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City Report · WV

Fairmont

Pop. 18,221·9th most expensive in West Virginia·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,258/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+0.6%
vs US Median
-$704
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Fairmont · $1,258
More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
24% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,258/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/yr
Local median income
$63,032/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Fairmont's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$759
1 BR
$737
2 BR
$1,045
3 BR
$1,035
4 BR+
$1,696
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,045/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,258 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$15,096/yr
At $1,258/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Fairmont, WV is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 32.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,221
Median income
$63,032
Median age
34.9
Renters
36.9%
Age distribution
17.9%
32.3%
23.2%
16%
Under 1817.9%
18–3432.3%
35–5423.2%
55–6410.6%
65+16%
Gender
50.7%
49.3%
Male50.7%
Female49.3%
Race & ethnicity
84.5%
White84.5%
Black6%
Hispanic2.4%
Asian1%
Other6%
Education (25+)
30.6%
29.6%
32.9%
No HS diploma6.9%
HS diploma30.6%
Some college29.6%
Bachelor's+32.9%
Housing tenure
63.1%
36.9%
Owner63.1%
Renter36.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Fairmont, WV has changed in 5 years

Income
$47,618 → $63,032
up 32.4%
Population
18,369 → 18,221
down 0.8%
Renter share
40.6% → 36.9%
-3.7 pts
Bachelor's+
28.8% → 32.9%
+4.1 pts
Median age
34.4 → 34.9
+0.5 yrs

Median household income rose from $47,618 to $63,032 between 2021 and 2024, a 32.4% shift. Renters now make up 36.9% of households, compared with 40.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 32.9% of adults here, versus 28.8% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Fairmont

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View Fairmont rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Fairmont on your salary?

At $1,258/mo, how Fairmont rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Fairmont rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Fairmont

About renting in Fairmont, WV

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Fairmont is $1,258/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $759/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,045/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $737/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,035/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($63,032/yr), Fairmont ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Fairmont an affordable city for renters?

Fairmont is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,258/mo, rent takes approximately 24% of the local median household income ($63,032/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Fairmont falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Fairmont?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (~$24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,258/mo in Fairmont. The local median household income is $63,032/yr, meaning the typical Fairmont household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Fairmont?

Rent in Fairmont has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

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

Fairmont is middle-of-the-pack for West Virginia for rent, ranking #9 out of 14 tracked cities at $1,258/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fairmont?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Fairmont ($1,258/mo): Star City ($900/mo), Uniontown ($944/mo).

What percentage of Fairmont residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 36.9% of Fairmont households are renters, while 63.1% are owner-occupied. Fairmont leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Fairmont rent compare to the national average?

Fairmont's median rent of $1,258/mo is $704 (36%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within West Virginia, it ranks #9 out of 14 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
24%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,258/mo, rent takes ~24% of Fairmont's median household income ($63,032/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Fairmont 24%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.36–5.12%
Run the Fairmont affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Fairmont, WV

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