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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Wheeling, WV is $885. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Wheeling cheaper than other West Virginia cities?

Wheeling is among the more affordable cities in West Virginia, ranking #11 out of 14 cities at $885/mo.

When was Wheeling rent data last updated?

Wheeling rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Wheeling, WV?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Wheeling, WV at $1,020 per month, which is 15% above the $885 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · WV

Wheeling

Name: Average Rent Prices in Wheeling, WV
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 26,350·11th most expensive in West Virginia·Wheeling rents are up 7.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$885/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$1,077

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Wheeling · $885

More affordable than 99% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

45/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% above what Wheeling's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$885/mo

Expected by trend

$864/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$700

1 BR

$840

2 BR

$1,020

3 BR

$1,310

4 BR+

$1,470

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,020/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $885 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$10,620/yr

At $885/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.9% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Wheeling, WV is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 34.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,350

Median income

$48,590

Median age

45.4

Renters

40.2%

Age distribution

18.1%

19.5%

22.5%

14.1%

25.9%

Under 1818.1%

18–3419.5%

35–5422.5%

55–6414.1%

65+25.9%

Gender

47.2%

52.8%

Male47.2%

Female52.8%

Race & ethnicity

89.5%

White89.5%

Black4.5%

Hispanic1.4%

Other4.3%

Education (25+)

32.1%

26.2%

34.1%

No HS diploma7.6%

HS diploma32.1%

Some college26.2%

Bachelor's+34.1%

Housing tenure

59.8%

40.2%

Owner59.8%

Renter40.2%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Wheeling, WV has changed in 5 years

Rent

$785 → $885

up 12.7%

Income

$43,483 → $48,590

up 11.7%

Population

27,142 → 26,350

down 2.9%

Renter share

38.5% → 40.2%

+1.7 pts

Bachelor's+

31% → 34.1%

+3.1 pts

Median age

43.6 → 45.4

+1.8 yrs

Compared with 2023, rent in Wheeling, WV has climbed by $100 per month, settling near $885 after starting the period at $785. On the earnings side, the typical household in Wheeling, WV now reports about $48,590, up from $43,483 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 27,142 to 26,350 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.9% change. About 40.2% of households rent today, against 38.5% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 31% to 34.1%. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Wheeling, WV reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Wheeling

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View Wheeling rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Wheeling on your salary?

At $885/mo, how Wheeling rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $80,308/yr · Rent = 13.2% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $57,018/yr · Rent = 18.6% income

very comfortable

Police Officer

Avg $65,680/yr · Rent = 16.2% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $117,394/yr · Rent = 9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $150,000/yr · Rent = 7.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $53,389/yr · Rent = 19.9% income

very comfortable

Truck Driver

Avg $48,204/yr · Rent = 22% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $59,415/yr · Rent = 17.9% income

very comfortable

By apartment size

Wheeling rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Wheeling

About renting in Wheeling, WV

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Wheeling is $885/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $700/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,020/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,310/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($48,590/yr), Wheeling ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Wheeling an affordable city for renters?

Wheeling is considered very affordable for renters. At $885/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($48,590/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Wheeling falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Wheeling?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $35,000/year (~$17/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $885/mo in Wheeling. The local median household income is $48,590/yr, meaning the typical Wheeling household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Wheeling?

Rent in Wheeling has increased 7.9% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Wheeling is one of the more affordable cities in West Virginia for rent, ranking #11 out of 14 tracked cities at $885/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wheeling?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Wheeling ($885/mo): Follansbee ($750/mo), Steubenville ($787/mo), Weirton ($839/mo).

What percentage of Wheeling residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 40.2% of Wheeling households are renters, while 59.8% are owner-occupied. Wheeling leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Wheeling rent compare to the national average?

Wheeling's median rent of $885/mo is $1,077 (55%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within West Virginia, it ranks #11 out of 14 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $885/mo, rent takes ~22% of Wheeling's median household income ($48,590/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Wheeling 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2.36–5.12%

Run the Wheeling affordability calculator →

Nearby cities