Welch is a city in and the county seat of McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,590 at the 2020 census. Welch was incorporated as a city in 1893.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Welch ranks

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#1Most affordable in WV #1Fastest growing in WV #2Cheapest rent in WV All WV rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code24801

Area code304

Living in Welch

Housing in Welch

$54K▼ 10% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Welch home is worth about $54,000, down 10% in a year, 70% below the West Virginia typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Welch

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About one in 4 of Welch’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Charleston (4%), Princeton (2%) and Beckley (2%). Half commute less than 25 miles.

Charleston

Princeton

Beckley

Iaeger

28%Work in townlive and work in Welch 25 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,560Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Welch →

Health in Welch

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 1% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with West Virginia

4better than WV·16worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 12 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▲ 1▼ 7 close Habits 3▼ 1 close Care 6▼ 1 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.3%Fewer adults who have had cancerWV 9.6% · better 30%Fewer adults with arthritisWV 37.7% · better 22.7%More adults facing a utility shut-offWV 11% · worse

Care nearby

Welch Community HospitalWelch · 0.8 mi · ER

New River Health Association - WelchWelch · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Welch · CMS · HRSAHealth in Welch →

Natural hazards in Welch

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 94% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

211Does Welch flood?paid flood claims since 1978 11Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Welch

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Welch →

Climate in Welch

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Welch has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 20 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

46° / 26°Winter

67° / 41°Spring

83° / 61°Summer

67° / 43°Fall

How much snow does Welch get?About 20 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 28, with the last in spring around Apr 16.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Welch →

Schools in Welch

All Welch schools →

D⁻

School Grade D-

The public schools Welch’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 96% of West Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Welch’s schools compare in WV →

DistrictMcDowell County SchoolsSchools3

Welch Elementary School D-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 189 students Mount View High School D-High · Grades 6–12 · 521 students McDowell Career & Technology CenterHigh · Grades 9–12

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within WV. Ratings are from neighbors.