Rents are 3% below what Martinsburg's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,648 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
March. Asking rents in Martinsburg usually run 1.2% below trend in March and 0.9% above it in August, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Martinsburg is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2021.
Rent in Martinsburg changed +5.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 10 West Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.
Rent has risen 17 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,555) is $1,489 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,200); a 3-bedroom is $1,667.
Hagerstown, MD, 16 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,377/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Martinsburg. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Martinsburg, WV is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 24.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Martinsburg, WV has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Martinsburg, WV has shifted from $1,192 to $1,648, up 38.3% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $45,901 in 2021 to $59,555 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Martinsburg, WV adding about 402 residents over the five-year window, up 2.2% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Martinsburg, WV market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Martinsburg on your salary?
At $1,648/mo, how Martinsburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Martinsburg rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Martinsburg. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Martinsburg
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Martinsburg is $1,648/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $847/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,200/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $957/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,667/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($59,555/yr), Martinsburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Martinsburg?
At $1,648/mo, rent takes ~33% of Martinsburg's median household income ($59,555/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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