Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Wheeling, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.9% of gross income.

Wheeling rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Wheeling median rent
$878/mo
Bus Driver salary (West Virginia)
$44,047/yr
Rent as % of income
23.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,671, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,101/mo in rent. Wheeling's median rent of $878 leaves roughly $223/mo of headroom under that threshold. A bus driver works roughly 41.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Wheeling, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Princeton, WV
$871/mo (23.7% of income)
Princeton, WV
$870/mo (23.7% of income)
Princeton, WV
$869/mo (23.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wheeling

View full rent data for Wheeling, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Wheeling, WV?

Median rent in Wheeling is $878 a month. A typical bus driver in West Virginia earns about $44,047 a year, which makes that rent 23.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Wheeling?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in West Virginia (~$44,047/yr) supports up to $1,101 a month in rent. Wheeling's current median rent is $878/mo, which leaves a $223/mo buffer.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Wheeling?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in West Virginia works roughly 41.5 hours a month to cover Wheeling's median rent of $878.

Where is rent cheaper than Wheeling for a bus driver?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Princeton ($871/mo), Princeton ($870/mo), Princeton ($869/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived West Virginia state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Wheeling, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.