Hurricane, WV — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·West Virginia·Hurricane

Putnam County · Huntington-Ashland · population 6,813

First-time buyersShrinkingSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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67
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Hurricane stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 4.2% in the last year. population shrinking 0.5% per year.

Median home $271,407
1-year +4.2%
5-yr CAGR +5.6%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.5%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$271k$159k$200k$241k$282k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
10/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
56/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
71 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
68 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
37 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
59 · w10%
Long thesis

Hurricane has held up across the cycle: home values at $271,407 with +5.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Hurricane's population is shrinking 0.5% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About Hurricane

Hurricane is a city in Putnam County, West Virginia, with an estimated population of 6,813. It anchors the Huntington-Ashland metro area. The population has contracted 0.5% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Hurricane is $271,407 as of 2026-04, up 4.2% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 67 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +5.6% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +4.2% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

●Flat or shrinking population: -0.5% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
○Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Putnam County right now.

NWS active alerts (WV)West Virginia Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Putnam County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Hurricane

Buckhannon, WV65 · RisingSouth Charleston, WV64 · RisingMartinsburg, WV72 · RisingBridgeport, WV65 · Rising

Run the numbers for Hurricane

ToolCan I afford Hurricane?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Hurricane rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Hurricane to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolHurricane cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
41° / 23°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
83° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
178
~49% of year
Annual precip
44″ rain
32″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
High

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Hurricane listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Huntington-Ashland area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
73%
Humid climate
Median household income
$55,200
West Virginia state median
Top industries (state-level)
HealthcareMining/CoalManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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