Buying a home in West Virginia is still well within reach for most families. The typical home costs $162,600 — about 2.7× of the typical household income of $59,608 a year. That's one of the better ratios in the country. A family putting aside their entire income, with no other expenses, could cover the purchase price in around 2.7 years.
Renters face moderate pressure. The typical rent in West Virginia is $872 a month, and 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing — the point at which most financial advisers say rent becomes unaffordable. That figure is 10% lower than the national average of 45%.
9.0% of West Virginia homeowners with a mortgage spend more than 30% of their income on housing — much lower than the national average of 16.1%.