1902 · Rev, John Moncure · Wikimedia Commons
Alderson’s story
Alderson in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 5 places on the National Register.
AldersonWV
A town of 1,383. Healthier than 95% of U.S. towns.
Population
1,383
−17.7% since 2010
Typical home
$182K
+6.2% in a year
Household income
$32K
median
Median age
53.3
years
Jobs based here
288
Balanced
What makes Alderson stand out
The 3 things Alderson does most differently from other towns.
100 U.S. towns● Alderson
Health
95% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than WV on 0 measures, worse on 1.
B+School Grade
Schools
Better than 68%
of WV districts
School Grade B+.
1902 · Rev, John MoncureHistory
6 archive photos & papers
5 places on the National Register
6 archive photos, postcards and papers.
A shrinking town
Alderson has shrunk 17.7% since 2010
1,184 people in 2010; 1,383 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Alderson’s report card
Now in Alderson
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Alderson? Is a D for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Alderson’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →50°
Fog
H 83° · L 56°
Local news
All →- Missing puppy returns to family thanks to help from community volunteersWOAY-TV · Jul 15
- Alderson honors America's 250th with week-long celebrationWOAY-TV · Jul 6
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Alderson. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Alderson beats the West Virginia average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
DHealth Grade
32 measures vs. West Virginia
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Alderson | WV |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults seeing a dentist | 51.8% | 55.5% |
Camc Greenbrier Valley Medical Center
9.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
44th
percentile among WV towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities.
72risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
179
paid flood claims since 1979
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Schools
Alderson’s public schools outperform 68% of West Virginia districts
The public schools Alderson’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 68% of West Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alderson Elementary | PK–5 | 186 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Alderson has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–45°
Spring41–66°
Summer60–83°
Fall43–67°
Oct 17
typical first frost
Apr 26
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Alderson
Most working residents leave Alderson for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Lewisburg (16%), Fairlea (5%) and Beckley (4%). Half commute less than 18 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Alderson2%
Lewisburg16%
Fairlea5%
Beckley4%
Charleston3%
18 mi
median commute distance
288
jobs based in Alderson
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Crime reported in Alderson
8 crimes were reported in Alderson in 2025: 8 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Alderson is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
8
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
2.8% of Alderson is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
2.8%conserved
2.8%
conserved · 17 of 608 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Alderson Recreation Area | — | 17 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
A typical Alderson home is worth about $182K
The typical Alderson home is worth about $182,000, up 6.2% in a year, close to the West Virginia typical home.
$182KZillow home value
Typical home value
Alderson$182K
West Virginia$180K
+6.2%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Small town
1,383 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Landmarks
5 places in Alderson on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Alderson
3 notable people were born in Alderson.
About Alderson
Town in West Virginia, United States
Alderson is a town in Greenbrier and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, on both sides of the Greenbrier River. The population was 975 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 975
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,549 ft
- ZIP code
- 24910
- Area code
- 304
More about Alderson
Still missing for Alderson:upcoming events