Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · West Virginia

Best Places to Live in West Virginia

Every West Virginia county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Preston County leads at 78/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, West Virginia ranks #21 for homesteading and #16 for off-grid living.

Home
West Virginia
0 counties

Loading West Virginia…

Tap a county to see its score

LowHigh

Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in West Virginia

    How West Virginia treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 55 West Virginia counties, ranked

    1. 1Preston County78
    2. 2Monroe County73
    3. 3Webster County70
    4. 4Nicholas County69
    5. 5Pocahontas County69
    6. 6Upshur County68
    7. 7Randolph County67
    8. 8Ritchie County67
    9. 9Barbour County66
    10. 10Lewis County66
    11. 11Summers County66
    12. 12Mercer County66
    13. 13Doddridge County66
    14. 14Marshall County66
    15. 15Hampshire County65
    16. 16Grant County65
    17. 17Tyler County65
    18. 18Braxton County65
    19. 19Mason County65
    20. 20Jackson County65
    21. 21Calhoun County65
    22. 22Wirt County65
    23. 23Pleasants County64
    24. 24Roane County64
    25. 25Clay County64
    26. 26Hardy County64
    27. 27Mineral County64
    28. 28Wyoming County64
    29. 29Pendleton County64
    30. 30Morgan County63
    31. 31Greenbrier County63
    32. 32Gilmer County63
    33. 33Marion County62
    34. 34Wayne County62
    35. 35Tucker County62
    36. 36Wetzel County62
    37. 37Fayette County61
    38. 38Raleigh County61
    39. 39McDowell County61
    40. 40Logan County60
    41. 41Wood County59
    42. 42Lincoln County58
    43. 43Taylor County57
    44. 44Kanawha County56
    45. 45Harrison County56
    46. 46Boone County55
    47. 47Monongalia County55
    48. 48Cabell County54
    49. 49Brooke County54
    50. 50Putnam County53
    51. 51Mingo County52
    52. 52Hancock County52
    53. 53Ohio County51
    54. 54Berkeley County50
    55. 55Jefferson County42

    ← All states