Is West Hamlin, WV a Good Place to Live?
West Hamlin is a small town of 553 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $36,354 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.
Strengths: West Hamlin 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 West Hamlin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Hamlin 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: 85.7West Hamlin's overall cost of living index is 85.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Hamlin costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
| Metric | West Hamlin, WV | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $158,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $350 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $36,354 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Crime data for West Hamlin is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.
Schools & Education
West Hamlin is served primarily by Lincoln County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Hamlin, WV | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Lincoln County Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 5 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 5.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 85.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Hamlin sees average highs of 44.5°F in January and 88.3°F in July, with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation and 23.1 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Hamlin, WV |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 44.5°F |
| Average High — July | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 23.1" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Hamlin, WV | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 553 | — |
| Median Age | 58.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 30.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 97.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 6.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 36.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Hamlin
West Hamlin, WV is covered by 2 ZIP codes: