Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Star City, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.8% of gross income.

Star City rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Star City median rent
$900/mo
Carpenter salary (West Virginia)
$51,799/yr
Rent as % of income
20.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,317, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,295/mo in rent. Star City's median rent of $900 leaves roughly $395/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 36.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Star City, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Huntington, WV
$898/mo (20.8% of income)
Huntington, WV
$896/mo (20.8% of income)
Parkersburg, WV
$896/mo (20.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Star City

View full rent data for Star City, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Star City, WV?

Median rent in Star City is $900 a month. A typical carpenter in West Virginia earns about $51,799 a year, which makes that rent 20.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Star City?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in West Virginia (~$51,799/yr) supports up to $1,295 a month in rent. Star City's current median rent is $900/mo, which leaves a $395/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Star City?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a carpenter in West Virginia works roughly 36.1 hours a month to cover Star City's median rent of $900.

Where is rent cheaper than Star City for a carpenter?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Huntington ($898/mo), Huntington ($896/mo), Parkersburg ($896/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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