What are the schools like in Shepherdstown, WV?

Shepherdstown is served primarily by Jefferson County Schools. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Shepherdstown?

The median household income in Shepherdstown, WV is $58,875 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 15.2%.

What is the weather like in Shepherdstown, WV?

Shepherdstown has an average high temperature of 41.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Shepherdstown, WV affordable or expensive?

Shepherdstown's cost of living index is 109, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shepherdstown is 9% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $429,600 and the median rent is $1,081 per month.

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

Shepherdstown has a violent crime rate of 66.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 467.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Shepherdstown, WV a Good Place to Live?

Shepherdstown is a small town of 1,612 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $58,875 and a 15.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Shepherdstown stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Shepherdstown 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: 108.6

Shepherdstown's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shepherdstown costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric	Shepherdstown, WV	National Avg
Median Home Value	$429,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,081	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,875	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Shepherdstown's violent crime rate is 66.5 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

66.5 /100k

Property Crime

467.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Shepherdstown is served primarily by Jefferson County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Shepherdstown, WV	National Avg
School District	Jefferson County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	54.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shepherdstown sees average highs of 41.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 42.7 inches of annual precipitation and 23.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Shepherdstown, WV
Average High — January	41.2°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	42.7"
Annual Snowfall	23.1"

Demographics

Metric	Shepherdstown, WV	National Avg
Population	1,612	—
Median Age	22.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	15.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	25.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	6.3%	22.2%
65 and over	11.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sharpsburg, MD 3 mi Antietam, MD 4 mi Mercersville, MD 5 mi Dargan, MD 5 mi Shenandoah Junction, WV 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Shepherdstown

Shepherdstown, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

25443

Shepherdstown vs Other Cities

Shepherdstown, WV vs Sharpsburg, MD Shepherdstown, WV vs Antietam, MD Shepherdstown, WV vs Mercersville, MD Shepherdstown, WV vs Dargan, MD Shepherdstown, WV vs Shenandoah Junction, WV

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shepherdstown, WV affordable or expensive?

Shepherdstown's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Shepherdstown roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $429,600 and median rent is $1,081/month.

What is the crime rate in Shepherdstown, WV?

Shepherdstown's violent crime rate is 66.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 467.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Shepherdstown?

Public schools in Shepherdstown are operated by Jefferson County Schools. The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 54.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shepherdstown, WV a good place to live?

Shepherdstown, WV has a population of 1,612, a median household income of $58,875, and an unemployment rate of 15.2%. 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 Shepherdstown?

Shepherdstown averages 41.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.7 inches with about 23.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Shepherdstown?

Shepherdstown, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 25443.

What is the population of Shepherdstown?

The population of Shepherdstown, West Virginia is 1,612 with a median age of 22.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Shepherdstown?

Key numbers for living in Shepherdstown: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $429,600, median household income $58,875, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shepherdstown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.