Wheeling receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Plainview
Wheeling
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 5%
vs33 · Bottom 9%
Growth
25 · Bottom 12%
vs35 · Bottom 24%
Climate
66 · Bottom 37%
vs65 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
17 · Bottom 11%
vs26 · Bottom 22%
Housing affordability
89 · Top 34%
vs96 · Top 17%
Access
77 · Bottom 19%
vs80 · Bottom 23%
Economic stability
35 · Bottom 12%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Plainview | Wheeling | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,711 | 26,350 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $44,768 | $48,590 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,009 | $36,509 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,419/sq mi | 1,938/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $113,000 | $146,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $851 | $794 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.6% | 59.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 34.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.0% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1 | 4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.0% | 100.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 19.3" | 37.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 21.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.7 | 45.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.07 | 12.41 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Plainview
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind.
Wheeling
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: Plainview, TX · Wheeling, WV · How this is calculated: methodology