RANK #334 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 11 WV · POP 129,514
1YR FORECAST: +1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Martinsburg, the county seat of Berkeley County, West Virginia, offers a blend of historic architecture and modern amenities. Located in the Eastern Panhandle, the county is within a reasonable driving distance of major East Coast cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C., making it a consideration for commuters. The community provides access to outdoor recreation, including Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area with its hiking and mountain biking trails, and opportunities for water activities on the Potomac River and Sleepy Creek Lake.
Life in Berkeley County often appeals to families and those seeking a calmer lifestyle with a lower cost of living compared to nearby metropolitan areas. The economy is experiencing growth, attracting new residents and businesses. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers, manufacturing, and logistics, driven by the county's location along Interstate 81 and access to affordable electricity and water. The public school system serves a large student population across numerous elementary, middle, and high schools.
Berkeley County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.9% YoY, population +2.6%, wages +5.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 14.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Bedington Data Center Campus
Penzance Management
|
$4,000M | Planned |
|
Bedington Energy Facility (Solar Farm)
Torch Clean Energy
|
$100M | Planned |
|
HandCraft Services Facilities
HandCraft Services
|
$59M | Under Construction |
|
Berkeley County Sports Complex
Berkeley County Development Authority / Commission
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 66/100, Berkeley County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $80,815 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in WV.
Housing in Berkeley County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $266,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,233/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Berkeley County's population is growing — up +2.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.1%). Home values shifted +3.9% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
Not particularly — 1.75% of Berkeley County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.