Cost of Living in Clay 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 Clay County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Clay County ranks #46 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 1%)
Sourced county brief
Clay County Rent-to-Income Ratio Reaches 39.2 Percent
In Clay County, West Virginia, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 39.2% for the 2020-2024 interval. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 10.5 percentage points above the West Virginia unweighted county mean of 28.7%. The median gross rent was $651 per month, which is $126 below the state unweighted county mean of $777. For owner-occupied housing units, the median monthly owner cost was $389, below the state unweighted county mean of $598. The median home value in the county was estimated at $109,100, while the state unweighted county mean was $148,004. Median renter-household income was recorded at $19,495. These values provide a data-driven snapshot of the county's housing costs and do not imply any causal relationships or market trends. See ACS table B25071 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: Clay County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 39.2% of renter household income in Clay County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $651 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $389. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $26,040 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. Clay County's $651 median is 16.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Clay County
Rent Burden
18.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$987
per month
Owner Cost Burden
11.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Clay County
Median home value is $109,100. Estimated monthly cost: $871 vs. your max of $987.
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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