Cost of Living in McDowell 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 McDowell County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McDowell County ranks #32 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 1%)
Sourced county brief
Median Home Value in McDowell County Estimated at $50,000
The median home value in McDowell County was estimated at $50,000 during the 2020-2024 period, which is $98,004 below the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $148,004. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.1 percent, a figure that is 2.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 28.7 percent. Median gross rent in the county was $643 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $777. For homeowners, the median monthly owner cost was $385, while the state unweighted county mean was $598. Renter households in the county had a median income of $21,500. This data provides a snapshot of housing costs based on the ACS 5-year estimates. 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: McDowell County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.1% of renter household income in McDowell 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 $643 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $385. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $25,720 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. McDowell County's $643 median is 17.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McDowell County
Rent Burden
24.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$736
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in McDowell County
Median home value is $50,000. Estimated monthly cost: $399 vs. your max of $736.
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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