Taylor County, WV Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Taylor County, WV?
Taylor County, West Virginia is zone 5 under DOE's climate map (Cold), which means cold enough that heating, not cooling, is what decides the bill. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to R-60. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-60 costs roughly $3,480 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.2 years at an estimated $1,565/year saved. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Where the savings come from
Heating accounts for about $1,469/year of that and cooling about $96/year — Taylor County needs both. Nationally, Taylor County ranks in the 57th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Taylor County places 681st out of 745. Against West Virginia's own average of $1,526/year, Taylor County runs 3% above that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 5,493 HDD and 600 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from TYGART DAM, WV US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 1.6 miles from Taylor County's center. By total degree days, Taylor County sits at the 54th 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.
Already have some insulation?
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-49 runs about $2,280 for about $228/year saved — roughly 10 years to break even. Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in Taylor County
Actual quotes will vary by attic access, existing debris, and whether the job needs air sealing first. Treat the $3,480 figure above as a planning number for Taylor County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Taylor County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Taylor 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.