At $2,009/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,009 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Charles Town changed +2.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 10 West Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($89,263) is $2,232 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,950).
Martinsburg, 17 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,648/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Charles Town. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Charles Town, WV is majority owner-occupied, 36.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Charles Town, WV has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $79,158 to $89,263 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.8% shift. Census counts show Charles Town, WV adding about 964 residents over the five-year window, up 15.1% on net. The renter share has eased from 32% to 25.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 33.3% to 36.1% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Charles Town on your salary?
At $2,009/mo, how Charles Town rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Charles Town rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Charles Town. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Charles Town
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Charles Town is $2,009/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $880/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,160/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,630/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($89,263/yr), Charles Town ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Charles Town?
Is rent going up or down in Charles Town?
How does Charles Town rent compare to other cities in West Virginia?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Charles Town?
At $2,009/mo, rent takes ~27% of Charles Town's median household income ($89,263/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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