What are the schools like in Wheeling, WV?

Wheeling is served primarily by Ohio County Schools. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Wheeling?

The median household income in Wheeling, WV is $46,516 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.

What is the weather like in Wheeling, WV?

Wheeling has an average high temperature of 38.7°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Wheeling, WV affordable or expensive?

Wheeling's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wheeling is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $131,600 and the median rent is $748 per month.

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

Wheeling has a violent crime rate of 982.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1992.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wheeling, WV a Good Place to Live?

Wheeling is a small city of 26,900 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $46,516 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Wheeling stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wheeling is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wheeling 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: 89.0

Wheeling's overall cost of living index is 89.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wheeling costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wheeling, WV	National Avg
Median Home Value	$131,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$748	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,516	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Wheeling's violent crime rate is 982.6 per 100,000 residents — 159% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

982.6 /100k

Property Crime

1992.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wheeling is served primarily by Ohio County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wheeling, WV	National Avg
School District	Ohio County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wheeling sees average highs of 38.7°F in January and 85.0°F in July, with 41.9 inches of annual precipitation and 15.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wheeling, WV
Average High — January	38.7°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	41.9"
Annual Snowfall	15.2"

Demographics

Metric	Wheeling, WV	National Avg
Population	26,900	—
Median Age	45.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	24.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bethlehem, WV 2 mi Martins Ferry, OH 3 mi Bridgeport, OH 3 mi Brookside, OH 3 mi Wolfhurst, OH 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Wheeling

Wheeling, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

26003

Wheeling vs Other Cities

Wheeling, WV vs Bethlehem, WV Wheeling, WV vs Martins Ferry, OH Wheeling, WV vs Bridgeport, OH Wheeling, WV vs Brookside, OH Wheeling, WV vs Wolfhurst, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wheeling, WV affordable or expensive?

Wheeling's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wheeling roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $131,600 and median rent is $748/month.

What is the crime rate in Wheeling, WV?

Wheeling's violent crime rate is 982.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1992.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wheeling?

Public schools in Wheeling are operated by Ohio County Schools. The district has 9 elementary, 4 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 31.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wheeling, WV a good place to live?

Wheeling, WV has a population of 26,900, a median household income of $46,516, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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 Wheeling?

Wheeling averages 38.7°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.9 inches with about 15.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wheeling?

Wheeling, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 26003.

What is the population of Wheeling?

The population of Wheeling, West Virginia is 26,900 with a median age of 45.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wheeling?

Key numbers for living in Wheeling: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $131,600, median household income $46,516, crime index 193 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wheeling side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.