Home > WV > Charleston > Where to Live Now > 5 Reasons to Move to Advantage Valley, WV Right Now

5 Reasons to Move to Advantage Valley, WV Right Now

Find out what's drawing people to this stunning and bustling region of West Virginia.

By Rebecca Treon on October 23, 2023

Aerial shot of the Advantage Valley region of West Virginia.
GC Wendell

The Mountain State is calling! It’s easy to see why Advantage Valley is attractive to residents and businesses, with quality-of-life assets like the four distinct seasons and the Appalachian Mountains. Here are other reasons why many more people choose Advantage Valley to live, work and play. 

1. Enjoy a Comfortable Cost of Living

One of the most attractive things about Advantage Valley is its affordable cost of living. Even in cities like Charleston, where the median home price is $156,000 and in Huntington, where the median home price is $115,000, housing is more affordable than the national average (Zillow, July 2023). Beyond the city, neighboring counties offer more spacious options. The region also boasts a cost-of-living index that’s lower than the national average: Charleston’s is 80.9 and Huntington’s is 75.4 compared to the national average of 100. 

2. Work in a Diverse Economy

Advantage Valley has a diverse economy and is actively seeking to attract more companies, especially in the sectors of aerospace/aviation, automotive parts, polymers/chemicals, metal fabrication, food and beverage production, technology and office services. The region is also strong in solar and other alternative energies, and manufacturing remains a key economic sector that continues to attract more companies. By the way, more than 260,000 trained workers inhabit the labor shed.

Find the perfect work-life balance in the Advantage Valley.
Crystal Castle

3. Build Your Business Here 

Advantage Valley not only boasts a diverse economy across several sectors but offers ample resources for entrepreneurs. At the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center, participants have a space to experiment and develop their ideas. The Maker’s Vault is a place to help entrepreneurs with services including design engineering and prototyping. In addition to the West Virginia Small Business Development Center, that offers support to entrepreneurs, another resource is FASTER WV, which helps identify, encourage and support local businesses with one on one no cost business coaching, classes and access to capital. 

Bonus: Superior Cuisine Scene

Local chefs here are at the top of their game: Chef Ramin Mirzakhani of Laury’s, the French-inspired riverfront restaurant in Charleston, was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award, while Chef Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge Restaurant in Charleston was a finalist for the James Beard Award for his American food with a Southern twist.

4. Have Fun in the Outdoors

Outdoors enthusiasts will find Advantage Valley offers limitless options; its robust recreation offerings include miles of trails, rivers, wildlife management systems and breathtaking views. Locals know why the area is nicknamed “almost heaven” – the Hatfield-McCoy Trails are one of the world’s largest off-road trail systems. Bonus: the region is close to not only world class whitewater in the New River Gorge National Recreation Park, but offers exceptional hiking, biking and flat water trails to explore.

5. Go to College for Free

Advantage Valley has a nationally recognized K-12 education system. Additionally, any graduating high school student can have their entire tuition paid in full if they attend one of the region’s community and technical colleges. Students’ tuition will be paid at BridgeValley Community & Technical College in South Charleston, and Mountwest Community & Technical College in Huntington as part of this state-funded West Virginia Invests grant program.

Array ( [0] => 172391 [1] => 172331 [2] => 172429 [3] => 172303 [4] => 150304 )
Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( [0] => 172391 [1] => 172331 [2] => 172429 [3] => 172303 [4] => 150304 )

More To Read

Newsletter Sign Up

Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles!
Enter your email to be added to our mailing list.