County FMR · HUD FY2026
McDowell County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for McDowell County, WV - 31% below the US average.
- $662
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $869
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.0%
- YoY change
- -31%
- vs US avg
The verdict
McDowell is the 12th cheapest of 55 counties in West Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #158 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #158
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #12
- cheapest of 55 in West Virginia (2BR)
- -14%
- vs the state average
- $26,480
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.8%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for McDowell County, WV. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in McDowell County, West Virginia is $662 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $869/mo and a studio is $658/mo. This is 31% lower than the national average of $959 and 14% below the West Virginia average of $766.
Rent increased2.0% from FY 2025 ($649), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $26,480/year.
Observed renter burden: 27.1% of the 1,578 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.7%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 10.8% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in West Virginia. Population: 18,911. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-4.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than West Virginia's statewide growth of -2.4% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area MCDOWELL·COUNTY·WV·WV
McDowell County, WV: $662/mo 1BR · #158 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA WV
- 1BR-FMR $662
- 2BR-FMR $869
- RANK-LOW #158
- YOY-UP +2.0%
- VSUS-LOW -31%
- VS-ST-LOW -14% WV
- INC-MID 26%
- POP-SMALL 19K
- PHOTO-NEAR Kanawha County
- VOUCH-90-110 $596–$728
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Kanawha ($167 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $645 | $658 | +$13 (+2.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $649 | $662 | +$13 (+2.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $852 | $869 | +$17 (+2.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,125 | $1,146 | +$21 (+1.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,130 | $1,151 | +$21 (+1.9%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in McDowell County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Where McDowell sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$869 higher than 5% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How McDowell compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other West Virginia counties
- Berkeley
Berkeley County
$971 1BR FMR / mo
- Monongalia
Monongalia County
$877 1BR FMR / mo
- Cabell
Cabell County
$853 1BR FMR / mo
- Kanawha
Kanawha County
$829 1BR FMR / mo
- Wood
Wood County
$745 1BR FMR / mo
- Raleigh
Raleigh County
$719 1BR FMR / mo
- McDowell
McDowell County
$662 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows McDowell is highlighted. Nearby West Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Berkeley County ($971), Monongalia County ($877), Cabell County ($853), Kanawha County ($829), Wood County ($745), Raleigh County ($719), McDowell County (this county) ($662).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $662/mo, most of these West Virginia occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | WV Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $103,550 | 7.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $80,490 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,990 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,520 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $63,850 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,550 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $54,570 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,620 | 16% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,040 | 16.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,610 | 21.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,370 | 21.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,590 | 26% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,220 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $27,910 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $24,960 | 31.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for McDowell County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for McDowell (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 13.7% overall, from $582 to $662. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 5.5% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.0% | $658 | $662 | $869 |
| FY 2025 ↓3.6% | $645 | $649 | $852 |
| FY 2024 ↑3.1% | $668 | $673 | $848 |
| FY 2023 ↑5.5% | $614 | $653 | $738 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.4% | $595 | $619 | $705 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.9% | $577 | $593 | $676 |
| FY 2020 | $556 | $582 | $662 |
Where McDowell County Ranks in West Virginia
McDowell County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #12 of 55 counties in West Virginia. Nearest by rank: Gilmer County ($869), Grant County ($869), Jackson County ($869), Lewis County ($869), Lincoln County ($869), Logan County ($869), Mason County ($869), McDowell County (this county) ($869), Mineral County ($869), Monroe County ($869), Nicholas County ($869), Pendleton County ($869), Pleasants County ($869), Pocahontas County ($869), Ritchie County ($869).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for McDowell County, both outside West Virginia so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.
Similar 2-bedroom FMR
Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside WV (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside WV).
Nearby Counties in West Virginia
Largest counties by population in West Virginia
Showing the 8 largest of 54 other counties in West Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in McDowell County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in McDowell County is $662 per month. A 2-bedroom is $869 and a studio is $658.
How does McDowell County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in McDowell County is 31% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $662 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does McDowell County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, McDowell County's 2-bedroom FMR of $869 ranks #158 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lowest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in McDowell County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $26,480 ($2,207/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in McDowell County.
Is rent going up or down in McDowell County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McDowell County increased by 2.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $649 to $662.
Which jobs can afford rent in McDowell County?
Based on West Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $662/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in McDowell County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McDowell County went from $582 in FY 2020 to $662 in FY 2026, a total change of +13.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in McDowell County?
In McDowell County, the FY 2026 FMR of $662/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for McDowell County?
For McDowell County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($662/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in McDowell County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.7%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in McDowell County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 10.8% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat McDowell's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $662 implies about $26,480/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- West Virginia counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Kanawha
- See where McDowell ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.