Housing decision brief
Ohio County, WV Housing Market
Ohio 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.
46th lowest home value out of 55 West Virginia counties with data | 41st lowest rent out of 55
Median home value
$165,300
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$823/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$689/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.9x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
31.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$134/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 $134/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.59% effective property-tax rate is 21% above West Virginia county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
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
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- 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 Ohio 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. | $165,300 | $135,800 | $281,900 | 22% pressure22% above West Virginia county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $823 | $753 | $1,163 | 9% pressure9% above West Virginia county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $689 | $562 | $1,672 | 23% pressure23% above West Virginia county median |
Median household income | $57,867 | $53,475 | $74,755 | 8% favorable8% above West Virginia county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.59% | 0.48% | 1.02% | 21% pressure21% above West Virginia county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 31.00% | 27.00% | N/A | 15% pressure31.00% 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
+$24,947
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$28,338
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Ohio County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $823/month , about 17.1% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
Renters in Ohio County pay $823/month on average, compared to $689/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 16%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $32,920/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $29,529/year. With a median household income of $57,867, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 31.0% of renter households in Ohio County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within West Virginia, Ohio County is less affordable than Cabell County by roughly 6% ($823/mo vs $877/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County, WV | $158,500 | $848/mo | Same-state comparison near $158,500 home value and $848/mo rent. |
| Doddridge County, WV | $160,000 | $827/mo | Same-state comparison near $160,000 home value and $827/mo rent. |
| Wood County, WV | $153,700 | $789/mo | Same-state comparison near $153,700 home value and $789/mo rent. |
| Upshur County, WV | $160,700 | $799/mo | Same-state comparison near $160,700 home value and $799/mo rent. |
| Preston County, WV | $157,700 | $753/mo | Same-state comparison near $157,700 home value and $753/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Ohio County
Is Ohio County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Ohio County?
How much income do you need for housing in Ohio County?
What should I double-check before moving to Ohio County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.