City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Romney, WV

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

1,714
Residents
$39,118
Median income
$150,000
Median home
$1,573
Median rent (state)

Romney - the verdict

Romney ranks in the 7th percentile for household income and the 54th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

7th
percentile, household income
27th
percentile, home value
62nd
percentile, median rent
54th
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: Romney, WV

Romney is a small town in West Virginia, home to 1,714 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Romney households earn a median of $39,118 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 32.5%. Typical homes in Romney are valued around $150,000, and the median resident age is 50.8 years. Educational attainment runs 14.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 38.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Romney (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. Romney reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1257.8 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 52.6°F with 38.2 inches of precipitation per year and 29.1 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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,573 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). The average commute for Romney workers runs 24.4 minutes, with 87.3% driving alone and 4.9% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 38.0 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,714 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$39,118 /yr

Poverty 32.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Romney compare to other US cities?

Here's how Romney stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 27% pricier than other cities
Median rent 62% pricier than other cities
Safety 54% 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, Romney ranks #16 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 Romney 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 is Romney's strongest outlier among West Virginia cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Romney ranks #1 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Romney only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#254 of 330
23rd percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 390
99th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#94 of 337
72nd percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#43 of 389
89th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#199 of 390
49th 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.

7thIncome percentile
54thSafety percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income · 54th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Romney's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Romney'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 39 Avg. percentile National median
Romney'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 Romney's home value compares nationally

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

$150,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Romney $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 - Romney, WV Romney, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Romney, 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 Romney, WV median $39,118/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%
Romney, 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 Romney, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 32.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 38.1%

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

Population
1,714
Median Income
$39,118
Median Home Value
$150,000
Median Age
50.8
Poverty Rate
32.5%
Labor force participation
38.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1257.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
628.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
628.9
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
52.6°F
Annual Precipitation
38.2"
Annual Snowfall
29.1"

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 →
1,755 residents1,760 residents1,765 residents1,770 residents1,775 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,764 residents 1,767 residents ▲ +0.2%
Romney's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 2
2022 2
2023 5
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.4 minutes
Drive Alone
87.3%
Carpool
2.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.2%
Work from Home
4.9%

Based on 553 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 Romney sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,573/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
38.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

McMechen
1,735 people
New Haven
1,735 people
Logan
1,736 people
Mannington
1,679 people
Eleanor
1,655 people
Sophia
1,654 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Romney's 1,714 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fern Acres, HI
1,714 people
Lucasville, OH
1,714 people
Eddington, PA
1,714 people
Mountain, CO
1,713 people
Auburn, KY
1,715 people
Hancock, MD
1,715 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Romney's $39,118 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Robstown, TX
$39,124 median income
Munford, AL
$39,125 median income
North Anson, ME
$39,125 median income
Vanceboro, NC
$39,125 median income
East Side, PA
$39,125 median income
Rocky Ford, GA
$39,107 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Romney, 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 Romney, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.1% 7.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.5% White 90.1% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 7.5% 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 Romney 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
Romney (this city) 1,714 $39,118
McMechen 1,735 $42,863
New Haven 1,735 $56,500
Logan 1,736 $31,100
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Romney, WV?

What is the population of Romney, WV? +

Romney, WV has a population of 1,714 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Romney runs $39,118, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Romney? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Romney; 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 Romney, WV safe? +

Romney has a total crime rate of 1257.8 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 Romney, WV? +

A typical home in Romney is worth $150,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Romney? +

Climate normals put Romney's yearly average temperature at 52.6°F, 38.2 inches of precipitation, and 29.1 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

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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.