Milton's steady growth between Huntington and Charleston
The town of Milton has experienced steady growth over the past few decades. A driving factor in the area’s expansion is its location near two of West Virginia’s major cities. “Milton’s doing really well in terms of resale and the expansion up there. That end of the county is doing pretty well,” says Preston Cole, who has owned and operated the Property Professionals real estate agency with his wife Debbie in the Huntington area since 1982. “You’re kind of in the middle between Huntington and Charleston.” Alongside its convenient commutes, Milton offers space for homeowners to spread out and popular community events.
Midcentury homes in town, with larger lots outside the center of town
Milton sits in Teays Valley, with Appalachian ridges on either side. Midcentury-era homes, bungalows or Cape Cod styles, are packed tightly on the downtown streets. These sell between $100,000 and $215,000. Ranch-style homes often have larger lots outside the center of town and can go between $160,000 and $320,000. Larger houses and newer builds are located on the area’s outskirts and sell from $315,000 to $680,000.
Education at the Cabell County Schools district
Milton is within the Cabell County Schools district, which receives a B overall grade from Niche. For kindergarten through fifth grade, the community is mainly zoned to Milton Elementary, which gets a B-minus rating. Students can then attend A-minus-rated Milton Middle, followed by Cabell Midland High, which receives a B. Athletics are important to the school, with the softball program winning the school’s most recent state championship in 2025.
Commutes to Huntington and Charleston via Interstate 64
The region’s main highway, Interstate 64, runs through Milton, heading 22 miles west to Huntington and 32 miles east to Charleston. Residents can drive to commute to either city, but the Tri-State Transit Authority connects the area to Huntington with intermittent bus service. Huntington Tri-State Airport is closer to Milton, but West Virginia International Yeager Airport serves more non-stop destinations from Charleston, 36 miles away. CAMC Teays Valley Hospital is 13 miles from Milton, with the nearest emergency room.
Community recreation includes a splash pad and youth sports
April Dawn Park is located in the center of Milton, a block from the city hall. The park features a splash pad, a playground and a large picnic pavilion, plus a small skate park. More recreation can be found at Pumpkin Park, adjacent to the Cabell County Fairgrounds. The area has baseball and softball fields for the community’s youth sports and a historic covered bridge. North of Milton is the Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area, which features seasonal hunting opportunities.
Nearly 50,000 attendees annually at the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival
The Cabell County Fair is held each summer and features the traditional fairground carnival and entertainment including live music and a demolition derby. But the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival is even bigger, with nearly 50,000 visitors each fall to celebrate the harvest. The event has a giant pumpkin contest, a petting zoo and pumpkin-themed concessions, all capped off by a parade through Milton. “The first weekend of October, they have the Pumpkin Festival out at what they call the Pumpkin Park,” Cole says. “But it’s a big draw.”
Locally owned restaurants and shopping on Main Street
Main Street is Milton’s primary commercial strip. The Perry Morris Square shopping center is adjacent to Main Street, with a Food Fair grocery store and a Dollar General for discount goods. Fast food restaurants like Marco’s Pizza and Wendy’s sit along the corridor, as do locally-owned spots including Mi Pueblito for Mexican favorites or Shaffer’s Drive-In, a slice of classic Americana for hot dogs and shakes. The Huntington Mall is roughly 9 miles from Milton, with access to big box stores like Walmart.
High water risk on the Mud River will be mitigated with a floodwall
The Mud River presents a flooding threat to Milton, with parts of the town — especially south of Main Street — at risk. However, the Army Corps of Engineers is building a floodwall to address the issue. “It’s something they’ve dealt with for a number of years in Milton,” Cole says. “It will help a lot in that area to put the flood wall in.”
