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Living in
Clarksburg.
About
Life in Clarksburg
Living in Clarksburg means settling into a quiet, affordable city in North Central West Virginia where the cost of living won't drain your savings account—median home values hover around $129,900 and rent averages $790 a month—but you should be realistic about what's driving the economy. The job market is stable with unemployment around 3.8%, though career growth opportunities are limited compared to larger metros, and the median household income of around $47,386 reflects a working-class city where most people work in established sectors rather than startups or specialized industries. The community here has real character rooted in immigrant heritage and industrial history—Irish, Italian, Greek, and Belgian families built this place during its glass-making heyday in the early 1900s, and that legacy still shows up in the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival each Labor Day weekend and the Black Heritage Festival every September, along with local events like Jesus Fest and the Born & Bred Concert Series that highlight Appalachian musicians.
Clarksburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.5%
Foreign-Born
1.0%
Broadband Internet
85.5%
of households
Population Growth
-4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Clarksburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Clarksburg, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (21.1%), and 0.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.0%
of households
Married Couples
33.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% below WV average
Rent, home values, and income in Clarksburg
In Clarksburg, rent runs 9% below the WV average, and home values are 20% below the WV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$783
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1948
median year built
Vacant Homes
17.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $116,886 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WV average
Unemployment in Clarksburg
Unemployment in Harrison County, which includes Clarksburg, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WV average.
Unemployment rate
Clarksburg: Harrison County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Harrison County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Clarksburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.9 min avg
How Clarksburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Clarksburg, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB)
Regional airport · few flights41k passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Medium hub4.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 16% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Clarksburg runs 16% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
278
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,204.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Clarksburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Harrison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Harrison County, which includes Clarksburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Flash Flood | $149,150 |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,250 |
| 2023 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $725,650 |
| 2022 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $65,250 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $79,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Strong Wind | $94,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $81,500 |
| 2018 | 16 | Winter Weather | $49,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Harrison County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Harrison County, which includes Clarksburg, is typically good.
Median AQI
33
Harrison County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Clarksburg has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.2"
Annual Snowfall
23.8"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
158
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 3.54" |
| Feb | 43°F | 23°F | 3.39" |
| Mar | 52°F | 30°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 65°F | 39°F | 4.08" |
| May | 75°F | 50°F | 4.78" |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 4.85" |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 5.33" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.96" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.67" |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.34" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 3.32" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 3.81" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Clarksburg
Clarksburg has 2 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Clarksburg VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Highland-clarksburg Hospital, Inc.
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
United Hospital Center, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Bridgeport
Mon Health Marion
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.9 mi away · Whitehall
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Clarksburg
Clarksburg's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Clarksburg (within 15 miles)
Pierpont Community and Technical College
12.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 959 students · in-state tuition $5,762 · 36% graduate · median earnings $38,209 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Friendship Hill National Historic Site, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Clarksburg
Clarksburg has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Friendship Hill National Historic Site (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Friendship Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayFort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
53 mi awayGauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
83 mi awayFlight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Clarksburg
Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library
404 W. Pike Street, Clarksburg
Cities Near Clarksburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Clarksburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Clarksburg FAQ
Is Clarksburg, West Virginia affordable?⌄
Clarksburg's median rent is $790/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,386/year. Median home value is $129,900.
Is Clarksburg, West Virginia safe?⌄
Clarksburg's violent crime rate was 278 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2205 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Clarksburg, West Virginia?⌄
Harrison County, which includes Clarksburg, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Clarksburg, West Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Clarksburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $790/month and median household income is $47,386/year. The median home value is $129,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Clarksburg, West Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Clarksburg is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from