It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.
The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in West Virginia where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.
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#50. Ritchie County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 11.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 69.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 11.8%
- Total occupied households: 4,049
- Median household income: $43,577
- Median monthly housing cost: $400
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#49. Tyler County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 11.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 66.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.9%
- Total occupied households: 3,207
- Median household income: $43,087
- Median monthly housing cost: $410
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#48. Tucker County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 11.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.2%
- Total occupied households: 3,142
- Median household income: $49,118
- Median monthly housing cost: $481
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#47. Calhoun County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 11.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 11.2%
- Total occupied households: 2,826
- Median household income: $38,382
- Median monthly housing cost: $376
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#46. Mason County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 64.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.5%
- Total occupied households: 11,034
- Median household income: $46,078
- Median monthly housing cost: $464
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#45. Taylor County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.7%
- Total occupied households: 6,614
- Median household income: $48,578
- Median monthly housing cost: $494
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#44. Pendleton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 64.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.3%
- Total occupied households: 3,174
- Median household income: $42,312
- Median monthly housing cost: $431
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#43. Wetzel County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 65.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.8%
- Total occupied households: 5,762
- Median household income: $43,107
- Median monthly housing cost: $440
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#42. Brooke County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 64.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.9%
- Total occupied households: 9,805
- Median household income: $51,496
- Median monthly housing cost: $533
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#41. Lincoln County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.8%
- Total occupied households: 8,208
- Median household income: $42,345
- Median monthly housing cost: $442
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#40. Preston County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 65.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.1%
- Total occupied households: 12,429
- Median household income: $51,888
- Median monthly housing cost: $548
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#39. Clay County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 64.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.1%
- Total occupied households: 3,274
- Median household income: $35,024
- Median monthly housing cost: $374
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#38. Webster County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.9%
- Total occupied households: 3,781
- Median household income: $34,927
- Median monthly housing cost: $383
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#37. Pocahontas County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.8%
- Total occupied households: 3,530
- Median household income: $41,882
- Median monthly housing cost: $468
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#36. Braxton County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 64.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.6%
- Total occupied households: 5,624
- Median household income: $41,466
- Median monthly housing cost: $468
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#35. Marshall County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 62.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.5%
- Total occupied households: 12,308
- Median household income: $48,557
- Median monthly housing cost: $552
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#34. Jackson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.2%
- Total occupied households: 11,334
- Median household income: $47,837
- Median monthly housing cost: $554
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#33. McDowell County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.6%
- Total occupied households: 7,607
- Median household income: $27,682
- Median monthly housing cost: $323
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#32. Nicholas County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.8%
- Total occupied households: 10,069
- Median household income: $40,086
- Median monthly housing cost: $477
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#31. Roane County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.5%
- Total occupied households: 5,562
- Median household income: $37,373
- Median monthly housing cost: $445
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#30. Harrison County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 62.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 27,098
- Median household income: $53,022
- Median monthly housing cost: $635
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#29. Ohio County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.4%
- Total occupied households: 17,193
- Median household income: $50,584
- Median monthly housing cost: $606
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#28. Boone County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.1%
- Total occupied households: 8,932
- Median household income: $40,739
- Median monthly housing cost: $494
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#27. Grant County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.6%
- Total occupied households: 4,607
- Median household income: $42,216
- Median monthly housing cost: $514
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#26. Summers County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.5%
- Total occupied households: 5,566
- Median household income: $38,187
- Median monthly housing cost: $465
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#25. Lewis County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.1%
- Total occupied households: 6,574
- Median household income: $39,908
- Median monthly housing cost: $492
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#24. Barbour County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.8%
- Total occupied households: 6,324
- Median household income: $38,459
- Median monthly housing cost: $486
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#23. Putnam County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.1%
- Total occupied households: 21,613
- Median household income: $60,097
- Median monthly housing cost: $764
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#22. Monroe County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.4%
- Total occupied households: 5,718
- Median household income: $38,540
- Median monthly housing cost: $492
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#21. Mineral County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.7%
- Total occupied households: 10,916
- Median household income: $49,936
- Median monthly housing cost: $639
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#20. Marion County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.6%
- Total occupied households: 22,926
- Median household income: $50,305
- Median monthly housing cost: $644
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#19. Hancock County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.1%
- Total occupied households: 12,678
- Median household income: $45,763
- Median monthly housing cost: $586
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#18. Fayette County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 17,441
- Median household income: $41,394
- Median monthly housing cost: $537
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#17. Mingo County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
- Total occupied households: 10,501
- Median household income: $32,764
- Median monthly housing cost: $426
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#16. Randolph County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 11,135
- Median household income: $43,320
- Median monthly housing cost: $574
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#15. Mercer County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 25,216
- Median household income: $40,784
- Median monthly housing cost: $556
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#14. Raleigh County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Total occupied households: 31,203
- Median household income: $43,748
- Median monthly housing cost: $598
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#13. Wood County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 35,488
- Median household income: $47,321
- Median monthly housing cost: $647
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#12. Upshur County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.8%
- Total occupied households: 9,713
- Median household income: $40,322
- Median monthly housing cost: $554
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#11. Hampshire County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.2%
- Total occupied households: 9,288
- Median household income: $47,857
- Median monthly housing cost: $658
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#10. Logan County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.7%
- Total occupied households: 13,816
- Median household income: $36,168
- Median monthly housing cost: $507
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#9. Kanawha County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
- Total occupied households: 79,070
- Median household income: $46,639
- Median monthly housing cost: $656
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#8. Greenbrier County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 15,188
- Median household income: $40,200
- Median monthly housing cost: $568
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#7. Wayne County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.3%
- Total occupied households: 15,124
- Median household income: $37,988
- Median monthly housing cost: $544
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#6. Hardy County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.8%
- Total occupied households: 5,674
- Median household income: $47,438
- Median monthly housing cost: $688
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#5. Morgan County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 7,185
- Median household income: $51,745
- Median monthly housing cost: $763
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#4. Monongalia County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.2%
- Total occupied households: 39,466
- Median household income: $52,455
- Median monthly housing cost: $817
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#3. Jefferson County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 20,891
- Median household income: $80,430
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,265
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#2. Berkeley County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 44,221
- Median household income: $62,515
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,049
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#1. Cabell County
- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
- Total occupied households: 39,064
- Median household income: $40,028
- Median monthly housing cost: $683
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