Wheeling, WV at a glance
Median household income
$48,590$4,049 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Wheeling, 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 Wheeling, WV? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Wheeling, WV-OH 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 | $683 | $8,196 | $27,320 | 16.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $816 | $9,792 | $32,640 | 20.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $991 | $11,892 | $39,640 | 24.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,277 | $15,324 | $51,080 | 31.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,413 | $16,956 | $56,520 | 34.9% |
What a typical income covers in Wheeling, WV
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $48,590 a year ($4,049 a month before tax).
What $48,590 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 Wheeling, WV: common questions
What is the median household income in Wheeling, WV?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Wheeling, WV is $48,590 per year (approximately $4,049 per month).
What is the average rent in Wheeling, WV?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $683 for a studio, $816 for one bedroom, $991 for two, $1,277 for three and $1,413 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 Wheeling, WV expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.3, 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 Wheeling, WV?
To keep a $991 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $39,640 a year, or $3,303 a month. That is 82% of what the typical household in Wheeling, WV earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Wheeling, WV?
On the local median income of $48,590 ($4,049 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,025 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,215 for everything else and $810 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $991 takes 49% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Wheeling, 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.