1st Advantage MortgageCalhoun County households have a median income of $43,980 and median rent of $473 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's West Virginia license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Calhoun County
- Housing costs in Calhoun County
- Household income in Calhoun County
- Employment and commuting in Calhoun County
- The counties around Calhoun County
- Towns and communities in Calhoun County
- Room for a loan payment in Calhoun County
- Calhoun County households compared
- Reading the Calhoun County data as a borrower
- West Virginia rules that apply in Calhoun County
- Four steps for Calhoun County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Calhoun County
Calhoun County is home to about 6,048 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 53rd most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. It covers 279 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Grantsville, with about 401 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Because Calhoun County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Calhoun County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $473 in Calhoun County versus $872 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $100,500, about 2.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 87%. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Calhoun County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $473/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $100,500 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.5% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Calhoun County
Half of Calhoun County households take in less than $43,980 a year and half take in more, 26% below the West Virginia median of $59,608.
| Band | Calhoun County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.3% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.3% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.4% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -3.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 14% of Calhoun County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. 32.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.7%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Calhoun County median.
Employment and commuting in Calhoun County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Calhoun County residents work in education and health care and 17% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 14% locally and 6% for West Virginia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.9% in Calhoun County. Long commutes are common here: 35% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 11.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Calhoun County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -6.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 17.3% | +5.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 14.5% | +8.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.9% | +4.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.4% | -1.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The counties around Calhoun County
Distances run center to center, from Roane County at 15 miles out to Clay County at 27. Ritchie County leads the group on income ($50,582), Clay County trails ($42,318), and Calhoun County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County | - | $43,980 | $473/mo | 87% |
| Roane County, WV | 15 mi | $45,778 | $614/mo | 79% |
| Gilmer County, WV | 15 mi | $47,981 | $750/mo | 76% |
| Wirt County, WV | 19 mi | $49,867 | $558/mo | 88% |
| Braxton County, WV | 23 mi | $50,331 | $606/mo | 77% |
| Ritchie County, WV | 23 mi | $50,582 | $579/mo | 84% |
| Clay County, WV | 27 mi | $42,318 | $651/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Calhoun County
Grantsville is the only Census place mainly inside Calhoun County, with about 401 of the county's 6,048 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grantsville | town | 401 | $28,438 | n/a | 5 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Calhoun County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Calhoun County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Calhoun County: $3,665
- Housing at the median rent of $473 uses 13%
- At 36%, room after rent is $846 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Calhoun County households compared
Degree holders: 10% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Measure | Calhoun County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.1% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.9% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.9% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Calhoun County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 14.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.4% |
| 60+ min | 20.3% |
Reading the Calhoun County data as a borrower
Based on the Calhoun County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 35% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Calhoun County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 48.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Assistance before credit. With a 33% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Calhoun County loan.
West Virginia rules that apply in Calhoun County
Consumer lenders serving Calhoun County are licensed by the state, not the county; in West Virginia that is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
Four steps for Calhoun County borrowers
Steps that save money for Calhoun County residents:
- Price the Calhoun County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in West Virginia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The West Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Calhoun County household make?
About $43,980 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% below the West Virginia median.
How much is rent in Calhoun County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $473 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Calhoun County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Grantsville.
Is the fit check different in Calhoun County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Calhoun County residents?
The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in West Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.