Cost of Living in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lincoln County ranks #305 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 10%)
Sourced county brief
Lincoln County median monthly owner costs are $418
Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Lincoln County were $418, which is $180 below the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $598. The median home value was estimated at $105,300, which sits $42,704 below the state unweighted county mean of $148,004. In the rental sector, the median gross rent was $771 per month, nearly matching the state unweighted county mean of $777. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 24.3%, which is 4.4 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.7%. The median renter-household income for the county was $23,839. The affordability metric of 24.3% is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate and describes costs for renter-occupied housing. 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: Lincoln County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.3% of renter household income in Lincoln 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 $771 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $418. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,840 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. Lincoln County's $771 median is 0.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lincoln County
Rent Burden
20.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,078
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Lincoln County
Median home value is $105,300. Estimated monthly cost: $841 vs. your max of $1,078.
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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