Preston County, WV at a glance
Median household income
$61,880$5,157 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Preston 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 Preston County, WV? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Morgantown, WV MSA, 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 | $871 | $10,452 | $34,840 | 16.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $877 | $10,524 | $35,080 | 17% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,099 | $13,188 | $43,960 | 21.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,318 | $15,816 | $52,720 | 25.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,657 | $19,884 | $66,280 | 32.1% |
What a typical income covers in Preston County, WV
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $61,880 a year ($5,157 a month before tax).
What $61,880 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 Preston County, WV: common questions
What is the median household income in Preston County, WV?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Preston County, WV is $61,880 per year (approximately $5,157 per month).
What is the average rent in Preston County, WV?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $871 for a studio, $877 for one bedroom, $1,099 for two, $1,318 for three and $1,657 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 Preston County, WV expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 93.3, 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 Preston County, WV?
To keep a $1,099 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $43,960 a year, or $3,663 a month. That is 71% of what the typical household in Preston County, WV earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Preston County, WV?
On the local median income of $61,880 ($5,157 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,578 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,547 for everything else and $1,031 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,099 takes 43% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Preston 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.