What are the schools like in Ripley, WV?

Ripley is served primarily by Jackson County Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Ripley?

The median household income in Ripley, WV is $35,489 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Ripley, WV?

Ripley has an average high temperature of 43.7°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 11.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Ripley, WV affordable or expensive?

Ripley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ripley is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $122,300 and the median rent is $546 per month.

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

Ripley has a violent crime rate of 98.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 823.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ripley, WV a Good Place to Live?

Ripley is a small town of 3,084 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $35,489 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Ripley 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: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ripley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ripley 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: 88.0

Ripley's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ripley costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ripley, WV	National Avg
Median Home Value	$122,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$546	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,489	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ripley's violent crime rate is 98.8 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

98.8 /100k

Property Crime

823.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ripley is served primarily by Jackson County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ripley, WV	National Avg
School District	Jackson County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ripley sees average highs of 43.7°F in January and 88.3°F in July, with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation and 11.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ripley, WV
Average High — January	43.7°F
Average High — July	88.3°F
Annual Precipitation	46.0"
Annual Snowfall	11.6"

Demographics

Metric	Ripley, WV	National Avg
Population	3,084	—
Median Age	43.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.9%	6.3%
Under 18	18.3%	22.2%
65 and over	24.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cottageville, WV 7 mi Ravenswood, WV 10 mi Leon, WV 14 mi Racine, OH 15 mi Reedy, WV 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Ripley

Ripley, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

25271

Ripley vs Other Cities

Ripley, WV vs Cottageville, WV Ripley, WV vs Ravenswood, WV Ripley, WV vs Leon, WV Ripley, WV vs Racine, OH Ripley, WV vs Reedy, WV

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ripley, WV affordable or expensive?

Ripley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ripley roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $122,300 and median rent is $546/month.

What is the crime rate in Ripley, WV?

Ripley's violent crime rate is 98.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 823.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ripley?

Public schools in Ripley are operated by Jackson County Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ripley, WV a good place to live?

Ripley, WV has a population of 3,084, a median household income of $35,489, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 Ripley?

Ripley averages 43.7°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.0 inches with about 11.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ripley?

Ripley, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 25271.

What is the population of Ripley?

The population of Ripley, West Virginia is 3,084 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ripley?

Key numbers for living in Ripley: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $122,300, median household income $35,489, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ripley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.