Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Median home value
1990–2024Census / Zillow ZHVI, nominal dollars.
Home Prices
West Virginia's median home price of about $155,000 is the lowest of any U.S. state.
FHFA House Price Index
1975–2025FHFA all-transactions index, annual average of quarters. Source: FHFA via FRED (WVSTHPI).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price ($) | 155000 | 412000 |
- •West Virginia has held the title of most affordable state for homebuyers for several years running.
Median Home Value
West Virginia has the most affordable housing in the country, with a median home value around $155,000.
Median value of owner-occupied homes
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B25077 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (USD) | 155000 | 340000 |
- •West Virginia is the only state where the median home costs less than $160,000.
Rent Prices
The median rent in West Virginia is about $850 per month, among the lowest in the country.
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median Rent ($) | 850 | 1348 |
- •West Virginia's median rent is among the three lowest of any U.S. state.
Housing Inventory
West Virginia has about 886,000 total housing units, with a relatively high vacancy share tied to population loss.
Total housing units
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B25001 (2020 not released).
Vacant housing units
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B25002 (2020 not released).
- •West Virginia has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country, with many homes built before 1970.
Building Permits
Builders in West Virginia were authorized to construct about 2,600 new housing units in 2023, among the lowest totals nationally.
New private housing units authorized
1988–2025Census Building Permits Survey, sum of 12 months (FRED WVBPPRIV).
- •West Virginia consistently issues fewer new housing permits per capita than almost any other state.
Homeownership Rate
West Virginia's homeownership rate of about 74.0% is one of the highest in the nation.
Homeownership rate (CPS/HVS)
1984–2025Census Housing Vacancy Survey, annual (FRED WVHOWN).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate (%) | 74 | 65.6 |
- •West Virginia regularly ranks in the top five states for homeownership rate.
Housing Affordability
West Virginia offers the best housing affordability in the country, with home prices averaging under three times median household income.
Housing price level vs U.S. (RPP rents)
2008–2024BEA Regional Price Parities, housing services (SARPP line 3).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Housing price level vs U.S. (RPP rents)2024, BEA Regional Price Parities | 54.2 | 100 |
- •West Virginia's home-price-to-income ratio is among the most favorable of any state for prospective buyers.
Vacancy Rate
West Virginia's housing vacancy rate of about 14.0% is higher than the national average, reflecting population decline.
Rental vacancy rate
1986–2025Census Housing Vacancy Survey, annual (FRED WVRVAC).
Homeowner vacancy rate
1986–2025Census Housing Vacancy Survey, annual (FRED WVHVAC).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy Rate (%) | 14 | 10.5 |
- •Many of West Virginia's vacant homes are concentrated in depopulating former coal towns in the southern counties.