Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Star City, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.3% of gross income.

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

Star City median rent
$900/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (West Virginia)
$31,510/yr
Rent as % of income
34.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,626, and the 30% rule supports up to $788/mo in rent. Star City's median rent of $900 exceeds that threshold by $112/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 59.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Huntington, WV
$898/mo (34.2% of income)
Huntington, WV
$896/mo (34.1% of income)
Parkersburg, WV
$896/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Star City

View full rent data for Star City, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Star City, WV?

Median rent in Star City is $900 a month. A typical retail salesperson in West Virginia earns about $31,510 a year, which makes that rent 34.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Star City?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in West Virginia (~$31,510/yr) supports up to $788 a month in rent. Star City's current median rent is $900/mo, which is $112/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a retail salesperson in West Virginia works roughly 59.4 hours a month to cover Star City's median rent of $900.

Where is rent cheaper than Star City for a retail salesperson?

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 retail salesperson 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.