What are the schools like in Bluefield, WV?

Bluefield is served primarily by Mercer County Schools. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Bluefield?

The median household income in Bluefield, WV is $45,854 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Bluefield, WV?

Bluefield has an average high temperature of 40.2°F in January and 81.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.7 inches.

Bluefield, WV Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bluefield, WV affordable or expensive?

Bluefield's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bluefield is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $94,400 and the median rent is $854 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bluefield, WV?

Bluefield has a violent crime rate of 480.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1036.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bluefield, WV a Good Place to Live?

Bluefield is a small town of 9,619 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $45,854 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Bluefield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bluefield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bluefield city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Bluefield's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bluefield costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bluefield, WV	National Avg
Median Home Value	$94,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$854	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,854	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Bluefield's violent crime rate is 480.2 per 100,000 residents — 26% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

480.2 /100k

Property Crime

1036.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bluefield is served primarily by Mercer County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bluefield, WV	National Avg
School District	Mercer County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bluefield sees average highs of 40.2°F in January and 81.0°F in July, with 45.4 inches of annual precipitation and 39.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bluefield, WV
Average High — January	40.2°F
Average High — July	81.0°F
Annual Precipitation	45.4"
Annual Snowfall	39.7"

Demographics

Metric	Bluefield, WV	National Avg
Population	9,619	—
Median Age	43.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	22.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	19.0%	22.2%
65 and over	21.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brush Fork, WV 2 mi Bluefield, VA 4 mi Bluewell, WV 4 mi Falls Mills, VA 5 mi Rocky Gap, VA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Bluefield

Bluefield, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24701

Bluefield vs Other Cities

Bluefield, WV vs Brush Fork, WV Bluefield, WV vs Bluefield, VA Bluefield, WV vs Bluewell, WV Bluefield, WV vs Falls Mills, VA Bluefield, WV vs Rocky Gap, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bluefield, WV affordable or expensive?

Bluefield's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bluefield roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $94,400 and median rent is $854/month.

What is the crime rate in Bluefield, WV?

Bluefield's violent crime rate is 480.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1036.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bluefield?

Public schools in Bluefield are operated by Mercer County Schools. The district has 16 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bluefield, WV a good place to live?

Bluefield, WV has a population of 9,619, a median household income of $45,854, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bluefield?

Bluefield averages 40.2°F in January and 81.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.4 inches with about 39.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bluefield?

Bluefield, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24701.

What is the population of Bluefield?

The population of Bluefield, West Virginia is 9,619 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bluefield?

Key numbers for living in Bluefield: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $94,400, median household income $45,854, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bluefield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.