Wood County, West Virginia Eviction Risk: Low

Wood County scores 3/10 (Low) for eviction risk, placing it among the more landlord-friendly markets in West Virginia eviction laws. With 43 of the state's 55 counties carrying higher risk scores, Wood County sits in the lower-risk third of the state, ranked 44th out of 55. Across all 11 cities tracked here, that 3/10 average reflects a county where average rent runs $832 per month and only 27.9% of residents are renters, keeping tenant-pool pressure moderate. For investors sizing up a mid-sized river-market portfolio, those fundamentals are broadly constructive.

The range beneath that average deserves attention. Scores run from 2.1 to 4.3, a two-point spread that means the county average alone tells you relatively little about any specific address. A landlord operating in the lowest-scoring neighborhoods faces a meaningfully different environment than one working in the county's most stressed pockets, so sub-county analysis is essential before committing capital.

The cities inside Wood County

The highest-risk city in the county is Washington, scoring 4.3/10, followed closely by Vienna at 4.2/10 (population 10,518). Williamstown (3.9/10, population 2,980) and Blennerhassett (3.8/10, population 3,282) round out the elevated-risk tier. These four cities all sit meaningfully above the county average and warrant tighter tenant screening and stronger lease documentation.

On the other side of the ledger, Parkersburg, the county seat and by far the largest city at 29,240 residents, scores just 2.1/10, the lowest in the county. Lubeck also scores low at 2.2/10. The gap between Parkersburg eviction risk and Washington eviction laws, a full 2.2 points, underscores how hyper-local eviction risk can be even within a single county boundary. Landlords should run city-level scores for every submarket before comparing cap rates.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Wood County operates under West Virginia eviction laws state law, specifically W. Va. Code § 37-6 (Landlord and Tenant). For non-payment of rent, no advance notice is required before filing, which is among the most landlord-favorable notice rules in the region. Lease-violation cures require 14 days notice, and ending a tenancy at will requires 30 days. Understanding the full West Virginia eviction laws eviction process, including the court timeline, is critical: an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days, while a contested matter can stretch to 45 to 100 days. Budget accordingly for carrying costs during that window.

On West Virginia eviction costs, landlords should expect court filing fees of $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees of $30 to $125, and attorney fees of $500 to $2,500, depending on case complexity and whether the matter is contested. West Virginia eviction laws has no rent control and does not require just cause to end a tenancy, and state law preempts any local attempt to impose rent caps, giving county landlords clear and stable ground on pricing. Source of income is not a protected class under state fair housing rules.

Wood County's average poverty rate of 16.3% and renter share of 27.9% provide useful guardrails when underwriting tenant risk; the city grid above breaks both the risk scores and population figures down to the individual city level so you can sharpen those underwriting assumptions before making an offer.