Cost of Living in Preston 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 Preston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Preston County ranks #510 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 16%)
Sourced county brief
Preston County official median GRAPI sits at 30.4 percent
In Preston County, the canonical rentToIncomePct is 30.4%, which is identified as official ACS B25071 GRAPI. This official percentage is 1.7 percentage points higher than the West Virginia unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.7%. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $750 per month, which is $27 lower than the state's unweighted county mean of $777. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost was $629, while the West Virginia unweighted county mean is $598. The median home value in Preston County was estimated at $162,800, which is $14,796 above the state unweighted county mean of $148,004. Additionally, the median income for renter-occupied households is $37,670. These statistics are based on 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates and offer a snapshot of regional housing and income levels without consideration of market trends. 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: Preston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.4% of renter household income in Preston 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 $750 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $629. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,000 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. Preston County's $750 median is 3.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Preston County
Rent Burden
14.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,444
per month
Owner Cost Burden
12.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Preston County
Median home value is $162,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,300 vs. your max of $1,444.
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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