Bolt is a small town of 256 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $66,020
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bolt stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bolt is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bolt 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: 89.6
Bolt's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bolt costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bolt, WV
National Avg
Median Home Value
N/A
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
100.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,020
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Bolt's violent crime rate is 275.4 per 100,000 residents
— 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
275.4 /100k
Property Crime
2531.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bolt is served primarily by Raleigh County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Bolt, WV
National Avg
School District
Raleigh County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
17
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
0.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
68.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bolt sees average highs of 39.6°F in January
and 79.1°F in July,
with 49.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.4 inches of snow per year.
Bolt's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bolt roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is N/A and median rent is N/A/month.
Bolt's violent crime rate is 275.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2531.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Bolt are operated by Raleigh County Schools.
The district has 17 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 0.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bolt, WV has a population of 256, a median household income of $66,020, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Bolt averages 39.6°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.6 inches
with about 38.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bolt, WV is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 25817, 25839.
The population of Bolt, West Virginia is 256 with a median age of 65.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bolt: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home N/A, median household income $66,020, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bolt side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
