Bluefield, WV
Census place 5408524 · pop 9,387
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
21.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
21.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
43.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
36.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-5.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$49,375 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
18.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
30.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
65.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.60% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
44/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$105,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$923/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Bluefield: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Bluefield, WV a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Bluefield scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is adult smoking. West Virginia overall ranks #17 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Bluefield, WV expensive to live in?
- Bluefield has a median home value of $105,400 and typical rent around $923/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Bluefield, WV?
- Its weakest measured area is adult smoking (21.4%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Bluefield, WV best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($923/mo) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.