Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Fairmont, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.9% of gross income.

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

Fairmont median rent
$1,250/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (West Virginia)
$55,743/yr
Rent as % of income
26.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,645, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,394/mo in rent. Fairmont's median rent of $1,250 leaves roughly $144/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 46.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Fairmont, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (26.8% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (26.8% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,244/mo (26.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairmont

View full rent data for Fairmont, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Fairmont, WV?

Median rent in Fairmont is $1,250 a month. A typical real estate agent in West Virginia earns about $55,743 a year, which makes that rent 26.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Fairmont?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in West Virginia (~$55,743/yr) supports up to $1,394 a month in rent. Fairmont's current median rent is $1,250/mo, which leaves a $144/mo buffer.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Fairmont?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a real estate agent in West Virginia works roughly 46.6 hours a month to cover Fairmont's median rent of $1,250.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairmont for a real estate agent?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Morgantown ($1,247/mo), Morgantown ($1,247/mo), Morgantown ($1,244/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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