West Virginia households earn a median $59,608 a year and pay a median $872 in rent, according to the Census Bureau. Before borrowing, confirm the lender's state license, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and walk away from any upfront fee.
On this page
- West Virginia by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for West Virginia borrowers
- Largest places in West Virginia
- Mid-size West Virginia communities
- Counties with the most residents
- How West Virginia earns a living
- More context for West Virginia budgets
- Checking a lender in West Virginia
- Can West Virginia residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in West Virginia
- Frequently asked questions
West Virginia by the numbers
Start with the numbers. These Census Bureau estimates (five-year ACS, 2020 to 2024) cover what West Virginia households earn, what they pay for housing and how they get to work.
| What we measured | West Virginia | United States | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,608 | $80,734 | 50th |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 49% | 51% | 23rd |
| Home value, median | $162,600 | $332,700 | 51st |
| Homeownership rate | 75% | 65% | 1st |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 20% | 28% | 51st |
| Years of median income to buy the median home | 2.7x | 4.1x | 51st |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 17% | 17% | 11th |
| Workers who work from home | 9% | 15% | 46th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 24% | 36% | 51st |
| Median age | 42.7 | 38.9 | 4th |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.471 | 0.483 | 22nd |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 30% | 21% | 3rd |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 27% | 41% | 50th |
| People below the poverty line | 16.7% | 12.5% | 4th |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.2% | 14th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $872 | $1,413 | 51st |
What the numbers mean for West Virginia borrowers
About 30% of households in West Virginia take in less than $35,000 a year and 27% take in $100,000 or more; nationally the shares are 21% and 41%. Our partners generally look for at least $30,000 in yearly income from any regular source, so households near the bottom of that range may be better served by free options first.
A middle-of-the-road West Virginia household brings in $59,608 a year. That is 26% below the $80,734 national median and good for 50th place. Use it as a yardstick: if your income sits well below the median, keep the loan smaller and the term shorter.
The typical West Virginia home is valued at $162,600 (2.7 times median income), and 75% of households own the place they live in. Among owners with a mortgage, 20% spend 30 percent or more of income on housing (U.S.: 28%).
Commutes shape budgets too: 17% of West Virginia workers travel 45 minutes or more each way (U.S.: 17%), and 9% work from home. Fuel, tires and insurance belong in the budget before you size any loan payment.
Largest places in West Virginia
Where most West Virginia residents live: the 12 largest cities, towns and census-designated places, with the latest five-year Census figures.
| City or town | County | People | Median household income | Rent (median) | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | Kanawha County | 47,421 | $65,812 | $908 | $203,300 |
| Huntington | Cabell County, Wayne County | 45,787 | $45,100 | $912 | $127,200 |
| Morgantown | Monongalia County | 30,236 | $44,727 | $937 | $259,400 |
| Parkersburg | Wood County | 29,240 | $49,025 | $785 | $121,600 |
| Wheeling | Ohio County, Marshall County | 26,350 | $48,590 | $794 | $146,500 |
| Martinsburg | Berkeley County | 18,904 | $59,555 | $1,150 | $240,000 |
| Weirton | Hancock County, Brooke County | 18,647 | $59,575 | $746 | $133,500 |
| Fairmont | Marion County | 18,221 | $63,032 | $916 | $163,800 |
| Beckley | Raleigh County | 16,818 | $45,826 | $869 | $158,000 |
| Clarksburg | Harrison County | 15,549 | $47,386 | $790 | $129,900 |
| Teays Valley | Putnam County | 14,151 | $108,741 | $1,102 | $278,000 |
| South Charleston | Kanawha County | 13,457 | $63,884 | $844 | $155,400 |
West Virginia has 0 places with 50,000 or more residents and 15 with at least 10,000. Among places of 20,000 or more, median household income runs from $44,727 in Morgantown to $65,812 in Charleston. Median rent in that group ranges from $785 in Parkersburg to $937 in Morgantown.
Mid-size West Virginia communities
From Cheat Lake (10,902 residents) down to Keyser (4,857).
| City or town | Residents | Median household income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheat Lake | 10,902 | $117,014 | $1,124 |
| St. Albans | 10,522 | $53,972 | $931 |
| Vienna | 10,518 | $60,388 | $809 |
| Cross Lanes | 9,671 | $63,537 | $949 |
| Bluefield | 9,387 | $49,375 | $804 |
| Bridgeport | 9,252 | $100,022 | $1,105 |
| Oak Hill | 7,937 | $52,466 | $847 |
| Moundsville | 7,869 | $49,048 | $834 |
| Charles Town | 7,337 | $89,263 | $1,115 |
| Dunbar | 7,254 | $58,379 | $935 |
| Pea Ridge | 6,988 | $65,811 | $1,014 |
| Hurricane | 6,855 | $71,167 | $878 |
| Nitro | 6,853 | $53,848 | $949 |
| Elkins | 6,811 | $44,217 | $903 |
| Brookhaven | 6,212 | $88,438 | $1,104 |
| Princeton | 5,736 | $43,900 | $747 |
| Ranson corporation | 5,729 | $89,523 | $1,536 |
| New Martinsville | 5,133 | $60,946 | $688 |
| Buckhannon | 5,116 | $54,615 | $885 |
| Keyser | 4,857 | $46,955 | $648 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Elkins (25%) and least in Cheat Lake (12%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Population and housing costs for the 16 biggest of 55 counties in West Virginia.
| County | Residents | Median household income | Median gross rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County | 176,537 | $60,943 | $906 | $147,300 |
| Berkeley County | 129,514 | $80,815 | $1,233 | $266,300 |
| Monongalia County | 107,163 | $65,346 | $987 | $267,700 |
| Cabell County | 92,739 | $55,832 | $923 | $164,400 |
| Wood County | 83,407 | $57,810 | $822 | $158,500 |
| Raleigh County | 73,195 | $52,150 | $902 | $150,900 |
| Harrison County | 64,984 | $60,377 | $879 | $166,200 |
| Jefferson County | 59,260 | $98,806 | $1,108 | $350,800 |
| Mercer County | 58,563 | $53,210 | $810 | $121,700 |
| Putnam County | 57,177 | $79,527 | $952 | $223,300 |
| Marion County | 55,909 | $67,370 | $932 | $166,700 |
| Ohio County | 41,582 | $57,094 | $821 | $166,000 |
| Fayette County | 39,519 | $53,194 | $788 | $105,800 |
| Wayne County | 38,164 | $58,878 | $915 | $127,100 |
| Preston County | 34,160 | $61,880 | $750 | $162,800 |
| Greenbrier County | 32,386 | $48,218 | $868 | $149,000 |
Across all 55 counties, median household income ranges from $31,559 in McDowell County to $98,806 in Jefferson County. Check the row for your own county before you decide what payment is comfortable.
How West Virginia earns a living
The table lists the four industries that employ the most West Virginia residents, as a share of employed people 16 and older, next to the national share.
| Industry | Share of West Virginia workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 28% | 24% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12% | 11% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 8% | 13% | -4.2 pts |
| Arts, entertainment, lodging and food service | 8% | 9% | -0.5 pts |
Compared with the country, West Virginia leans most toward education, health care and social assistance, at 28% of workers against 24% nationally. If your income comes from self-employment or gig work, gather two years of tax returns and recent bank statements before you compare offers.
More context for West Virginia budgets
Rent is a pressure point for 49% of West Virginia renter households, who spend 30 percent or more of income on it (U.S.: 51%). Median gross rent is $872 a month, 51st highest among the 51. Renters have no home equity to fall back on, which makes comparing APR and total cost more important, not less.
Jobs and hardship: an average 5.4% unemployment rate in the 2020 to 2024 survey, and 16.7% of people below the federal poverty line. If you were recently out of work, wait until you have a few steady paychecks before you apply.
Education and age round out the picture: 24% of West Virginia adults have at least a bachelor's degree (U.S.: 36%), the median age is 42.7, and the Gini index is 0.471.
Checking a lender in West Virginia
Personal lenders that make loans to West Virginia residents generally need a state license or must lend through a bank. The state banking agency, listed by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions.
- Never pay a fee before the money arrives; the FTC calls that an advance-fee loan scam.
- If a lender stops answering, the CFPB complaint form usually gets a response within weeks.
- Ask for the lender's license number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
Can West Virginia residents use the questionnaire?
Not every state has a lending partner yet. Choose West Virginia on the location step and the questionnaire will tell you right away whether matching is open; if it is not, you can leave an email for the waitlist.
Local guides in West Virginia
Until West Virginia cities get their own pages, treat this as the local guide for the whole state; the search box knows every West Virginia town.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a lender in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
What is the median household income in West Virginia?
About $59,608. Half of West Virginia households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
What is the median rent in West Virginia?
$872 a month at the median, 51st of 51. 49% of West Virginia renters are cost-burdened, against 51% nationwide.
Do home values in West Virginia change how I should borrow?
The median home in West Virginia is valued at $162,600, about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,608. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.