Cost of Living in Kanawha 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 Kanawha County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Kanawha County ranks #1,428 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 45%)
Sourced county brief
Kanawha County median monthly gross rent stands at $906
Median gross rent in Kanawha County was estimated at $906 per month, positioning it $129 above the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $777. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 28.6%, which differs by only 0.1 percentage points from the state unweighted county mean of 28.7%. For owner-occupied units, the median home value was $147,300, slightly below the state unweighted county mean of $148,004. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $735, which is $137 above the state unweighted county mean of $598. The median renter-household income in the county was recorded at $35,630. This report utilizes the official ACS B25071 GRAPI for its primary rental affordability metric. 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: Kanawha County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.6% of renter household income in Kanawha 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 $906 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $735. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,240 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. Kanawha County's $906 median is 16.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Kanawha County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,422
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.5%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Kanawha County
Median home value is $147,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,176 vs. your max of $1,422.
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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