Wheeling, WV

Census place 5486452 · pop 26,350

D51/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in WV
📍 West Virginia ranks #17 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$919/mo · top 2%
🚽 Mental20.7% · bottom 6%
💡 Did you know?

Served as the first capital of West Virginia and home to the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.63% property · US 0.99%6.59% sales · US 7.00%up to 4.82% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poor mental health20.7%6

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

20.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.527

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.52 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Median household income$48,59010

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$48,590 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking18.5%11

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

18.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Broadband access84.7%11

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

84.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult obesity41.0%14

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Population growth (5yr)-2.6%15

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-2.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity32.5%16

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

32.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate20.5%17

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

20.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Homeownership59.8%38

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

59.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Bachelor's degree or higher34.1%58

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

34.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Uninsured adults8.3%63

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time20 min77

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property-tax burden0.63%81

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.63% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$146,50087

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$146,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level26/10097

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

26/100 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.

Rent$919/mo98

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$919/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Not measured for Wheeling: Crime, 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 Wheeling, WV a good place to live?
By the numbers, Wheeling scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is poor mental health. 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 Wheeling, WV expensive to live in?
Wheeling has a median home value of $146,500 and typical rent around $919/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Wheeling, WV?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (20.7%) — 6/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Wheeling, WV best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($919/mo) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Served as the first capital of West Virginia and home to the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.