Median Income
$58,750
household / year
Median Home Value
$84,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,000
gross / month
Cost of Living
86
national avg = 100

Is Paw Paw, WV a Good Place to Live?

Paw Paw is a small town of 463 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $58,750 and a 14.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

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

All Paw Paw 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: 85.8

Paw Paw's overall cost of living index is 85.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paw Paw costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric Paw Paw, WV National Avg
Median Home Value $84,100 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,000 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 66.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $58,750 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Paw Paw's violent crime rate is 123.6 per 100,000 residents — 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
123.6 /100k
Property Crime
1050.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Paw Paw is served primarily by Morgan County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Paw Paw, WV National Avg
School District Morgan County Schools
Elementary Schools 4
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 2
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 5.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 72.0% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paw Paw sees average highs of 39.9°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 42.8 inches of annual precipitation and 28.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricPaw Paw, WV
Average High — January39.9°F
Average High — July85.1°F
Annual Precipitation42.8"
Annual Snowfall28.7"

Demographics

MetricPaw Paw, WVNational Avg
Population463
Median Age47.738.9
Unemployment Rate14.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time41.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)77.3%59.3%
Black or African American3.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino11.4%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1826.6%22.2%
65 and over20.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Paw Paw

Paw Paw, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Paw Paw vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Paw Paw's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paw Paw roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $84,100 and median rent is $1,000/month.
Paw Paw's violent crime rate is 123.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1050.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Paw Paw are operated by Morgan County Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 5.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Paw Paw, WV has a population of 463, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 14.2%. 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.
Paw Paw averages 39.9°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.8 inches with about 28.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Paw Paw, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 25434.
The population of Paw Paw, West Virginia is 463 with a median age of 47.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Paw Paw: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $84,100, median household income $58,750, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paw Paw side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.