Cost of Living in Berkeley County, West Virginia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Berkeley County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Berkeley County ranks #2,629 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 16%)
Sourced county brief
Berkeley County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,233 Per Month
The median gross rent in Berkeley County, West Virginia, was $1,233 per month according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This value is $456 above the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $777. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.0%, which is 0.3 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 28.7%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,219, a figure exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $598. The median home value in the county was estimated at $266,300, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $148,004. Median renter-household income was recorded at $51,926. These data points provide a statistical snapshot of local housing costs without interpreting broader economic causes or forecasting future valuation. See ACS table B25064 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Berkeley County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.0% of renter household income in Berkeley County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,233 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,219. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $49,320 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The West Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $777 per month. Berkeley County's $1,233 median is 58.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Berkeley County
Rent Burden
18.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,886
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.1%
of gross income
The median home in Berkeley County may be a stretch
Median home value is $266,300. Estimated monthly cost: $2,126 vs. your max of $1,886.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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