Quality of life comparison
If you lived in West Virginia instead of Pennsylvania, you would:
Health
live 4.0 years less
In Pennsylvania, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In West Virginia, that number is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020.
be 17.7% more likely to be obese
In Pennsylvania, 34.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 40.5% of people as of 2022.
be 25.2% more likely to have diabetes
In Pennsylvania, 10.3% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 12.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 23.9% less money
Pennsylvania has a GDP per capita of $61,506 as of 2024, while in West Virginia, the GDP per capita is $46,834 as of 2024.
be 18.9% more likely to be unemployed
In Pennsylvania, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In West Virginia, that number is 4.4% as of 2025.
be 44.2% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Pennsylvania, 11.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In West Virginia, however, that number is 16.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 23.6% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Pennsylvania has a property crime rate of 1,567 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 1,198 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 35.3% less for a home
The median home value in Pennsylvania is $240,500 as of 2023, compared to $155,600 in West Virginia as of 2023.
pay 26.9% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Pennsylvania is $1,162 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $850 as of 2023.
earn 23.9% less money
The median household income in Pennsylvania is $76,081 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $57,917 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
live among residents who are 1.8 years older on average
The median age in Pennsylvania is 40.9 years as of 2023. In West Virginia, the median age is 42.7 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 74.7% less densely populated
Pennsylvania has a population density of 112.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 10.9% more likely to be uninsured
In Pennsylvania, 5.5% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
be 25.6% more likely to smoke
In Pennsylvania, 16.8% of adults smoke as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 21.1% as of 2022.
be 27.2% more likely to be physically inactive
In Pennsylvania, 23.5% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 29.9% as of 2022.
be 31.0% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Pennsylvania, 24.2% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 16.7% as of 2023.
be 75.8% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Pennsylvania, 3.3% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 0.8% as of 2023.
be 26.9% more likely to be food insecure
In Pennsylvania, 9.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In West Virginia, that number is 11.8% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
