1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Fayette County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $53,194. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Fayette County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Fayette County
- What Fayette County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Fayette County
- Counties near Fayette County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Fayette County
- Fayette County households compared
- Before borrowing in Fayette County
- A Fayette County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Fayette County residents
- Steps before you apply in Fayette County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Fayette County by the numbers
With an estimated 39,519 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Fayette County ranks 13th of 55 in West Virginia for population. It covers 662 square miles of land, or about 60 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Beckley, WV metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Oak Hill is the biggest of its 29 Census places, at roughly 7,937 people (20% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Fayette County
A typical Fayette County rental runs $788 a month including utilities, which is 10% below West Virginia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,800, about 2.0 times the median household income. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Housing | Fayette County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $788/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,800 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.3% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Fayette County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
What Fayette County households earn
At $53,194, the typical Fayette County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Fayette County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.3% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.6% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -2.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Fayette County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.2%, 3 points higher than the state's 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 Fayette County median.
Employment and commuting in Fayette County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Fayette County residents work in education and health care and 16% in retail trade. Retail trade stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.1% of the total (8.0% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Fayette County workers | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.2% | +4.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Other services | 7.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Public administration | 6.2% | -1.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Fayette County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Fayette County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Fayette County's, from 21 to 34 miles away. Kanawha County leads the group on income ($60,943), Summers County trails ($40,699), and Fayette County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | - | $53,194 | $788/mo | 78% |
| Raleigh County, WV | 21 mi | $52,150 | $902/mo | 75% |
| Nicholas County, WV | 24 mi | $54,639 | $686/mo | 82% |
| Summers County, WV | 29 mi | $40,699 | $915/mo | 81% |
| Clay County, WV | 30 mi | $42,318 | $651/mo | 76% |
| Kanawha County, WV | 31 mi | $60,943 | $906/mo | 71% |
| Boone County, WV | 34 mi | $57,093 | $837/mo | 81% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Fayette County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 29 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 49% of Fayette County residents live in one of the 29. Incomes vary by place: $76,351 at the median in Gatewood, $34,375 in Mount Hope. Rent is cheapest in Mount Hope ($549) and steepest in Ansted ($988). No Fayette County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 29.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Hill | city | 7,937 | $52,466 | $847 | 5 mi |
| Fayetteville | town | 2,817 | $67,623 | $980 | 3 mi |
| Mount Hope | city | 1,504 | $34,375 | $549 | 10 mi |
| Ansted | town | 1,140 | $38,375 | $988 | 7 mi |
| Smithers | city | 712 | $45,417 | $663 | 15 mi |
| Gatewood | CDP | 605 | $76,351 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Meadow Bridge | town | 504 | $43,750 | $663 | 17 mi |
| Powellton | CDP | 479 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Gauley Bridge | town | 413 | $25,625 | $472 | 12 mi |
| Hilltop | CDP | 397 | $30,884 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Falls View | CDP | 372 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Kimberly | CDP | 357 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Mount Carbon | CDP | 347 | $250,001 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Kincaid | CDP | 285 | $19,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
Fayette County households compared
16% of Fayette County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.0%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| People and households | Fayette County | West Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.8% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Fayette County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 12.8% |
Before borrowing in Fayette County
A few patterns in the Fayette County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Fayette County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Fayette County loan.
- 53% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Fayette County household budget, worked through
Fayette County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $53,194 a year is $4,433 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $788, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $1,773 total minus rent leaves $985
If your rent is above $788, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Fayette County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Fayette County borrowers answers to the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Fayette County
Quick steps for Fayette County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The West Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Fayette County household make?
About $53,194 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 11% below the West Virginia median.
What do renters pay in Fayette County?
$788 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
I live in a small Fayette County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Oak Hill, Fayetteville, Mount Hope, Ansted, Smithers and 24 more.
Are Fayette County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Fayette County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In West Virginia it is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions.