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Winchester, WV

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Winchester, WV is $1,573 per month, ranking #183 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $82,413, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 22.9% of income on housing. Rent in Winchester has increased 13.2% year over year. The area has a population of 145K, with 28.9% of households renting.

22.9%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,573
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$82,413
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,309
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+13.2%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
145K
Population
Census ACS
28.9%
Renters
of occupied housing
$322,600
Median Home Value
12.5%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
10.6%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$1,133
Studio
$1,255
1 Bedroom
$1,573
2 Bedroom
$1,965
3 Bedroom
$2,639
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Winchester, WV, a household earning the area median income of $82,413 would spend 22.9% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$62,920
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$30
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,309
$264 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+47.8% since 2021
$1,0642021$1,1172022$1,2272023$1,3902024$1,5692025$1,5732026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 138.3 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Winchester is 10.6%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$8.75/hr
Hours/Week Needed
138.3 hrs
Poverty Rate
10.6%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Winchester is $322,600. At a median income of $82,413, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.9x. 12.5% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing.

Rent vs. Buy
$2,258 est. mortgage
vs $1,573 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
12.5%
of housing units

Other Areas in West Virginia

Jefferson County
$1,251/mo
2BR FMR · 12.1% burden
Martinsburg
$1,233/mo
2BR FMR · 19.6% burden
Morgantown
$1,099/mo
2BR FMR · 21.1% burden
Putnam County
$1,054/mo
2BR FMR · 16.2% burden
Charleston
$1,036/mo
2BR FMR · 21.4% burden

Compare Winchester

vs Jefferson County, WVvs Martinsburg, WVvs Morgantown, WV

Areas With Similar Rent to Winchester

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Winchester, WV is $1,573 per month. A studio is $1,133/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,255/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,965/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,309/mo.

Winchester has a rent burden of 22.9%, meaning a household earning the median income of $82,413 would spend 22.9% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $62,920.

Winchester's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,573/mo is $323 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Winchester ranks #183 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Winchester without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $62,920, or a full-time hourly wage of $30/hour. The area median income is $82,413.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Winchester increased by 13.2% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.