Nitro’s story
Nitro in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
NitroWV
A town of 6,853. Nearly 2.7% of it is conserved land.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: SuperDalio · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
6,853
−7.7% since 2010
Typical home
$144K
−0.8% in a year
Household income
$54K
median
Median age
44.5
years
Jobs based here
2,613
Balanced
What makes Nitro stand out
The 3 things Nitro does most differently from other towns.
7 miof trails
Outdoors
#10 most trails in WV
6.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
2.7% of the town is conserved land.
$144Ktypical home
Housing
$144K typical home
20% below the WV typical home
Down 0.8% in a year.
100 U.S. towns● Nitro
Health
90% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than WV on 2 measures, worse on 0.
Nitro’s report card
Outdoors7 mi#10 for trails in WVHousing$144K20% below the WV typical homeHazards98/100Very high risk of storm & flood damageHealthDHealthier than 10% of U.S. townsSafetyDLess crime than 10% of U.S. townsSchoolsCBeats 34% of WV districtsClimate87°/25°Summer high · winter low · 11″ snowCommute12 miHalf of commuters travel less
Now in Nitro
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Nitro is #56 of 60 in WV for “Most remote workers”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Nitro’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →72°
Light Rain
H 82° · L 55°
Local news
All →- Crane dismantled after falling, damaging Nitro church; here's what we knowCharleston Gazette-Mail · Sep 24
- Multiple vehicles involved in crash along I-64 West in NitroWCHS · Sep 11
- Following state runner-up season, Collin Beckner steps in to lead NitroWV MetroNews · Aug 6
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Nitro. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
2.7% of Nitro is conserved land
6.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
#10for trails in WV
2.7%
conserved · 103 of 3,771 acres
6.7 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
#27
most conserved land in WV
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ridenour Memorial Park | 2.9 mi | 82 |
| 2. Robert C. Byrd Boat Launch | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
A typical Nitro home is worth about $144K
The typical Nitro home is worth about $144,000, down 0.8% in a year, 20% below the West Virginia typical home.
$144KZillow home value
Typical home value
Nitro$144K
West Virginia$180K
Market temperature
60
days on market
91.5%
sale-to-list price
−0.8%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 98% of U.S. communities.
98risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
35
paid flood claims since 1980
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
Healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Nitro beats the West Virginia average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
DHealth Grade
32 measures vs. West Virginia
2 better30 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Nitro | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults seeing a dentist | 60.7% | 55.5% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 70% | 66.5% |
Thomas Memorial Hospital
5.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
60th
percentile among WV towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 10% of U.S. towns
Nitro reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 90% report less.
DSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Nitro1.6
West Virginia2.7
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Nitro37.2
West Virginia10.9
U.S.15.5
10th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
17th
percentile among WV towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
235
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Schools
Nitro’s public schools outperform 34% of West Virginia districts
The public schools Nitro’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 66% of West Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
CSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitro Elementary School | PK–5 | 377 | B− |
| Nitro High School | 9–12 | 818 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Nitro has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–46°
Spring43–68°
Summer63–86°
Fall46–69°
Oct 30
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Nitro
Most working residents leave Nitro for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Charleston (26%), South Charleston (6%) and Teays Valley (4%). Half commute less than 12 miles.
5%work in town
Where working residents work
In Nitro5%
Charleston26%
South Charleston6%
Teays Valley4%
Cross Lanes3%
12 mi
median commute distance
2,613
jobs based in Nitro
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
About Nitro
City in West Virginia, US
Nitro is a city in Kanawha and Putnam counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It takes its name from a World War I-era nitrocellulose plant. The population was 6,618 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Charleston metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 6,624
- Area
- 5.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 594 ft
- ZIP code
- 25143
Nitro’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Nitro.
Cross LanesInstituteJeffersonTeays ValleyNitro
More about Nitro
Still missing for Nitro:archive photosupcoming events