West Virginia Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 55 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$760/mo
Average Home Value
$141,022
Average Owner Cost
$580/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
$760/mo
Owner cost
$580/mo
Avg score
77.2
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 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 median rent in West Virginia is $760 per month, which is 35% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within West Virginia, housing costs vary significantly by county. Berkeley County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,238 per month and a median home value of $248,000. Calhoun County has the lowest reported median rent at $483 per month and a median home value of $111,200.
The average home value across West Virginia counties is $141,022, 50% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $54,746, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
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 | Moderate$1,238/mo | $248,000 | $1,218/mo | 15.8 | 29.0% |
| Jefferson County | Moderate$1,103/mo | $324,500 | $1,460/mo | 15.1 | 27.0% |
| Putnam County | Affordable$975/mo | $214,200 | $887/mo | 36.6 | 26.0% |
| Monongalia County | Affordable$943/mo | $254,200 | $974/mo | 34.2 | 33.0% |
| Summers County | Affordable$922/mo | $126,100 | $464/mo | 67.6 | 23.0% |
| Marion County | Affordable$901/mo | $164,300 | $706/mo | 54.8 | 27.0% |
| Wayne County | Affordable$883/mo | $124,900 | $531/mo | 68.0 | 25.0% |
| Kanawha County | Affordable$879/mo | $135,000 | $698/mo | 57.2 | 27.0% |
| Cabell County | Affordable$877/mo | $156,100 | $753/mo | 53.4 | 34.0% |
| Harrison County | Affordable$848/mo | $158,500 | $637/mo | 65.0 | 28.0% |
| Raleigh County | Affordable$847/mo | $142,600 | $651/mo | 64.5 | 31.0% |
| Greenbrier County | Affordable$834/mo | $136,300 | $599/mo | 68.8 | 32.0% |
| Morgan County | Affordable$832/mo | $223,100 | $863/mo | 50.5 | 27.0% |
| Doddridge County | Affordable$827/mo | $160,000 | $380/mo | 77.6 | 26.0% |
| Boone County | Affordable$823/mo | $90,300 | $490/mo | 76.2 | 29.0% |
| Marshall County | Affordable$823/mo | $139,800 | $580/mo | 71.5 | 29.0% |
| Ohio County | Affordable$823/mo | $165,300 | $689/mo | 64.0 | 31.0% |
| Hardy County | Affordable$820/mo | $159,700 | $562/mo | 73.1 | 23.0% |
| Mercer County | Affordable$813/mo | $118,600 | $516/mo | 76.1 | 31.0% |
| Randolph County | Affordable$807/mo | $137,800 | $511/mo | 77.0 | 27.0% |
| Barbour County | Affordable$803/mo | $126,000 | $497/mo | 78.3 | 24.0% |
| Upshur County | Affordable$799/mo | $160,700 | $702/mo | 65.8 | 30.0% |
| Wood County | Affordable$789/mo | $153,700 | $653/mo | 71.2 | 30.0% |
| Fayette County | Affordable$777/mo | $104,200 | $583/mo | 77.1 | 30.0% |
| Hancock County | Affordable$766/mo | $119,600 | $592/mo | 78.2 | 26.0% |
| Gilmer County | Affordable$764/mo | $83,300 | $340/mo | 86.0 | 25.0% |
| Pendleton County | Affordable$754/mo | $178,600 | $462/mo | 85.8 | 24.0% |
| Preston County | Affordable$753/mo | $157,700 | $618/mo | 77.8 | 28.0% |
| Lewis County | Affordable$737/mo | $135,800 | $508/mo | 85.9 | 27.0% |
| Wyoming County | Affordable$737/mo | $78,400 | $426/mo | 88.3 | 31.0% |
| Hampshire County | Affordable$732/mo | $204,600 | $619/mo | 80.0 | 22.0% |
| Lincoln County | Affordable$727/mo | $103,400 | $422/mo | 89.7 | 23.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$720/mo | $154,600 | $576/mo | 84.5 | 25.0% |
| Tyler County | Affordable$707/mo | $112,100 | $434/mo | 91.7 | 27.0% |
| Logan County | Affordable$704/mo | $101,500 | $502/mo | 89.8 | 25.0% |
| Wetzel County | Affordable$703/mo | $102,800 | $479/mo | 90.8 | 26.0% |
| Pleasants County | Affordable$700/mo | $129,300 | $578/mo | 86.2 | 28.0% |
| Tucker County | Affordable$689/mo | $144,700 | $570/mo | 87.5 | 28.0% |
| Pocahontas County | Affordable$688/mo | $139,400 | $490/mo | 91.7 | 24.0% |
| Webster County | Affordable$687/mo | $78,000 | $446/mo | 93.1 | 34.0% |
| McDowell County | Affordable$686/mo | $49,200 | $361/mo | 93.9 | 29.0% |
| Mineral County | Affordable$684/mo | $180,400 | $598/mo | 85.9 | 27.0% |
| Monroe County | Affordable$677/mo | $146,100 | $568/mo | 88.6 | 24.0% |
| Taylor County | Affordable$672/mo | $144,000 | $602/mo | 86.2 | 27.0% |
| Nicholas County | Affordable$669/mo | $114,200 | $525/mo | 91.4 | 26.0% |
| Mason County | Affordable$654/mo | $127,400 | $556/mo | 90.7 | 25.0% |
| Grant County | Affordable$612/mo | $167,500 | $613/mo | 88.7 | 33.0% |
| Mingo County | Affordable$604/mo | $85,600 | $428/mo | 97.4 | 22.0% |
| Brooke County | Affordable$603/mo | $127,700 | $581/mo | 91.2 | 26.0% |
| Roane County | Affordable$590/mo | $121,100 | $448/mo | 97.5 | 29.0% |
| Clay County | Affordable$589/mo | $107,100 | $437/mo | 97.7 | 39.0% |
| Ritchie County | Affordable$583/mo | $107,800 | $342/mo | 98.6 | 25.0% |
| Braxton County | Affordable$578/mo | $106,400 | $374/mo | 98.6 | 22.0% |
| Wirt County | Affordable$575/mo | $112,800 | $503/mo | 96.0 | 29.0% |
| Calhoun County | Affordable$483/mo | $111,200 | $316/mo | 99.7 | 20.0% |
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
What is the most affordable county in West Virginia?
What is the most expensive county to live in West Virginia?
How does West Virginia's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in West Virginia?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.