Kanawha County, WV at a glance
Median household income
$60,943$5,079 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Kanawha County, WV?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Kanawha County, WV? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Charleston, WV HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $714 | $8,568 | $28,560 | 14.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $829 | $9,948 | $33,160 | 16.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,036 | $12,432 | $41,440 | 20.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,325 | $15,900 | $53,000 | 26.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,372 | $16,464 | $54,880 | 27% |
What a typical income covers in Kanawha County, WV
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $60,943 a year ($5,079 a month before tax).
What $60,943 leaves after West Virginia taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and West Virginia tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in West Virginia
Living in Kanawha County, WV: common questions
What is the median household income in Kanawha County, WV?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Kanawha County, WV is $60,943 per year (approximately $5,079 per month).
What is the average rent in Kanawha County, WV?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $714 for a studio, $829 for one bedroom, $1,036 for two, $1,325 for three and $1,372 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Kanawha County, WV expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Kanawha County, WV?
To keep a $1,036 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $41,440 a year, or $3,453 a month. That is 68% of what the typical household in Kanawha County, WV earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Kanawha County, WV?
On the local median income of $60,943 ($5,079 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,539 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,524 for everything else and $1,016 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,036 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Kanawha County, WV?
Homes in West Virginia paid 15.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $139. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.