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WV area data

Lester, WV

Lester, WV.

Population: 1,573 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Lester, WV is $159,080 — up 2.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $56,500 after a median 98 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with icestorm, inlandflooding, landslide the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$159,080

Median home value

+2.5%

1-year change

98

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$159,080
1-year appreciation
+2.5%
3-year appreciation
+12.5%
5-year appreciation
+26.5%
10-year appreciation
+60.9%
All-time peak (2025-03)
$164,499
House Price Index (state)
322.2 (-1.4% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$56,500
Median days on market
98 days
Homes sold (recent period)
1
For-sale inventory
4
Sale-to-list ratio
78.5%
Active listings
1
1-year forecast
+3.0%

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$667/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$834/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,057/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,374/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,586/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
86.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
15.4¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$13.80/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
iceStorm, inlandFlooding, landslide, lightning, strongWind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
avalanche: Relatively Low · coldWave: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone
A
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 77% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
60.0%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Shaffer Equipment/Arbuckle Creek Area (22.4 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
79.0°F
Average high
80.0°F
Average low
78.0°F
Annual precipitation
48.3 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
6b (extreme annual low -5 to 0°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
4,432
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
3,538

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
3
Nearest national park
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve (23 mi)
National parks include
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Bluestone National Scenic River, Gauley River National Recreation Area
Airports within 30 mi
5
Nearest airport
Mike Ferrell Field (11 mi)
Nearest major airport
Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) (14 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
339
Hospitals include
ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL WEST, AN AFFILIATE OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+6 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,989
Housing built before 1970
11.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
26.2%
Median annual property tax
$1,016
Households with broadband internet
57.3%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
26,114
Average weekly wage
$968
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Mining
Annual residential building permits (county)
41

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

LesterState medianUS median
Median home value$159,080$143,288$289,727
Median sale price$56,500$186,000$325,000
Median days on market98 days64 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,016$633$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Lester, WV?
$159,080.
What is the median sale price in Lester, WV?
$56,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Lester, WV?
Median days on market: 98 days.
What is typical rent in Lester, WV?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,057/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Lester, WV?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, inlandFlooding, landslide, lightning, strongWind.
Is Lester, WV in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A.
What is the wildfire risk in Lester, WV?
Risk to homes is higher than 77% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Lester, WV?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Lester, WV?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
Is Lester, WV walkable?
Walkability index: 6.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in Lester, WV?
Regional Price Parity: 86.5 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Lester

Selling a home in Lester, WV?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents