1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Preston County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,880. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Preston County
- The Preston County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Preston County
- Housing costs in Preston County
- How Preston County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Preston County
- What a median Preston County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Preston County
- People and households in Preston County
- Who licenses lenders for Preston County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Preston County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Preston County
Preston County is home to about 34,160 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. Land area is 649 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 53 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Morgantown, WV metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Kingwood is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 2,973 people (9% of the county total).
The Preston County job picture
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Preston County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Preston County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Preston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Preston County
The median household income in Preston County is $61,880; statewide it is $59,608, so Preston County runs 4% above West Virginia as a whole. Only 11 West Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Preston County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | -3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -2.0 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. 13.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.7%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Preston County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $750 in Preston County versus $872 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $162,800, a typical Preston County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. Half the housing stock was built before 1982.
| Home costs | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $750/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,800 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.5% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Preston County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Preston County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Preston County's, from 22 to 31 miles away. Income ranges from $51,394 in Barbour County to $67,688 in Garrett County; 3 of these neighbors top Preston County's median. The list crosses into Maryland, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston County | - | $61,880 | $750/mo | 81% |
| Garrett County, MD | 22 mi | $67,688 | $765/mo | 80% |
| Taylor County, WV | 22 mi | $57,795 | $835/mo | 84% |
| Monongalia County, WV | 24 mi | $65,346 | $987/mo | 58% |
| Tucker County, WV | 25 mi | $53,358 | $656/mo | 81% |
| Barbour County, WV | 29 mi | $51,394 | $803/mo | 78% |
| Marion County, WV | 31 mi | $67,370 | $932/mo | 77% |
Places inside Preston County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Preston County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 8,996 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. Arthurdale has the highest median household income on the list ($81,285) and Terra Alta the lowest ($50,536), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Kingwood ($664) and steepest in Reedsville ($1,375). None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingwood | city | 2,973 | $71,154 | $664 | 1 mi |
| Terra Alta | town | 1,841 | $50,536 | $742 | 7 mi |
| Arthurdale | CDP | 982 | $81,285 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Rowlesburg | town | 773 | $61,964 | $674 | 8 mi |
| Masontown | town | 518 | $54,643 | $688 | 9 mi |
| Reedsville | town | 504 | $66,125 | $1,375 | 8 mi |
| Tunnelton | town | 404 | $65,565 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Aurora | CDP | 284 | $55,444 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Albright | town | 254 | $60,000 | $1,020 | 2 mi |
| Newburg | town | 226 | $51,821 | $1,042 | 11 mi |
| Brandonville | town | 166 | $76,250 | $925 | 14 mi |
| Bruceton Mills | town | 71 | $101,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
What a median Preston County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Preston County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,157 gross per month ($61,880 / 12)
- 15% goes to median rent ($750)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,055 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,570 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Preston County
Based on the Preston County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Preston County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 17% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
People and households in Preston County
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. 7.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Preston County | West Virginia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Preston County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 14.3% |
Who licenses lenders for Preston County residents
The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's West Virginia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The West Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Preston County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the West Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Preston County
The West Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Preston County household make?
About $61,880 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 4% above the West Virginia median.
Is Preston County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $750 against $872 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Preston County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Preston County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Preston County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Kingwood, Terra Alta, Arthurdale, Rowlesburg, Masontown.
Can Preston County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every West Virginia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.