Cost of Living in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Jefferson County ranks #2,661 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Jefferson County median home value reaches $350,800
Jefferson County's median home value reached $350,800 in the 2020-2024 ACS estimates, more than double the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $148,004. Correspondingly, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,492, which is $894 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $598. In the rental market, the median gross rent was $1,108 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $777. Despite higher costs, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 26.9%, which is 1.8 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.7%. The median renter-household income was $46,010. The 26.9% figure is the official B25071 GRAPI provided by the U.S. Census Bureau for renter-occupied units. 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: Jefferson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.9% of renter household income in Jefferson 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 $1,108 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,492. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,320 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. Jefferson County's $1,108 median is 42.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Jefferson County
Rent Burden
13.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,305
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.1%
of gross income
The median home in Jefferson County may be a stretch
Median home value is $350,800. Estimated monthly cost: $2,801 vs. your max of $2,305.
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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