Fastest Growing Cities in West Virginia (2026)

City
Rank
Annual Change
2026 Pop.
2020 Pop.
Charles Town16.27%9,9146,529
Ranson corporation22.06%6,9945,477
Moorefield31.66%2,6992,512
Westover40.59%4,1103,972
Martinsburg50.4%19,28718,741
Bridgeport60.37%9,4629,236
Star City70.33%1,8011,770
Granville80.29%1,3661,344
Morgantown90.22%30,35930,063
Shepherdstown10-0.07%1,5211,532
Romney11-0.11%1,7651,764
Belington12-0.17%1,8061,810
Buffalo13-0.17%1,1831,204
Terra Alta14-0.21%1,4101,421
Pleasant Valley15-0.23%3,4493,496
Petersburg16-0.26%2,2762,298
Ripley17-0.26%3,0303,077
West Liberty18-0.28%1,4251,449
Keyser19-0.31%4,7624,857
Philippi20-0.32%2,8372,873
Ravenswood21-0.32%3,7783,846
Barrackville22-0.33%1,1921,211
Kingwood23-0.34%2,9272,980
Williamstown24-0.41%2,9102,988
Winfield25-0.42%2,3712,455
Fairmont26-0.45%17,95318,426
Hurricane27-0.52%7,3296,946
Eleanor28-0.53%1,4891,550
Milton29-0.57%2,7762,849
Mannington30-0.58%1,8991,956
Vienna31-0.6%10,25910,627
Shinnston32-0.62%2,2272,308
Buckhannon33-0.63%5,0225,189
Grafton34-0.64%4,5004,711
Barboursville35-0.65%4,2794,436
Bethlehem36-0.67%2,5032,615
New Martinsville37-0.71%5,0035,212
Parkersburg38-0.73%28,38429,628
White Sulphur Springs39-0.75%2,1172,219
Nutter Fort40-0.76%1,4401,500
Athens41-0.76%1,1751,220
Summersville42-0.82%3,2703,422
Salem43-0.83%1,5571,631
Parsons44-0.86%1,2711,325
Stonewood45-0.86%1,7281,812
Elkins46-0.86%6,5656,923
Wayne47-0.87%1,3711,437
Richwood48-0.88%1,5841,663
Wheeling49-0.91%25,44726,934
Rainelle50-0.93%1,1691,237
Huntington51-0.97%44,38046,808
Ronceverte52-1.01%1,4771,568
New Haven53-1.01%1,3711,446
Nitro54-1.02%6,2066,583
Clarksburg55-1.02%15,40316,294
Lewisburg56-1.07%3,6813,920
Beckley57-1.08%16,19617,216
Point Pleasant58-1.09%3,8274,050
Chesapeake59-1.1%1,2561,334
Mabscott60-1.11%1,2451,325
Weirton61-1.15%17,92519,123
Chester62-1.15%2,0562,196
Hinton63-1.16%2,1242,263
Princeton64-1.17%5,5135,852
Bluefield65-1.17%9,0519,616
Marmet66-1.2%1,3991,492
Moundsville67-1.2%7,5678,068
Charleston68-1.2%45,56348,646
Weston69-1.2%3,6913,939
Sophia70-1.21%1,0631,134
McMechen71-1.25%1,5851,687
Ansted72-1.26%1,2571,348
St. Marys73-1.26%1,7241,836
Dunbar74-1.26%6,9617,457
Spencer75-1.27%1,8712,025
Glen Dale76-1.28%1,3861,478
South Charleston77-1.29%12,90413,834
Fayetteville78-1.29%2,6862,889
St. Albans79-1.29%10,07810,820
Benwood80-1.34%1,1801,268
Montgomery81-1.35%1,1701,260
Welch82-1.36%3,3433,597
Ceredo83-1.37%1,3001,403
Kenova84-1.37%2,8023,019
Belle85-1.38%1,0731,155
Oak Hill86-1.42%7,5218,149
Follansbee87-1.42%2,6302,840
Paden City88-1.43%2,3472,531
Glenville89-1.43%1,0321,115
Harrisville90-1.46%1,4891,624
Sistersville91-1.52%1,2991,403
Mount Hope92-1.62%1,2141,327
Oceana93-1.66%1,3591,489
Wellsburg94-1.69%2,2172,425
Madison95-1.76%2,6312,894
Mullens96-1.87%1,3111,458
Logan97-1.98%1,2861,431
Williamson98-2.54%2,6833,069

West Virginia Growth Overview

West Virginia's cities with over 1,000 residents show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2025. Charles Town leads with 6.27% annualized growth, followed by Ranson corporation (2.06%) and Moorefield (1.66%). The largest population centers are Charleston (45,563), Huntington (44,380), and Morgantown (30,359). Of the 98 cities over 1,000 population, 9 are growing while 89 experienced population decline. Overall, cities averaged -0.75% annualized growth, with total urban population growing by -3.25% annually.