A quintessential rural Hometown is its own small corner of Appalachia
Hometown is its own little world just barely removed from a fast-developing region in Appalachia. Nestled upon a cut bank between the Kanawha River and tall mountains, this close-knit small town remains quiet most days. But that's precisely why many residents have stayed there for generations, and why a few new residents have built a custom home there. Insulated from traffic and noise along the Interstate 64 corridor, buyers are enticed by the community's quietness and school options, even if it means losing proximity to businesses and other needs. "There's not a lot going on in Hometown, at least in my opinion," says Realtor and certified appraiser Chuck Boggs III of RiverValley Properties. "There's not a lot of employment down that way, mainly just single-family homes or farmland properties. There are some industrial businesses down that direction, not a ton though."
The Kanawha River in Hometown is nestled right in the Appalacian Mountains.
Charleston is the closest city to Hometown that offers a variety of dining and shopping options to residents.
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Custom homes widening choices beyond multigenerational Craftsman's
Home sales are fairly rare in Hometown, as many properties are multigenerational. Pricing information is thus tricky to ascertain, although most properties are valued between $100,000 and $200,000. "It's a very rural, small market," says Boggs III. But that's not to imply Hometown's market is inactive. In fact, Hometown has seen some recently constructed custom homes enter the market, but these also rarely sell. Instead, investment properties are the most readily available option, with most beginning around $12,000. The vast majority of move-in ready options include established ranch-style homes and cottages, some with classic Craftsman-style details. These typically begin in price around $125,000.
Most properties in Hometown are multigenerational and rarely go up for sale.
Older cottages are a popular style of housing in Hometown.
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Small class sizes for a top ten West Virginia school
Kindergarteners through 5th graders do not have to travel very far to reach a school. Hometown Elementary, rated B-minus by Niche, sits right in the community and offers an intimate classroom setting with an average of 7 students per teacher, significantly below the national average of 17 students per teacher. Poca Middle School comes next and receives an A-minus rating, mostly thanks to its small class sizes and offerings of career and technical education courses. In fact, Poca Middle School is ranked one of West Virginia's top 10 best public middle schools. For their last four years of school, students attend Poca High School, rated C-minus and also known for having below-average class sizes.
Poca Middle School is a public school that has approximately 300 students with a student teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
Poca High School has a very unique mascot named the Poka Dot.
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Churches host cornhole tournaments and picnics
The community is home to several churches that help keep residents connected through weekly services and special events. Hometown Apostolic Church hosts several social events throughout the year, including a cornhole tournament, a picnic and a fall festival. Wilkinson Memorial United Methodist Church hosts regular luncheons in addition to an annual Community Day festival featuring food vendors, live music and family-friendly games like a three-legged race.
Boathouses, backyard pools and schoolyard games
Even though Hometown does not have an official park of its own, residents find ways to spend time outdoors. Some use the playground and sports courts at Hometown Elementary. Others maintain homes with private amenities, such as above-ground backyard pools. Several riverfront homes in the community also maintain boathouses and small piers for shore fishing and kayaking.
Hometown Elementary is a smaller public school with a population of 52 and a student teacher ratio of 7 to 1.
Many residents who have property along the river in Hometown have private docks.
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Groceries and chains are a short drive away
There are very few businesses in Hometown. Residents travel west to places like Eleanor or Winfield to grab a bite to eat. Both locales are more developed than Hometown, offering roughly equal access to chain and locally owned restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses.
The Winfield Dairy Freeze is just a short drive from Hometown for a sweet treat.
The Piggly Wiggly in Eleanor is where the residents of Hometown travel to for all their grocery needs.
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Easy road connections but with limited river crossings
Despite its natural buffers, Hometown isn't as secluded as it might look on a map. Charleston Road offers a direct connection with towns and capital cities a few miles downriver. Crossing the river is another story. Aside from Winfield Bridge — which requires a detour in the opposite direction if looking to head downriver — the next closest crossing is 12 miles south in St Albans.
Low crime but high flood risk
Hometown has very low crime rates, indicated by a CAP Index score of 2, half the national average. However, the neighborhood is highly prone to flooding due to its proximity to the Kanawha River. There is also a wastewater treatment plant in Hometown that is located in a flood zone.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Jennifer Rehkopf
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Crystal Reeves-Paynter,
an experienced agent in this area.
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
On average, homes in Hometown, WV sell after 91 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Hometown, WV over the last 12 months is $12,000, down 94% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$12,000
Median Sale Price
$12,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$12,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
1
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-$94
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$10
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
Hometown Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
168
Median Age
48
Population under 18
19%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
23.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$53,000
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$60,195
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
80.3%
College Graduates
10.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0%
% Population in Labor Force
54.4%
Below the national average
65.1%
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.
