. Public transportation options in the area are, however, few. The Mountain Transit Authority (MTA) offers a few scheduled rides. The area has quite a few local medical practices and clinics. The Summersville Regional Medical Center is also only a 35-minute drive from the small rural town.

4. Summersville

Located in the heart of West Virginia, Summersville is a city that feels like a step back in time. Surrounded by mountains and cool pristine waters, Summersville offers great outdoor recreational activities from whitewater rafting and boating to hiking.

The median listing home price in Summersville was around $379.5K as of December 2023. While crime rates in the area are not dramatic, it is 17 percent higher than the national average. Public transportation options seem limited to bus transportation services provided by the Mountain Transit Authority (MTA). The city has a reputable hospital called the ‘Summersville Regional Medical Center’. The hospital is equipped to provide a full range of surgical services as well as intensive care, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and a range of other services.

5. Elkins

Located on the edge of the Monongahela National Forest, the mountain town of Elkins is beautiful and quaint. Rich with history, art, and outdoor fun, some of the area’s best hiking, biking, hunting, backpacking, skiing, and fishing can be found within the expansive national forest.

What is more encouraging is that it is one of the safest towns in the state. The overall crime rate in Elkins is about 45 percent lower than the national average. The town has a median listing home price of $215.9K as of December 2023. Elkins employs the services of an organization called ‘Country Roads Transit’ to provide public transportation services. The transportation service provides scheduled drop offs and pick ups, as well as special pickups and drop, offs with reservation. The town has an acute care hospital called the Davis Medical Center.