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.
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.
In This Article
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.
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.
Get to Know the Advantage Valley
Want to learn more about living and working in the Advantage Valley of West Virginia? Check out the latest edition of Livability Advantage Valley.