Even though home prices have gone up, It’s still lots cheaper to buy a home in The Eastern Panhandle than it is in bordering states – especially as you get closer to the DC area. There’s 3 counties here Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan. There’s about 11 areas within those counties that have their own vibe and lifestyle and home prices. This video ranks these areas by the median price of homes from the most expensive to the least expensive. And also let you know how far each of these places are to the DC area.
So. Number 1 most expensive – Shepherdstown which is in Jefferson County.
The median price for a home is currently $400,000 compared to $275,000 – the median price for the Eastern Panhandle as a whole. Shepherdstown is a charming college town on the Potomac River. It’s the oldest village in West Virginia and town leaders have put restrictions in place to make sure it retains that historic charm. And that’s is a big part of why it’s so desirable. The most desired areas in Shepherdstown tend to be close to town, while more affordable homes are in the southwest region. The homes near town are older – many historic and then a little further out are some subdivisions Shepherdstown is about an hour and a half drive to Washington DC.
The next most expensive is the Shenandoah Junction/Kearneysville area which is just south of Shepherdstown.
The median price there is $395,000. That area – Shenandoah Junction and Kearneysville is a long strip running north to south. It sits between Jefferson and Berkeley County – most of that area is in Jefferson County. Many of the homes in that area are on large tracts of land. There are some large historic estates in that area. It’s less densely populated and where in Jefferson County, you’ll find more homes on acreage. It’s about the same distance as Shepherdstown to the DC area – an hour and a half.
The next down on the expense ranking is Charles Town with a median price of $377,000.
t’s a bit closer to the DC area 1 hour 19 min. Of all the towns in West Virginia, Charles Town is the fastest growing according to biggestcities.com. It has grown 111.5% in the last 2 years. There’s a wide range of home types with a Charles Town address. Homes in town, river front properties, newer subdivisions and then south of town, some farms and homes on large lots. Charles Town was founded by Charles Washington – George’s brother. It is the county seat and full of history. Many of George Washington’s family members are buried in the graveyards near town.
Number 4. Next is Harpers Ferry with a median price of $319,000.
When you think of Harpers Ferry, the charming historic town surrounded by mountains and 2 rivers come to mind so the lower price point surprises people. There’s a few historic homes right in town and they are pricey but most homes with a Harpers Ferry address are located on the thin strip of mountainous land south of town that borders the Virginia line on the east and south. That area is wooded and hilly and is where the least expensive homes are generally located in Jefferson County. Shannondale, for example, is a community along the Shenandoah River where you’ll find more affordable homes. From the town of Harpers Ferry, it’s about an hour 15 min drive to the DC area. So the closer you are to town, the shorter the drive to the DC area.
Number 5 on the expense ranking is a zipcode with a Martinsburg address. 25403.
The media price there is $300,000. That area is west of Martinsburg on the west side of 81. It’s a long strip of land that borders 81 and even though it has a Martinsburg address, it is more expensive and less densely populated than the rest of Martinsburg so it’s really a category unto itself. Homes tend to be more expensive and on larger lots. It’s about an hour 40 min drive to DC.
Number 6 on the home expense ranking is Falling Waters in Berkeley County with a median price of $285,000. .
Falling Waters is at the northern tip of the county bordering the Potomac River and the Maryland line. If you are looking for water front property, you will likely find those properties in Falling Waters. The drive to Washington DC takes about an hour and 35 minutes.
Number 7 Inwood/Bunker Hill – also in Berkeley County. The median price is $277,000.
That community is in the southernmost part of Berkeley County bordering the Virginia line. Proctor Gamble opened a big facility there not too long ago bringing lots of new jobs to the area. . It’s an Hour and 40 minutes to the DC area.
Number 8. Martinsburg. And this includes the downtown area and surrounding suburbs. Zip code 25401 is the downtown area and 25404 and 25405 are where most of the midrange subdivisions are located.
The downtown area, 25401 is the least expensive. Lots of older homes are located downtown. And it will take you about an hour forty five to drive to DC.
Number 9 is further west– the Hedgesville/Gerrardstown area. Also in Berkeley County The median price of homes there is $250,000.
That covers a large area running north from the Potomac River all the way down to the Virginia Line. It’s bordered on the west side by the 23,000 acre Sleepy Creek Wildlife Mgmnt area. If you are looking to be out in country then you’ll like that area. It’s about a 2 hour drive to DC.
Number 10. Berkeley Springs and that’s in Morgan County which is the furthest west of the 3 counties in the Eastern Panhandle. The median price there is $195,000.
There’s the historic downtown Berkeley Springs in the northern part of that zip code. And that’s a charming town – it’s designated as one of the top artists towns in the United States. It’s also known for the healing natural springs George Washington use to go there for that reason. And then the rest of the area with a Berkeley Springs address runs south from town down to the Virginia line and that area is fairly rural.
Number 11 – the cheapest place to live in the Eastern Panhandle? That would be Great Cacapon with a median price of $150,000.
It’s located to the west of Berkeley Springs on the other side of Cacapon Mountain and the road you take to get there offers some great views but it is a mountain road with a very steep drop. There’s a guard rail there but traveling that road when it’s icy is a bit too adventurous for me.
Great Cacapon is mountainous – mostly wooded. It is bordered on the east by the Potomac River and the Cacapon River runs through there on the western side. It is very rural – with a mountainous terrain. It is a Beautiful area. You probably can forget about high speed internet for the most part. But there’s some gorgeous views over there and if you are looking for something affordable a getaway type property and like a wilderness environment then check out Great Cacapon. It takes about 2 hours 20 minutes to drive to Washington DC.
So that’s the home price lineup for this area high to low. We go from Shepherdstown at $400,000 to Great Cacapon at $150,000. Quite a difference. This area offers a wide range of options. If you like the amenities of living in or near a town, you can find that here. If you like living in the country, you find that as well. And if you like living in a wilderness environment, that’s here too. And whichever option you choose, it’s gong to be less expensive than something comparable in nearby states –especially as you get closer to the DC area.
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