Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Parkersburg, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 7.7% of gross income.

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

Parkersburg median rent
$968/mo
Lawyer salary (West Virginia)
$150,000/yr
Rent as % of income
7.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,500, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,750/mo in rent. Parkersburg's median rent of $968 leaves roughly $2,782/mo of headroom under that threshold. A lawyer works roughly 13.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a lawyer salary

Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Parkersburg, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:

Charleston, WV
$958/mo (7.7% of income)
Huntington, WV
$942/mo (7.5% of income)
Huntington, WV
$936/mo (7.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Parkersburg

View full rent data for Parkersburg, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a lawyer afford rent in Parkersburg, WV?

Median rent in Parkersburg is $968 a month. A typical lawyer in West Virginia earns about $150,000 a year, which makes that rent 7.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a lawyer afford in Parkersburg?

Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in West Virginia (~$150,000/yr) supports up to $3,750 a month in rent. Parkersburg's current median rent is $968/mo, which leaves a $2,782/mo buffer.

How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Parkersburg?

At an hourly equivalent of about $72 an hour, a lawyer in West Virginia works roughly 13.4 hours a month to cover Parkersburg's median rent of $968.

Where is rent cheaper than Parkersburg for a lawyer?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Charleston ($958/mo), Huntington ($942/mo), Huntington ($936/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.

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