West Virginia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in West Virginia was $727 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $617 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 West Virginia median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for West Virginia rental vacancy rates, West Virginia rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in West Virginia.
Real Gross Rent in West Virginia (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| West Virginia Median Gross Rent | $727 | -2.81% | +1.82% |
West Virginia Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for West Virginia peaked in real terms in 2018 at $748 and is now $21 (2.81%) lower. Average gross rent for West Virginia peaked in real terms in 2018 at $652 and is now $35 (5.37%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in West Virginia: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for West Virginia
| Date | US Median | West Virginia Median | West Virginia Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $727 | $617 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $748 | $652 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $711 | $628 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $714 | $644 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $716 | $642 |
| 2014 | $986 | $693 | $607 |
| 2013 | $953 | $653 | $580 |
| 2012 | $940 | $646 | $571 |
| 2011 | $941 | $647 | $567 |
| 2010 | $955 | $638 | $564 |
| 2009 | $960 | $629 | $571 |
| 2007 | $927 | $617 | $538 |
| 2005 | $910 | $604 | $531 |
West Virginia Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for West Virginia was 7.24% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in West Virginia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| West Virginia | 7.24% | +0.40% | -0.68% |
Trends in West Virginia Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in West Virginia peaked in 2010 at 8.96%. Since then it has fallen by 1.72% to 7.24%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: West Virginia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for West Virginia
| Date | US | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.24% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.84% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.21% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.92% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.82% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.91% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.75% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.82% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.13% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.96% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 8.76% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.79% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.58% |
West Virginia Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for West Virginia, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For West Virginia, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.86% in 2019 according to the ACS.
West Virginia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| West Virginia | 17.86% | -2.14% | -1.00% |
Trends in West Virginia Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median West Virginia household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.00%. Since then it has fallen by 2.14% to 17.86%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: West Virginia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in West Virginia
| Date | US | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.86% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.00% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.05% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.86% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.28% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.17% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.04% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.12% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.68% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 17.93% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.69% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.00% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.33% |
Renter Fraction in West Virginia
You can calculate the renter fraction in West Virginia in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in West Virginia as a fraction of total West Virginia households. In 2019 26.59% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
West Virginia Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| West Virginia | 26.59% | -0.91% | -0.97% |
Trends in the West Virginia Renter Fraction
The West Virginia household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 28.02% and is now 1.43% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: West Virginia, US
History of West Virginia Renter Fraction
| Date | US | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 26.59% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 27.50% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 27.46% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 27.56% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 27.69% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 27.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 27.67% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.02% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 27.74% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 25.41% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.38% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.13% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 24.63% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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