Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Wheeling, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.2% of gross income.

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

Wheeling median rent
$885/mo
Registered Nurse salary (West Virginia)
$80,308/yr
Rent as % of income
13.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,692, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,008/mo in rent. Wheeling's median rent of $885 leaves roughly $1,123/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 22.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a registered nurse salary

Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Parkersburg, WV
$883/mo (13.2% of income)
Parkersburg, WV
$879/mo (13.1% of income)
Parkersburg, WV
$879/mo (13.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wheeling

View full rent data for Wheeling, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Wheeling, WV?

Median rent in Wheeling is $885 a month. A typical registered nurse in West Virginia earns about $80,308 a year, which makes that rent 13.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Wheeling?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in West Virginia (~$80,308/yr) supports up to $2,008 a month in rent. Wheeling's current median rent is $885/mo, which leaves a $1,123/mo buffer.

How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Wheeling?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a registered nurse in West Virginia works roughly 22.9 hours a month to cover Wheeling's median rent of $885.

Where is rent cheaper than Wheeling for a registered nurse?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Parkersburg ($883/mo), Parkersburg ($879/mo), Parkersburg ($879/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse 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.