Median Income
$46,406
household / year
Median Home Value
$85,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$766
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100

Is Mason, WV a Good Place to Live?

Mason is a small town of 818 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $46,406 and a 7.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

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

All Mason 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: 88.9

Mason's overall cost of living index is 88.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mason costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric Mason, WV National Avg
Median Home Value $85,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $766 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 76.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $46,406 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Mason is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Mason is served primarily by Mason County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Mason, WV National Avg
School District Mason County Schools
Elementary Schools 7
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools 4
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mason sees average highs of 39.5°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 44.2 inches of annual precipitation and 17.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricMason, WV
Average High — January39.5°F
Average High — July84.6°F
Annual Precipitation44.2"
Annual Snowfall17.7"

Demographics

MetricMason, WVNational Avg
Population818
Median Age54.238.9
Unemployment Rate7.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)97.2%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian0.1%6.3%
Under 1814.7%22.2%
65 and over36.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Mason

Mason, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Mason vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Mason's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mason roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,500 and median rent is $766/month.
Crime data for Mason is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Mason are operated by Mason County Schools. The district has 7 elementary, several middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 9.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mason, WV has a population of 818, a median household income of $46,406, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. 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.
Mason averages 39.5°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.2 inches with about 17.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mason, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 25260.
The population of Mason, West Virginia is 818 with a median age of 54.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mason: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $85,500, median household income $46,406, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mason side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.