City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Ripley, WV

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ripley - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,066
Residents
$35,120
Median income
$119,300
Median home
$869
Median rent (state)

Ripley - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Ripley lands in the 5th percentile for household income and the 67th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

5th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
67th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ripley, WV

West Virginia's Ripley is a small town, with 3,066 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Ripley brings in $35,120 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.4%. Ripley's housing stock carries a median value of $119,300, and the median resident age is 44.9 years. About 20.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Ripley (No Permits), per Census BPS data. Ripley reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 922.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 54.9°F with 46.0 inches of precipitation per year and 11.6 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $869 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $220 across West Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Ripley report an average commute of 22.4 minutes, with 79.2% driving alone and 6.7% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 56.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

3,066 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$35,120 /yr

Poverty 15.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Ripley compare to other US cities?

Ripley measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities
Safety 67% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at West Virginia, Ripley ranks #11 of 45 West Virginia cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Ripley against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to West Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

West Virginia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Ripley near the bottom of West Virginia's cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Ripley ranks #253 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ripley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#271 of 330
18th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#253 of 390
0th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#136 of 337
60th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#142 of 389
63rd percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#129 of 390
67th percentile in West Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within West Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

5thIncome percentile
67thSafety percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income · 67th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Ripley's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Ripley's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Ripley's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Ripley's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$119,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ripley $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ripley, WV Ripley, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ripley, WV-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ripley, WV median $35,120/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ripley, WV's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ripley, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,066
Median Income
$35,120
Median Home Value
$119,300
Median Age
44.9
Poverty Rate
15.4%
Labor force participation
47.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
922.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
98.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
823.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.9°F
Annual Precipitation
46.0"
Annual Snowfall
11.6"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,020 residents3,040 residents3,060 residents3,080 residents3,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,077 residents 3,038 residents ▼ -1.3%
Ripley's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 2
2021 0
2022 1
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.4 minutes
Drive Alone
79.2%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
14.1%
Work from Home
6.7%

Based on 1,274 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a West Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ripley sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$869/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
56.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Kingwood
2,980 people
Williamson
2,979 people
Kenova
2,977 people
Williamstown
2,977 people
Culloden
3,158 people
Petersburg
3,172 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ripley's 3,066 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Orchard Park, NY
3,066 people
Salunga, PA
3,066 people
Monument Beach, MA
3,067 people
Potterville, MI
3,065 people
Sewell, NJ
3,065 people
Vails Gate, NY
3,065 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ripley's $35,120 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Newcomerstown, OH
$35,125 median income
Keswick, CA
$35,114 median income
Standish, MI
$35,114 median income
Fort Meade, FL
$35,131 median income
Charleston, MO
$35,139 median income
Alford, IN
$35,147 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ripley, WV Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ripley, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 93.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 2.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ripley compares to nearby West Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ripley (this city) 3,066 $35,120
Kingwood 2,980 $67,411
Williamson 2,979 $24,119
Kenova 2,977 $53,438
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ripley, WV?

What is the population of Ripley, WV? +

3,066 people live in Ripley, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ripley, WV? +

In Ripley, the typical household earns $35,120 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ripley? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ripley; the closest available measure is the West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

Is Ripley, WV safe? +

Ripley has a total crime rate of 922.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Ripley, WV? +

Homes in Ripley carry a median value of $119,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ripley? +

Climate normals put Ripley's yearly average temperature at 54.9°F, 46.0 inches of precipitation, and 11.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.