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Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Fayette County, West Virginia

Fayette County has a HUD fair market rent of $961 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $788 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $18.48 an hour, full time.

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Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$961
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
8% less than in West Virginia
Typical rent
$788
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
10% less than in West Virginia
Wage needed
$18.48
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $38,440 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
53%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
8% more than in West Virginia

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates

Only here

Renting in Fayette County: what sets it apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Among the neighboring counties, Clay County has the lowest typical rent ($651), 17% below the $788 in Fayette County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Fayette County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

According to Zillow (ZORI), the typical asking rent in Fayette County was $856 a month in September 2026. It is an index of market listings, not a HUD limit. Zillow data

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $730 $14.04 $29,200
1 bedroom $735 $14.13 $29,400
2 bedrooms $961 $18.48 $38,440
3 bedrooms $1,258 $24.19 $50,320
4 bedrooms $1,606 $30.88 $64,240

HUD area: Fayette County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 54 ZIP codes in Fayette County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $940 in 25136 to $1,130 in 25907. 12 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($961).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Fayette County, 53% of renter households are in that position; in West Virginia, 49%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

53%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

3,561 households rent in Fayette County

  • Spend half or more of their income 24%
  • Spend 30% or more, but less than half 29%
  • Spend less than 30% 47%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Fayette 53%
  • West Virginia 49%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fayette County

HUD lists 13 properties with homes for low-income households in Fayette County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

with tax credits (LIHTC)
6
HUD-assisted
6
public housing
1

671 homes in all; 602 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • Mid Town Terrace Public housing 1 N Pax Ave, Mount Hope 25880 135 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Mount Hope · Average payment: $342 a month · Average wait: 9 months · (304) 877-6541
  • Pineknoll Apartments HUD-assisted 99 Pine Knls, Oak Hill 25901 104 low-income homes · For families · (304) 469-4684
  • Rivermont Presbyterian HUD-assisted 60 4th Ave, Montgomery 25136 89 low-income homes · For older adults · (304) 442-4767
  • Twin Oaks Plaza HUD-assisted 201 Oak Hill Ave, Oak Hill 25901 60 homes, 59 low-income · For older adults · (304) 469-9938
  • Bridgewater Place HUD-assisted 800 4th Ave, Montgomery 25136 47 low-income homes · For families · (304) 442-4767
  • Fayette Manor Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 1300 Virginia St, Oak Hill 25901 36 low-income homes · 1 bd: 31 · 2 bd: 3 · In service since 1992
  • Plateau Oaks Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 100 Plateau Oaks Dr, Oak Hill 25901 32 low-income homes · 1 bd: 6 · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 10 · In service since 2004 · For older adults, people with disabilities, families
  • Hill Manor Tax credit (LIHTC) RR 3 Box 100, Fayetteville 25840 28 low-income homes · 1 bd: 28 · In service since 2011 · For older adults
  • Amos E Landrum Tax credit (LIHTC) PO Box 638, Smithers 25186 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 1993
  • Hope Landing Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 104 Brown St, Mount Hope 25880 22 low-income homes · Studio: 1 · 1 bd: 21 · In service since 2000
  • Fayette Hills Unity HUD-assisted 300 High St S, Oak Hill 25901 18 low-income homes · For people with disabilities · (304) 465-8240
  • Ansted Terrace HUD-assisted Church Street, Ansted 25812 8 low-income homes · For families · (304) 424-5269
  • Fayette Hills II Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 75 Laurel Pl, Fayetteville 25840 68 homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 56 · In service since 2008

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Fayette County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. A public housing agency runs it. HUD lists none with an office in Fayette County; the state's agencies can help you. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
$15,960 $26,300 $42,100
$21,640 $30,050 $48,100
$27,320 $33,800 $54,100
$33,000 $37,550 $60,100
$38,680 $40,600 $64,950
$43,600 $43,600 $69,750
$46,600 $46,600 $74,550
$49,600 $49,600 $79,350

Area median income: $72,500. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Fayette County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $657 – $803
  • 1 bedroom $662 – $809
  • 2 bedrooms $865 – $1,057
  • 3 bedrooms $1,132 – $1,384
  • 4 bedrooms $1,445 – $1,767

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

HUD lists no housing agency with an office in Fayette County. You can apply at another agency in your state: you do not have to live where you apply. HUD

Housing agencies in West Virginia HUD list of housing agencies

Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in West Virginia

What West Virginia law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

Help

Where to get help with rent in Fayette County

This HUD-approved agency has an office in Fayette County. They counsel for free or at low cost.

  • Southern Appalachian Labor School Foundation, Inc.

    140 School Street, Oak Hill · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 3 more
    (304) 250-7627
See every agency in West Virginia Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Fayette County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in West Virginia, the average home bill was $155 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Open the full tool

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$1,922

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$961
Security deposit
$961
Total
$1,922

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
Guide: the security depositGuide: avoiding rental scamsFamily budgetHow much rent can I afford?

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Fayette County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $730; 1 bedroom: $735; 2 bedrooms: $961; 3 bedrooms: $1,258; 4 bedrooms: $1,606. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Fayette County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($961) without spending more than 30% of income takes $18.48 an hour full time, or $38,440 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Fayette County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $37,550 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Fayette County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $865 and $1,057 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Fayette County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $940 in 25136 to $1,130 in 25907. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Fayette County?

HUD lists 13 properties with homes for low-income households in Fayette County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Fayette County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Fayette County, 53% of renter households are in that position; in West Virginia, 49%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).