9 Best Small Towns In West Virginia For Retirees
West Virginia may not spring to mind as a popular place for retirement, but that's not for lack of interesting options. In fact, a recent poll ranked the Mountain State in the top five retirement destinations among all 50 US states, for a winning mix of access to good healthcare, affordable cost of living, modest state and local tax rates, and low levels of crime. Those elements, combined with the natural beauty and outdoor activities that have made West Virginia famous, should convince potential retirees to consider the state as their home once their careers are finished.
These nine towns show why West Virginia is an attractive retirement destination.
Berkeley Springs
Berkeley Springs is a picturesque town with a distinctively lively downtown area. A true Mountain State town located in the state's eastern panhandle, Berkeley Springs offers something different for all four seasons. It is known locally as "America's First Spa." Just 100 miles from Washington, DC, the town can be reached for a weekend or longer stay in less than two hours from the nation's capital.
Famous for its natural mineral springs, people have been visiting Berkeley Springs for centuries in order to bathe in the local waters. The healing water also provides a great opportunity for homeopathic medicine. Berkeley Springs is home to Washington Homeopathic Products, which manufactures natural health products from the region's local resources. These products may offer relief to retirees or older persons looking to maintain their health.
Berkeley Springs also punches above its weight in terms of local culture. The town boasts more than 100 art galleries, as well as unique shops and antique malls. Just 10 miles to the south is Cacapon Resort State Park, with a challenging golf course, miles of trails, and a sandy beach.
Elkins
Elkins is an outdoor enthusiast’s magnet. Located in Randolph County, close to three major ski resorts and bordering the Monongahela National Forest, visitors can do all the world-class hunting, fishing, hiking, and birding that retirement allows. Geology enthusiasts can explore the extensive caves underground. River lovers can float the rapids and waves on the Tygart River. Birders can spot rare migrating and native birds in the forests surrounding the town.
After sundown, you can have dinner and view live performances and theater at the American Mountain Theater, the Boiler House Theatre at Davis and Elkins College, or the Old Brick Playhouse downtown.
Buckhannon
Buckhannon has great local restaurants, beautiful architecture, and heaps of small-town charm. On the banks of the Buckhannon River, with its cute neighborhoods and well-manicured yards, this town offers those looking to retire comfort and progressive politics.
There are plenty of museums and points of historical interest to explore. Buckhannon has outdoor recreation options in the nearby Stonewall Jackson Lake Wildlife Management Area, an 18,000-acre site with forest, hills, and farmland. Buckhannon hosts an annual Strawberry Festival, which brings a carnival atmosphere to Main Street with family-friendly fun for grandparents and grandchildren alike.
Ripley
Tucked between the Ohio River Valley and the Appalachian foothills, Ripley is a vibrant, arts-focused village in the western part of the state. It is much smaller than most towns on this list, with a population of just 3,000. The town is built around Mill Creek, a tributary to the nearby Ohio River. Ripley is also home to Vail Furniture, the oldest independent furniture establishment in the United States. For a quiet, small-town retirement, Ripley is a top choice.
Artists gather in Ripley each year to share their work at the Mountain State Art and Craft Fair and at other fairs and celebrations. The biggest party comes every 4th of July, when Ripley hosts its celebrated Independence Day festival. The town offers city parks, great shopping, and a diverse set of local restaurants.
Shepherdstown
Fewer than 80 miles from Baltimore and Washington, DC, Shepherdstown is a historic place with loads of charm. Situated between the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the town has opportunities for the outdoor adventurer and the history buff alike. Shepherdstown was the site of Civil War fighting, including the Battle of Shepherdstown in 1862. The town has preserved many of its local sites for re-enactments.
Nightlife in Shepherdstown includes award-winning restaurants, from Chinese and German to classic American fare. The town offers a thriving local music scene and a host of theatrical performances. During the holiday season, Shepherdstown offers a lively calendar of Christmas-related events geared for adults and children alike. For year-round residents, a full suite of medical services meets the needs of the town's residents of all ages.
White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs, is a small town with an outsized history. Home to The Greenbrier, one of the country’s most exclusive and luxurious resorts, and the Oakhurst Links, one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States, White Sulphur Springs provides elegance to retirees and their guests.
Nature lovers will enjoy the hardwoods of the Monongahela National Forest, with hiking and biking in the Greenbrier Valley Trail. Each year, downtown White Sulphur Springs comes alive with fun festivals celebrating the seasons. These include the spring Dandelion Festival, the re-enactment of the 1862 Battle of Dry Creek every August, and the Freshwater Folk Festival each autumn.
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant features pleasant recreation and educational activities for families and older persons in west-central West Virginia, at the junction of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers. The town has a very relaxed feel, given its population of just 4,000. Visitors will enjoy days at the West Virginia State Farm Museum and learn about history at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.
Point Pleasant is also home to some of West Virginia's stranger things. The town hosts the Mothman Festival every September, which pays tribute to the legend of the "Mothman," with wings and gleaming red eyes, that has been described in movies and urban legends. The festival brings some intrigue to a normally very quiet town.
Kingwood
Kingwood is a small town in Preston County, which has the reputation of having the best buckwheat pancakes statewide. The town lies near the Cheat River in the state's northeast, not far from western Maryland. It is also home to Camp Dawson, the region’s most accessible training center. Downtown Kingwood features high-quality neighborhood restaurants, unique shopping, and festive street fairs.
The homes in the historic district are old Colonial-style, with neat little gardens. Travelers will also see vintage gas pumps at the 1937-era Esso Gas Station, a quirky local attraction. For outdoor adventure, there is whitewater rafting on the Cheat River and adventures in the nearby Monongahela National Forest. Each autumn, the town hosts the Preston County Buckwheat Festival, drawing locals, visitors, and good-time seekers of all ages.
Harpers Ferry
With a population of just about 200, one might think no one lives in Harpers Ferry. But that only leaves options open for retirees considering a relocation. This cute village, just a ninety-minute drive from Washington, DC, is famous for its natural beauty and colorful history, including the armory raid carried out by John Brown in 1859. Surrounded by the majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Harpers Ferry consistently tops best-in-travel lists.
Seated the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, Harpers Ferry is an outdoor paradise ideal for a summer vacation or a permanent move. And despite the town's tiny stature, its health facilities, like the Harpers Ferry Family Medical Center, ensure that care is available right in town.
The Bottom Line
If West Virginia sometimes goes overlooked as a retirement option, these nine towns prove that the state deserves a closer look. From ollege towns like Elkins and Buckhannon to the natural wonderlands in White Sulphur Springs, Point Pleasant, and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia's offerings for retired persons can compete with better-known alternatives in other states. Its quality healthcare, affordable living costs, and modest state and local taxes make the state even more attractive. West Virginia may just be the well-deserved break that retirees have earned after years of working.
