Very AffordableSafer than AverageRaleigh County Schools
Median Income
$64,215
household / year
Median Home Value
$158,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$949
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Shady Spring, WV a Good Place to Live?
Shady Spring is a small town of 3,581 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $64,215
and a 10.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shady Spring 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 Shady Spring is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shady Spring 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
Shady Spring's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shady Spring costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shady Spring, WV
National Avg
Median Home Value
$158,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$949
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
90.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,215
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Shady Spring'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
Shady Spring 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
Shady Spring, 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
20.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shady Spring sees average highs of 40.5°F in January
and 80.7°F in July,
with 43.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 55.9 inches of snow per year.
Shady Spring's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shady Spring roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $158,800 and median rent is $949/month.
Shady Spring'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 Shady Spring 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. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shady Spring, WV has a population of 3,581, a median household income of $64,215, and an unemployment rate of 10.4%.
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.
Shady Spring averages 40.5°F in January and 80.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.5 inches
with about 55.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shady Spring, WV is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 25918, 25825.
The population of Shady Spring, West Virginia is 3,581 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shady Spring: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $158,800, median household income $64,215, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shady Spring side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.