Counties in West Virginia where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties in West Virginia where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

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.

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

#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

Trending Now