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Living in
Cross Lanes.
Cross Lanes is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County, WV. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Cross Lanes
Cross Lanes is a community of 10,172 people in West Virginia. The median household income is $63,537, median rent runs about $949 per month, and median home values are around $154,000. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Cross Lanes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
91.6%
of households
Population Growth
+9.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from England
Who lives in Cross Lanes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cross Lanes, the largest foreign-born group is from England (32.5%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.9%
of residents
65 and Older
23.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.2%
of households
Married Couples
49.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.07
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% above WV average
Rent, home values, and income in Cross Lanes
In Cross Lanes, rent runs 9% above the WV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,009
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WV
Unemployment in Cross Lanes
Unemployment in Kanawha County, which includes Cross Lanes, is close to the WV average.
Unemployment rate
Cross Lanes: Kanawha County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kanawha County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Commute25.8 min avg
How Cross Lanes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cross Lanes, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Yeager Airport (CRW)
Regional airport · few flights220k 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 22% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, which covers Cross Lanes, runs 22% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
402.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,213.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Kanawha County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 43 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kanawha County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kanawha County, which includes Cross Lanes, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 43 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | $53,200 |
| 2024 | 28 | Strong Wind | $805,400 |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.5M |
| 2022 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $272,500 |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $727,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2018 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $332,500 |
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
Kanawha County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kanawha County, which includes Cross Lanes, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
84
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Kanawha County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cross Lanes has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.2"
Annual Snowfall
10.7"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
157
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 23°F | 3.47" |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 3.27" |
| Mar | 56°F | 31°F | 4.40" |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 4.12" |
| May | 76°F | 51°F | 5.19" |
| Jun | 83°F | 60°F | 4.44" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 5.79" |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 3.69" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 3.52" |
| Oct | 68°F | 42°F | 3.11" |
| Nov | 57°F | 32°F | 3.14" |
| Dec | 47°F | 27°F | 4.08" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cross Lanes
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cross Lanes's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Thomas Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · South Charleston
Camc Charleston Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 10.2 mi away · Charleston
Charleston Area Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Charleston
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cross Lanes
Cross Lanes's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 32.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Cross Lanes
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston
Private for-profit · 2-year · 394 students · in-state tuition $22,025 · 56% graduate · median earnings $32,951 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,259 students · in-state tuition $33,990 · 56% graduate · median earnings $56,207 (10 yrs after entry)
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
6.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,854 students · in-state tuition $5,800 · 45% graduate · median earnings $42,493 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-West Virginia
7.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 234 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 16% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (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: Gauley River National Recreation Area, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cross Lanes
Cross Lanes has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gauley River National Recreation Area (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
45 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
57 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
74 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cross Lanes
Cross Lanes
5449 Big Tyler Rd., Cross Lanes
Cities Near Cross Lanes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cross Lanes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cross Lanes FAQ
Is Cross Lanes, West Virginia affordable?⌄
Cross Lanes's median rent is $949/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,537/year. Median home value is $153,800.
Is Cross Lanes, West Virginia safe?⌄
Cross Lanes is policed by the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 402 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1213 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cross Lanes, West Virginia?⌄
Kanawha County, which includes Cross Lanes, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cross Lanes, West Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Cross Lanes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $949/month and median household income is $63,537/year. The median home value is $153,800. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cross Lanes, West Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Cross Lanes is 26 minutes, which is about 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