There’s hardly much to do in West Virginia other than hiking and biking, while it’s true that the state is ideal for these outdoor activities.
If they relocated here, the typical young adult would struggle to continue living the cool lifestyle they are accustomed to. Entertainment is available in more energetic areas like Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington, of course, but it’s still scarce.
Previous residents largely described their lifestyle as “home to school and back” with little to do in the rural areas, which may be of interest to anyone considering relocation. On the other hand, if you live in an urban region, the typical movers Morgantown, WV, provides could provide you suggestions on how to make the most of the city.
Furthermore, even in the state capital, West Virginia is not the most diversified state. White people make up around 90% of the population, and most of them are elderly. Even though they adore the town, the typical exploring kid typically feels out of place, which is one of the many reasons they should leave West Virginia.
High Poverty Rate
The Mountain State is one of the three poorest states in the country, with a poverty rate of roughly 17.9%. The average life expectancy in the nation is the second lowest at 72.7 years, which is consistent with these appalling statistics.
In the United States, West Virginia has the lowest levels of higher education; only over 23.1% of its citizens hold a bachelor’s degree.
With 86,400 children living below the federal poverty line in 2022, the state has the second-highest rate of child poverty in the nation. It’s enough to make anyone consider moving away, given that this state has the second lowest median household income in the country.
- Average Household Income: $52,460
- Unemployment Rate: 4.30%
- Poverty Rate: 17.9%
- Life Expectancy Rate: 72.7 years
Terrible Healthcare
The deficiency of health facilities in West Virginia is a major contributing factor to the state’s population decline.
Healthcare workers are in low supply in West Virginia, particularly in rural and suburban regions. Residents have restricted access to health centers and typically have to wait longer to talk with a professional.
Not good news for any people, the Mountain State comes in second place among states with the highest number of avoidable deaths. The death rate in West Virginia is higher than the birth rate and has been for more than ten years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
It is ranked 46th in the nation and is grappling with a serious opioid problem. It also has one of the highest rates of overdose deaths nationwide. It’s even harder to afford the service when so few residents even have access to health insurance.
Shortage of Quality Housing
Is housing present in West Virginia? Yes, indeed. Are the most of them of high quality? Alright, no.
It just appears impossible to afford to buy or rent a home and make mortgage payments for high-quality residences in West Virginia because of the state’s high poverty rate and the majority of its citizens’ poor income status.
There is a deficiency of around 29,072 reasonably priced and accessible rental properties in the state for low-income tenants, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. For those who are able to pay, housing accounts for over half of their income, leaving them significantly cost-burdened.
Furthermore, the state isn’t exactly a hotbed of real estate investment activity. It’s not good that there aren’t many new homes being built; instead, locals must live in outdated, decaying houses.
Renovations aren’t particularly prevalent among the residents because of the state. The typical person in this area cannot afford it because it is rather pricey.
If you wish to remain in West Virginia, however, you have the considerably more cost-effective option of building a little house.
Poor Government Services
The state of West Virginia’s economy remains weak and underperforming in 2024, and the state’s essential basic services are still subpar.
As was previously said, the state has high rates of poverty and inadequate access to healthcare; yet, these issues are the result of subpar government services.
West Virginia has historically low per capita income rates, which has led to the state having low sales tax and other levies to finance various city initiatives.
Furthermore, a lot of city dwellers aren’t very fond of the politics and games that the government plays. Some protested against the government’s attempt to bring in remote laborers in 2021, arguing that the money should have been used to support the impoverished homes in the villages.
Cold Winters
WV is losing residents; why? Well, one small reason why people are packing their bags and leaving the state is the brisk winter wind. Really, it’s more or less a breaking point explanation.
Although most residents—especially those who have lived here their entire lives—have likely grown accustomed to the mountain state’s low temperatures, they still don’t feel at ease there.
Because West Virginia is situated on a mountain, it is an elevated region with high snowfall and difficult average weather. Recall that West Virginia is often a poor state with high interior heating expenses that can be hard to afford.
While the national average for winter temperatures is between 40° and 60°, West Virginia has lows of 20° to 30°.
Who could blame them if a large number of residents are moving out to areas with higher temperatures and milder winters?
Conclusion
Why is there a decline in population in West Virginia? There are numerous reasons behind the rise in the number of West Virginians leaving the state.
While every person has a different set of motivations, the big population of movers shares certain commonalities, such as a dearth of employment possibilities, a high percentage of poverty, and subpar healthcare.
Recall that the Mountain State is a wonderful location to live, so don’t let these arguments discourage you from visiting. It should, however, give you an idea of what to anticipate when you do visit.
