Hampshire County, WV Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Hampshire County, WV?
Hampshire County sits in IECC climate zone 5 (Cold) — winters that dominate the energy bill, with cooling a minor factor. For a currently uninsulated attic, DOE and ENERGY STAR recommend building up to R-60. Topping up a typical 1,000-square-foot attic from bare joists (R-2) to R-60 runs an estimated $3,480, and saves about $1,561 a year in heating and cooling — a payback around 2.2 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Heating vs. cooling in Hampshire County
Heating accounts for about $1,424/year of that and cooling about $137/year — Hampshire County needs both. Nationally, Hampshire County ranks in the 57th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Hampshire County places 684th out of 745. Against West Virginia's own average of $1,526/year, Hampshire County runs 2% above that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 5,326 HDD and 852 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from ROMNEY 1 SW, WV US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 8.7 miles from Hampshire County's center. By total degree days, Hampshire County sits at the 56th percentile nationally. Its moisture regime is classified humid, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
The smaller top-up scenario
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-49 needs filling, at roughly $2,280 for an estimated $228/year saved (~10-year payback). Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Next steps for a Hampshire County attic
Get more than one quote before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth asking upfront given Hampshire County's estimated $1,561/year on the line.
Hampshire County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Hampshire County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.