Study: Happiest Cities in West Virginia

West's Virginia's visually stunning landscapes aren't the only thing offering a breath of fresh air in this state. The people are too, and if you're a native of the Mountain State, you probably know what we're talking about. There's an ease to most West Virginians, who tend to follow a more laid-back pace than their counterparts in neighboring states. For some parts of the state, it's easy to see why – they have decent commutes and pay and are less likely to get divorced, among other positive factors. They have many reasons to be happy.

Whether you pull for the Mountaineers or run with the Thundering Herd, check out our list to see if your hometown is one of West Virginia's happiest.

Study Methodology

To come up with our rankings, we started by gathering U.S. Census data and FBI crime statistics for all of West Virginia's cities. The top 10 had the best combined ranking based on these seven factors:

1. Restaurants
   
2. Crime rate
   
3. Commute
   
4. Departure time
   
5. Income
   
6. Divorce rate
   
7. Housing

Pepperoni rolls are one of West Virginians' favorite snack foods, but that's not the only thing local eateries are serving up. Each city earned its ranking based in part on the number of restaurants per capita.

West Virginia's violent crime rate is below the national average, but every city is different. We took into account the odds of being the victim of a violent crime when compiling our list.

One of the nicest things about living here is that time-consuming traffic jams don't occur too often. If you're wondering what kind of drive you're looking at on the way to work, check out each city's average commute.

An early wake-up call may contribute to higher levels of happiness if researchers are correct. We decided to take a closer look at the percentage of residents in each city who leave for work before 5 a.m.

More cash in your bank account doesn't necessarily mean you'll be more content, but it can ease your financial anxieties. All 10 cities are also ranked according to their median household income.

For some couples, that long walk down the aisle doesn't always end in a happily ever after. We were curious about where couples tend to get along the best, so we considered which cities have the lowest percentage of divorced men and women.

Based on the median home price, West Virginia is a bargain, but some cities tend to be more expensive than others. The percentage of income residents spend on housing is our final study measure.

10 Happiest Cities in West Virginia

10. Weirton

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 257 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 1,156
  
• Average commute time: 25.2 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 4.3%
  
• Median household income: $38,316
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 14.3% of males, 16.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 18.9%

Weirton is an up-and-coming city of close to 20,000 people, located north of Wheeling and east of Pittsburgh. Founded as a steel city, its residents have a major soft spot for this charming little town. It's got one of the lower violent crime rates in our study, and homes sell for rock-bottom prices. If you like Italian, you'll want to see what's on the menu at Mario's Restaurant.

Did You Know: Weirton is the only city in the U.S. to share its borders with two other states, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

9. Oak Hill

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 351 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 852.4
  
• Average commute time: 22.5 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3.9%
  
• Median household income: $38,159
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 14.7% of males, 18.2% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.3%

With only about 7,700 residents, Oak Hill is small in size but big on charm. Located in south central West Virginia, it's close to several outdoor recreation spots, including the Summit Bechtel Reserve and the New River Gorge National River. Aside from attracting nature lovers, it's also a safe and affordable place to live.

Did You Know: The New River is one of the oldest on earth, and the gorge is the longest and deepest in the Appalachian Mountains.

8. Dunbar

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 327 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 207.3
  
• Average commute time: 17.2 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3%
  
• Median household income: $43,039
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 18.4% of males, 22.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 18.3%

Dunbar sits along the Kanawha River, just west of Charleston. There are about 7,800 people living here, and they enjoy its intimate feel. It takes about 17 minutes on average for workers to reach their destination, and their efforts add up to a $43,000 median payday. Residents spend roughly 18% of that on housing, with home and rental prices much lower than the capital city.

Did You Know: The land that Dunbar sits on was originally granted to George Washington as reward for his military service.

7. St. Albans

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 392 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 458.4
  
• Average commute time: 23.2 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 2.3%
  
• Median household income: $47,131
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 12.7% of males, 15.4% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 16.9%

Just up the road from Dunbar is the slightly larger city of St. Albans. Its population approaches 11,000 people and from what we can see, they have lots to be glad about. Compared to its nearby neighbor, the median income is higher, housing costs are lower and violent crime doesn't occur as frequently. The daily drive to work takes a bit longer, but you can still get there in under 25 minutes on average.

Did You Know: Olympic gold medalist Randy Barnes graduated from St. Albans High School.

6. Clarksburg

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 238 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 148.7
  
• Average commute time: 18.4 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 4.4%
  
• Median household income: $34,266
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 13.1% of males, 14.4% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 19.1%

Clarksburg is nicknamed the "Jewel of the Hills," and the 16,000 people who call it home know that it's one of West Virginia's hidden gems. It climbed to number six on our list with the highest percentage of early risers, but it also ranked well based on the average commute time and the amount of income residents spend on housing. If you and your coworkers are looking for a good lunch spot, know that locals give Dagwood's the thumbs-up.

Did You Know: Once a part of Virginia, Clarksburg is the birthplace of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

5. Wheeling

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 279 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 115.7
  
• Average commute time: 17.9 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3%
  
• Median household income: $35,245
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 13.8% of males, 14% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.6%

With over 28,000 residents, Wheeling is the biggest city to make it onto our list. Known for being the birthplace of West Virginia and its first capital, it's become one of the state's busiest manufacturing centers. Wheeling is extremely budget-friendly, with housing costs that are more than 40 percent lower than the national average. It's also a pretty decent place for workers, with a commute time of less than 18 minutes.

Did You Know: Wheeling is home to both the largest and oldest theaters in the state.

4. South Charleston

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 230 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 181
  
• Average commute time: 16.6 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 1.3%
  
• Median household income: $41,590
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 12.8% of males, 17.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.7%

While it's called South Charleston, this city of about 13,000 people actually lies west of the capital. It combines an old-fashioned Main Street feel with more modern amenities, something that residents greatly appreciate. Compared to Charleston, you'll find it much cheaper to buy or rent a home here and the median income is also higher. There are lots of tasty places to grab a bite, including Bluegrass Kitchen and Laury's.

Did You Know: Famed televangelist and author T.D. Jakes was born in South Charleston.

3. Nitro

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 510 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 716.3
  
• Average commute time: 23 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 4.1%
  
• Median household income: $47,619
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 12.7% of males, 17.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 16.9%

Nitro sits across the Kanawha River from St. Albans, and at 7,100 inhabitants, it's the smallest city in our study. It still managed to climb to number three in our rankings thanks to its relative safety and the fact that residents take home the second highest median income. There's a fair percentage of people getting their workday started before 5 a.m., and the morning drive takes 23 minutes flat on average.

Did You Know: Nitro began as a World War I boomtown, developed by the government for the manufacturing of gun powder.

2. Vienna

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 274 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 828.5
  
• Average commute time: 17.7 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3.7%
  
• Median household income: $45,719
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 9% of males, 13% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.3%

Vienna can be found in northwestern West Virginia, along the banks of the Ohio River. This small town of right around 11,000 people seems to be a good choice for married couples, with the lowest combined divorce rate in our study. It's also appealing for workers who are looking to bring in a little more cash without having to spend too much time in traffic each day.

Did You Know: From the early 1900s up until the late 1930s, Vienna was a leading manufacturer of vitrolite glass.

1. Bridgeport

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 190 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 1,171.4
  
• Average commute time: 21.4 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 2.4%
  
• Median household income: $76,351
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 9.9% of males, 13% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 13.7%

The city of Bridgeport can be found a few miles down the road from Clarksburg, and it's easy to see why it rose to our number one spot. It took first place honors in four separate categories with the most restaurants per capita, the lowest violent crime rate, the highest median income and the lowest housing costs. When it comes to the dining scene, The Mountaineer Grille is a hands-down favorite for a get-together with friends.

Did You Know: The Simpson Creek Baptist Church in Bridgeport is considered to be the oldest Protestant church west of the Allegheny Mountains.

West Virginia's capital city is also its largest, but those two factors alone weren't enough to land it a spot in our rankings. While Charleston is a great place for job seekers, the 10 places in our study turned out to be the happiest overall for professionals, families and retirees alike.