How much does it cost to rent in Charleston, WV?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Charleston, WV is $1,370. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Charleston cheaper than other West Virginia cities?

Charleston falls in the middle range for West Virginia, ranking #6 out of 14 cities at $1,370/mo.

When was Charleston rent data last updated?

Charleston rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WV

Charleston

Name: Average Rent Prices in Charleston, WV
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 47,421·6th most expensive in West Virginia·Charleston rents are up 18.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,370/mo

Year-over-Year

+18.6%

Month-over-Month

+2.3%

vs US Median

-$595

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Charleston · $1,370

More affordable than 84% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

29/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% above what Charleston's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,370/mo

Expected by trend

$1,242/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Charleston's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$850

1 BR

$1,005

2 BR

$1,235

3 BR

$1,590

4 BR+

$1,640

Research median

$1,235/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$16,440/yr

At $1,370/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 18.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+18.6% YoY, +2.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Charleston, WV is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 45.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

47,421

Median income

$65,812

Median age

Renters

36.7%

Age distribution

19.1%

21.6%

24.1%

14.1%

21.1%

Under 1819.1%

18–3421.6%

35–5424.1%

55–6414.1%

65+21.1%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

77%

White77%

Black9.6%

Hispanic2.2%

Asian2.6%

Other8.6%

Education (25+)

22.2%

25.8%

45.2%

No HS diploma6.8%

HS diploma22.2%

Some college25.8%

Bachelor's+45.2%

Housing tenure

63.3%

36.7%

Owner63.3%

Renter36.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Charleston, WV has changed in 5 years

Rent

$958 → $1,370

up 43.0%

Income

$54,101 → $65,812

up 21.6%

Population

49,055 → 47,421

down 3.3%

Renter share

39.3% → 36.7%

-2.6 pts

Bachelor's+

42.8% → 45.2%

+2.4 pts

Median age

41.7 → 43

+1.3 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Charleston, WV has climbed by $412 per month, settling near $1,370 after starting the period at $958. On the earnings side, the typical household in Charleston, WV now reports about $65,812, up from $54,101 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 21.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 49,055 to 47,421 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.3% change. About 36.7% of households rent today, against 39.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 42.8% to 45.2%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Charleston, WV reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Charleston

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View Charleston rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Charleston on your salary?

At $1,370/mo, how Charleston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $80,308/yr · Rent = 20.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $57,018/yr · Rent = 28.8% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $65,680/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $117,394/yr · Rent = 14% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $150,000/yr · Rent = 11% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $53,389/yr · Rent = 30.8% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $48,204/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $59,415/yr · Rent = 27.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Charleston rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Charleston. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Charleston

About renting in Charleston, WV

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Charleston is $1,370/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $850/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,235/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,005/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,590/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($65,812/yr), Charleston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 18.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Charleston an affordable city for renters?

Charleston is considered affordable for renters. At $1,370/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($65,812/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Charleston falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Charleston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,370/mo in Charleston. The local median household income is $65,812/yr, meaning the typical Charleston household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Charleston?

Rent in Charleston has increased 18.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Charleston neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Charleston are 25311 ($925/mo), and 25306 ($1,505/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Charleston is $1,370/mo.

How does Charleston rent compare to other cities in West Virginia?

Charleston is middle-of-the-pack for West Virginia for rent, ranking #6 out of 14 tracked cities at $1,370/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Charleston?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Charleston ($1,370/mo): Parkersburg ($968/mo), Huntington ($1,067/mo), South Charleston ($1,088/mo).

What percentage of Charleston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 36.7% of Charleston households are renters, while 63.3% are owner-occupied. Charleston leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Charleston rent compare to the national average?

Charleston's median rent of $1,370/mo is $595 (30%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within West Virginia, it ranks #6 out of 14 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,370/mo, rent takes ~25% of Charleston's median household income ($65,812/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Charleston 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2.36–5.12%

Run the Charleston affordability calculator →

Nearby cities