Housing decision brief
Cabell County, WV Housing Market
Cabell County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
39th lowest home value out of 55 West Virginia counties with data | 47th lowest rent out of 55
Median home value
$156,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$877/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$753/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
34.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$124/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $124/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$52,828 median income is 1% below West Virginia county median
Tax rate needs attention
0.63% effective property-tax rate is 31% above West Virginia county median
Health context
Health score is 27.5 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Cabell County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $156,100 | $135,800 | $281,900 | 15% pressure15% above West Virginia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $877 | $753 | $1,163 | 16% pressure16% above West Virginia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $753 | $562 | $1,672 | 34% pressure34% above West Virginia county median |
Median household income | $52,828 | $53,475 | $74,755 | Near state median1% below West Virginia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.63% | 0.48% | 1.02% | 31% pressure31% above West Virginia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 34.00% | 27.00% | N/A | 26% pressure34.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$17,748
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$20,557
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Cabell County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $877/month representing approximately 19.9% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 34.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Cabell County pay $877/month on average, compared to $753/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 14%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $35,080/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $32,271/year. With a median household income of $52,828, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 34.0% of renter households in Cabell County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within West Virginia, Cabell County is more affordable than Boone County by roughly 7% ($877/mo vs $823/mo).
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh County, WV | $142,600 | $847/mo | Same-state comparison near $142,600 home value and $847/mo rent. |
| Upshur County, WV | $160,700 | $799/mo | Same-state comparison near $160,700 home value and $799/mo rent. |
| Harrison County, WV | $158,500 | $848/mo | Same-state comparison near $158,500 home value and $848/mo rent. |
| Hardy County, WV | $159,700 | $820/mo | Same-state comparison near $159,700 home value and $820/mo rent. |
| Wood County, WV | $153,700 | $789/mo | Same-state comparison near $153,700 home value and $789/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Cabell County
Is Cabell County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Cabell County?
How much income do you need for housing in Cabell County?
What should I double-check before moving to Cabell County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.