What are the schools like in War, WV?

War is served primarily by McDowell County Schools. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in War?

The median household income in War, WV is $21,150 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 17.6%.

What is the weather like in War, WV?

War has an average high temperature of 42.6°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 17.6 inches.

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

Q: Is War, WV affordable or expensive?

War's cost of living index is 82, where 100 represents the national average. This means War is 18% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $26,500 and the median rent is $668 per month.

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

War has a violent crime rate of 34.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is War, WV a Good Place to Live?

War is a small town of 672 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $21,150 and a 17.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is 18% below the national average.

Strengths: War 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 War is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All War 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: 82.0

War's overall cost of living index is 82.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in War costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.

Metric	War, WV	National Avg
Median Home Value	$26,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$668	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$21,150	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

War's violent crime rate is 34.0 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

34.0 /100k

Property Crime

5.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

War is served primarily by McDowell County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	War, WV	National Avg
School District	McDowell County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	64.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

War sees average highs of 42.6°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 44.6 inches of annual precipitation and 17.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	War, WV
Average High — January	42.6°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	44.6"
Annual Snowfall	17.6"

Demographics

Metric	War, WV	National Avg
Population	672	—
Median Age	43.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	17.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	49.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.9%	22.2%
65 and over	29.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cucumber, WV 4 mi Bartley, WV 4 mi Berwind, WV 4 mi Raysal, WV 6 mi Bradshaw, WV 7 mi

ZIP Codes in War

War, WV is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

24892 24894

War vs Other Cities

War, WV vs Cucumber, WV War, WV vs Bartley, WV War, WV vs Berwind, WV War, WV vs Raysal, WV War, WV vs Bradshaw, WV

Frequently Asked Questions

Is War, WV affordable or expensive?

War's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average. That makes War roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $26,500 and median rent is $668/month.

What is the crime rate in War, WV?

War's violent crime rate is 34.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in War?

Public schools in War are operated by McDowell County Schools. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is War, WV a good place to live?

War, WV has a population of 672, a median household income of $21,150, and an unemployment rate of 17.6%. 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 War?

War averages 42.6°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.6 inches with about 17.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in War?

War, WV is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 24892, 24894.

What is the population of War?

The population of War, West Virginia is 672 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in War?

Key numbers for living in War: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $26,500, median household income $21,150, crime index 5 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare War side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.