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Beckley

Beckley

Located in Raleigh County

$169,543 Average Value
$102 Average Price per Sq Ft
83 Homes For Sale

Southern West Virginia’s central city of opportunity

Beckley is known as the “Gateway to Southern West Virginia.” The city is in a rural setting atop the Allegheny Plateau, but its location along major roadways has turned it into a commercial hub. It’s the county seat of Raleigh County and has grown from its coal-mining roots to more than 17,000 people, making it the most populous city in the county and ninth-most in the state. It’s close to West Virginia’s vast outdoor recreation, and offers job opportunities in education and healthcare. “I was born and raised here, and I’ve seen the city go through some changes, but it’s a really generous place,” says Councilman Tom Sopher, also the former President of the Raleigh County Historical Society. “Now we are the core of Southern West Virginia.”

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Experience the perfect start to your day with breathtaking sunrises on Harper Road in Beckley, WV.
Experience the perfect start to your day with breathtaking sunrises on Harper Road in Beckley, WV.
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Competitive housing market in Beckley

Most homes are older single-family properties, including ranch-style houses, farmhouses and Cape Cods. Communities like Grand View, located near the New River Gorge, fetch higher prices and have large floor plans, while Victorian architecture from the 1870s can be found in boom towns like Hinton. Although the median sales price has risen to $159,500 in recent years, the number is still lower than the national median of $420,000. As Beckley continues to grow, homes are moving quickly. "Most homes are only on the market for a day or two,” Sopher says. “When people come to Beckley for a job, they’ll move into an apartment first and then search for a home once they’re here.”

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Exploring the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is an official stop on the National Coal Heritage Trail and explores the city’s ties to coal mining. “It’s a rarity, and it’s our history. Our economy depended on coal mining for so many years," Sopher says. Similarly, the Historic Thurmond District is a preserved boomtown. "It feels like you really go through some of the boom of early America when you visit these ghost towns," says Randy Burdette, an area local and Realtor with Foxfire Realty.

Tamarack Marketplace is right off Interstate 64 and was established in 1989. The shopping center showcases West Virginia-made handicrafts, fine art and cuisine. The artisan gallery and market has over 20,000 works of art displayed and hosts theater and outdoor concerts in the summer.

The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is an official stop on the National Coal Heritage Trail and explores the city’s ties to coal mining.
The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is an official stop on the National Coal Heritage Trail and explores the city’s ties to coal mining.
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Route 19 doubles as a retail center

As a crossroads of nearby highways, Beckley offers plentiful access to the region's shopping and dining. Beckley Plaza Shopping Mall and Beckley Crossing Shopping Center are on Route 19 with big-box stores and national-brand retailers.

The city is also filled with regional and national restaurant chains, sports bars, and casual eateries that specialize in Southern-style cooking. According to Sopher, Beckley is known for being Southern West Virginia's hotspot for brand favorites, but Beckley Crossing also has locally owned restaurants like Padrinos Italian and Rancho Grande Mexican Grill.

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White-water rafting in the New River

Closer to home, Beckley Parks and Recreation operates 12 parks. One of the highlights is the Historic Black Knight, which is was a former country club. The now public space offers two swimming pools and a 9-hole golf course on South Kanawha Street.

However, the city is in prime location to enjoy some of West Virginia’s most expansive park systems. The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is 8 miles northeast with hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and hunting. The river is open to fishing and has some of the best white-water rafting on the East Coast. Little Beaver State Park offers similar amenities 10 miles away, while Summit Bechtel Reserve is nearby adventure center for the Boy Scouts of America.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve protects the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains.
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve protects the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains.
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Raleigh County’s quality education system

Beckley is part of Raleigh County Schools, which rates a B-minus on Niche. The school district has around 11,000 students and 27 schools.

West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a public, four-year college with an enrollment of 1,600 students. The school offers multiple programs, including nursing and engineering and recently added five new engineering lab spaces to its campus.

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Crossroads of Interstates 64 and 77

New River Transit Authority serves both the Fayette and Raleigh counties, providing local and regional bus services with two specific bus routes in Beckley. Interstate 64 runs through the city and connects to Interstate 77 to the south. U.S. Route 19 is on the east side of the city.

Raleigh County Memorial Airport is 6 miles east, with regional commercial flights on Contour Airlines, and opportunities for private aviation.

Important to know

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Beckley's violent and property crime rates are both lower than the national average. Rates for both have decreased in the last decade. “The city has what we call doughnut holes, little pockets of crime-filled areas that the police watch after,” Sopher says.

The climate is considered moderate, but winters are cold, bringing up to 50 inches of snow annually.

Bayley Malo
Written By
Bayley Malo
Anna Cheng
Photography Contributed By
Anna Cheng
Jackson Nacey
Video By
Jackson Nacey

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Richard Grist, an experienced agent in this area.

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Parks in this Area

Beckley Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$156,500
Median Sale Price
$159,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$156,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$177,125
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
352
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
12%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$102

Area Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
10,855
Number of Homes for Sale
83
Median Year Built
1955
Months of Supply
2.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,547
Below the national average
1,925
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,890
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,454

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Weather

Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
24°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
24''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

47 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

49 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Beckley
Richard Grist
Foxfire Realty
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