Cost of Living in Monongalia 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 Monongalia County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Monongalia County ranks #2,137 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 32%)
Sourced county brief
Monongalia County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $986
Monongalia County reported a median monthly owner cost of $986, which is $388 higher than the West Virginia unweighted county mean of $598. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 32.9 percent, which is 4.2 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 28.7 percent. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $987 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $777. The median home value was $267,700, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $148,004. Renter households in the county had a median income of $33,682. These figures are based on the American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020-2024. 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: Monongalia County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.9% of renter household income in Monongalia 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 $987 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $986. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,480 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. Monongalia County's $987 median is 27.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Monongalia County
Rent Burden
18.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,525
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.1%
of gross income
The median home in Monongalia County may be a stretch
Median home value is $267,700. Estimated monthly cost: $2,137 vs. your max of $1,525.
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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