HomeWest VirginiaJefferson County

Jefferson County, West Virginia

Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 37% of Jefferson County's mapped land, a higher share than 85% of US counties and the 5th highest of 55 West Virginia counties. A shallow water table limits basements on 14%.

None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map, after 74.2% a week earlier. FEMA's flood data list 18 flood losses here since 2016. 35% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1991.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

37%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

14%

high water table: limits basements

0%

in drought, October 13, 2026

35%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Jefferson County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)36.7%
High water table (limits basements)14.2%
Septic fields very limited75.2%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)4.5%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)30.8%
Urban land, not rated1.8%
Mapped soil135,400 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Hagerstown20%n/a
Poplimento20%n/a
Oaklet9%n/a
Vertrees6%n/a
Funkstown6%n/a
Ryder4%n/a
Berkeley County: 8%Clarke County: 31%Winchester city: 22%Loudoun County: 8%Washington County: 9%Frederick County: 16%Morgan County: 0%Frederick County: 1%Jefferson County BerkeleyClarkeWinchester cityLoudounWashingtonFrederickMorganFrederickJefferson
Jefferson County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas WV037 (2025-09-05)

What the numbers mean here

Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 4.5% by land area here, and 31% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 37% of the mapped land.

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 29.16 in, 11.64 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 40.80 in.

USDA rates 75% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

Drought

0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 51 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 43 weeks, most recently on the September 1, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse100%
D1 moderate drought or worse0%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

18 flood losses since 2016, $106,254 paid. The worst year was 2018, with 13.

YearFlood losses
20160
20171
201813
20192
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20252
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202040.80 in
12 months to August 202629.16 in (-11.64)
202532.32 in (-8.48)
Wettest year since 18952018: 62.60 in
Driest year since 18951930: 20.85 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MARTINSBURG E WV RGNL AP (9 mi away)9

Homes

Housing units24,774
Median year built1991
Built before 198035%
Built 2000 or later35%
Owner-occupied80%
Median value, owner-occupied$350,800
Single-family detached77%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Berkeley County, WV 13 mi 8% 21%
Clarke County, VA 15 mi 31% 15%
Winchester city, VA 19 mi 22% 5%
Loudoun County, VA 20 mi 8% 31%
Washington County, MD 21 mi 9% 18%
Frederick County, VA 23 mi 16% 15%
Morgan County, WV 27 mi under 1% 23%
Frederick County, MD 27 mi 1% 22%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 5, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status