West Virginia Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 55 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$777/mo
Average Home Value
$148,004
Average Owner Cost
$598/mo
County cost atlas
West Virginia housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
55
Avg rent
$777/mo
Owner cost
$598/mo
Avg score
77.2
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in West Virginia: An Overview
The unweighted mean of county median rents in West Virginia is $777 per month, which is 45% below the national ACS median of $1,413. This gives every county equal weight and is not an official statewide median.
Within West Virginia, housing costs vary significantly by county. Berkeley County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,233 per month and a median home value of $266,300. Calhoun County has the lowest reported median rent at $473 per month and a median home value of $100,500.
The unweighted mean of county median home values in West Virginia is $148,004, 56% lower than the national ACS median of $332,700. The unweighted mean of county median household incomes is $56,023; neither figure is a household-weighted statewide estimate.
Before comparing places in West Virginia, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in West Virginia
How median rents are spread across 55 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All West Virginia Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | $1,000–$1,500$1,233/mo | $266,300 | $1,219/mo | 17.5 | 29.0% |
| Jefferson County | $1,000–$1,500$1,108/mo | $350,800 | $1,492/mo | 16.3 | 26.9% |
| Monongalia County | Under $1,000$987/mo | $267,700 | $986/mo | 34.2 | 32.9% |
| Putnam County | Under $1,000$952/mo | $223,300 | $881/mo | 42.2 | 27.4% |
| Marion County | Under $1,000$932/mo | $166,700 | $725/mo | 54.7 | 25.7% |
| Cabell County | Under $1,000$923/mo | $164,400 | $790/mo | 50.7 | 33.3% |
| Summers County | Under $1,000$915/mo | $140,100 | $424/mo | 71.1 | 33.8% |
| Wayne County | Under $1,000$915/mo | $127,100 | $553/mo | 67.5 | 25.9% |
| Kanawha County | Under $1,000$906/mo | $147,300 | $735/mo | 56.2 | 28.6% |
| Raleigh County | Under $1,000$902/mo | $150,900 | $651/mo | 62.5 | 32.4% |
| Upshur County | Under $1,000$886/mo | $170,800 | $756/mo | 56.3 | 28.5% |
| Harrison County | Under $1,000$879/mo | $166,200 | $652/mo | 64.5 | 30.1% |
| Greenbrier County | Under $1,000$868/mo | $149,000 | $609/mo | 68.2 | 32.8% |
| Doddridge County | Under $1,000$866/mo | $160,800 | $429/mo | 75.5 | 28.8% |
| Boone County | Under $1,000$837/mo | $93,100 | $514/mo | 76.8 | 29.8% |
| Marshall County | Under $1,000$837/mo | $149,800 | $581/mo | 73.5 | 32.1% |
| Taylor County | Under $1,000$835/mo | $148,800 | $648/mo | 69.6 | 28.8% |
| Wood County | Under $1,000$822/mo | $158,500 | $666/mo | 69.8 | 29.5% |
| Ohio County | Under $1,000$821/mo | $166,000 | $708/mo | 66.9 | 32.6% |
| Randolph County | Under $1,000$821/mo | $144,800 | $514/mo | 78.7 | 28.5% |
| Hardy County | Under $1,000$816/mo | $166,300 | $619/mo | 73.6 | 22.1% |
| Mercer County | Under $1,000$810/mo | $121,700 | $549/mo | 78.5 | 30.4% |
| Mineral County | Under $1,000$809/mo | $180,400 | $610/mo | 74.8 | 29.1% |
| Barbour County | Under $1,000$803/mo | $131,900 | $512/mo | 80.7 | 24.3% |
| Morgan County | Under $1,000$794/mo | $240,600 | $906/mo | 56.0 | 27.5% |
| Fayette County | Under $1,000$788/mo | $105,800 | $577/mo | 79.5 | 31.3% |
| Hancock County | Under $1,000$771/mo | $130,800 | $623/mo | 78.8 | 28.4% |
| Lincoln County | Under $1,000$771/mo | $105,300 | $418/mo | 86.8 | 24.3% |
| Pendleton County | Under $1,000$770/mo | $183,800 | $455/mo | 86.4 | 24.2% |
| Gilmer County | Under $1,000$750/mo | $83,800 | $348/mo | 89.3 | 20.5% |
| Preston County | Under $1,000$750/mo | $162,800 | $629/mo | 80.8 | 30.4% |
| Tyler County | Under $1,000$748/mo | $121,300 | $450/mo | 88.8 | 29.3% |
| Lewis County | Under $1,000$730/mo | $151,800 | $564/mo | 86.6 | 25.2% |
| Hampshire County | Under $1,000$720/mo | $219,200 | $719/mo | 77.0 | 20.5% |
| Jackson County | Under $1,000$716/mo | $157,200 | $582/mo | 86.5 | 28.2% |
| Pleasants County | Under $1,000$715/mo | $151,000 | $566/mo | 87.8 | 27.8% |
| Pocahontas County | Under $1,000$715/mo | $152,400 | $482/mo | 91.0 | 26.8% |
| Logan County | Under $1,000$710/mo | $103,400 | $546/mo | 89.3 | 26.0% |
| Webster County | Under $1,000$709/mo | $76,100 | $445/mo | 92.4 | 51.0% |
| Monroe County | Under $1,000$690/mo | $156,300 | $567/mo | 89.3 | 24.1% |
| Wetzel County | Under $1,000$688/mo | $107,900 | $500/mo | 92.5 | 24.7% |
| Nicholas County | Under $1,000$686/mo | $121,600 | $528/mo | 91.7 | 26.3% |
| Mason County | Under $1,000$671/mo | $120,300 | $568/mo | 90.7 | 22.4% |
| Tucker County | Under $1,000$656/mo | $154,800 | $614/mo | 88.6 | 28.6% |
| Clay County | Under $1,000$651/mo | $109,100 | $389/mo | 96.3 | 39.2% |
| Wyoming County | Under $1,000$650/mo | $82,900 | $461/mo | 95.6 | 32.1% |
| Mingo County | Under $1,000$647/mo | $90,500 | $459/mo | 95.9 | 27.9% |
| Brooke County | Under $1,000$645/mo | $141,500 | $579/mo | 91.3 | 23.2% |
| Grant County | Under $1,000$644/mo | $175,100 | $584/mo | 91.0 | 31.2% |
| McDowell County | Under $1,000$643/mo | $50,000 | $385/mo | 96.9 | 31.1% |
| Roane County | Under $1,000$614/mo | $122,100 | $464/mo | 97.0 | 32.2% |
| Braxton County | Under $1,000$606/mo | $117,900 | $426/mo | 97.8 | 23.2% |
| Ritchie County | Under $1,000$579/mo | $115,900 | $394/mo | 98.7 | 28.7% |
| Wirt County | Under $1,000$558/mo | $115,800 | $493/mo | 97.3 | 32.8% |
| Calhoun County | Under $1,000$473/mo | $100,500 | $336/mo | 99.7 | 24.9% |
Compare West Virginia to Other States
See how West Virginia counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About West Virginia Housing Costs
Which West Virginia county has the lowest median rent?
Which West Virginia county has the highest median rent?
How does West Virginia's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the unweighted county-mean home value in West Virginia?
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in West Virginia, West Virginia? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.