Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Tennessee instead of West Virginia, you would:
Health
live 1.0 years longer
In West Virginia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020. In Tennessee, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
make 28.5% more money
West Virginia has a GDP per capita of $46,834 as of 2024, while in Tennessee, the GDP per capita is $60,177 as of 2024.
be 22.7% less likely to be unemployed
In West Virginia, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Tennessee, that number is 3.4% as of 2025.
be 20.9% less likely to live below the poverty line
In West Virginia, 16.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Tennessee, however, that number is 12.9% as of 2023.
Safety
be 2.3 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime
West Virginia has a violent crime rate of 266 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Tennessee, that number is 612 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 92.1% more likely to be a victim of property crime
West Virginia has a property crime rate of 1,198 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Tennessee, that number is 2,301 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 15.9% more money
The median household income in West Virginia is $57,917 as of 2023, while in Tennessee, it is $67,097 as of 2023.
pay 65.0% more for a home
The median home value in West Virginia is $155,600 as of 2023, compared to $256,800 in Tennessee as of 2023.
pay 32.0% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in West Virginia is $850 as of 2023, while in Tennessee, it is $1,122 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 19.8% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In West Virginia, 16.7% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Tennessee, that number is 20.0% as of 2023.
be 4.2 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In West Virginia, 0.8% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Tennessee, that number is 3.4% as of 2023.
be 55.7% more likely to be uninsured
In West Virginia, 6.1% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Tennessee, that number is 9.5% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 3.8 years older on average
The median age in West Virginia is 42.7 years as of 2023. In Tennessee, the median age is 38.9 years as of 2023.
live in an area that is 2.4 times more densely populated
West Virginia has a population density of 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023. In Tennessee, that number is 67.0 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
