County FMR · HUD FY2026

Mercer County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Mercer County, WV - 25% below the US average.

$717
1-bedroom FMR
$896
2-bedroom FMR
+5.0%
YoY change
-25%
vs US avg

The verdict

Mercer is the 26th cheapest of 55 counties in West Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #410 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#410
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#26
cheapest of 55 in West Virginia (2BR)
-6%
vs the state average
$28,680
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.5%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Mercer County, WV. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Mercer County, West Virginia at $717 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $896/mo and a studio is $618/mo. This is 25% lower than the national average of $959 and 6% below the West Virginia average of $766.

Rent increased5.0% from FY 2025 ($683), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,680/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in West Virginia. Population: 59,530. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.4%, Census ACS). That's in line with West Virginia's statewide growth of -2.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MERCER·COUNTY·WV·WV

Mercer County, WV: $717/mo 1BR · #410 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA WV
  • 1BR-FMR $717
  • 2BR-FMR $896
  • RANK-MID #410
  • YOY-UP +5.0%
  • VSUS-LOW -25%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -6% WV
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-MID 60K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Kanawha County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $645–$789
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Kanawha ($112 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $714 · US avg: $893
$618/mo
↑ 5.8% YoY -13% vs state -31% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $766 · US avg: $959
$717/mo
↑ 5.0% YoY -6% vs state -25% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $945 · US avg: $1,175
$896/mo
↑ 5.2% YoY -5% vs state -24% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,231 · US avg: $1,525
$1,206/mo
↑ 3.3% YoY -2% vs state -21% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,380 · US avg: $1,756
$1,258/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -9% vs state -28% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $584
$618
+$34 (+5.8%)
1 Bedroom $683
$717
+$34 (+5.0%)
2 Bedroom $852
$896
+$44 (+5.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,168
$1,206
+$38 (+3.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,250
$1,258
+$8 (+0.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Mercer County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
15.5%
Affordable
Need $24,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18%
Affordable
Need $28,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.5%
Affordable
Need $35,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
30.3%
Burdened
Need $48,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.6%
Burdened
Need $50,320/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%22.5%
Mercer County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $47,799 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View West Virginia rent burden →

Where Mercer sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$896 higher than 13% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Mercer compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other West Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Mercer 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), Mercer County (this county) ($717).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $717/mo, most of these West Virginia occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation WV Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $103,550 8.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $80,490 10.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,990 10.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,520 11.5% Affordable
Electricians $63,850 13.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,550 15.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $54,570 15.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,620 17.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,040 17.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $37,610 22.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,370 23% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $30,590 28.1% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $28,220 30.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $27,910 30.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $24,960 34.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (West Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Mercer County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Mercer (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 34.5% overall, from $533 to $717. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $717
Mercer County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.0% $618 $717 $896
FY 2025 ↓1.0% $584 $683 $852
FY 2024 ↑13.9% $575 $690 $848
FY 2023 ↑2.2% $493 $606 $738
FY 2022 ↑7.2% $468 $593 $705
FY 2021 ↑3.8% $446 $553 $676
FY 2020 $431 $533 $662
Total change (6yr): +34.5%
Annualized: +5.1%/yr
1 BR: $533 → $717

Part of the Bluefield, WV-VA Micro Area

Mercer County is a central county of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.

Mercer County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Tazewell County ($732), Mercer County (this county) ($717).

Tazewell County
1 BR: $732/mo
Mercer County (this county)
1 BR: $717/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Mercer 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).

Butler County
MO · 2 BR $895/mo
Polk County
AR · 2 BR $897/mo
Miller County
MO · 2 BR $898/mo
Hopkins County
KY · 2 BR $900/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside WV).

Mitchell County
GA · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Alpena County
MI · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Dunklin County
MO · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $888/mo
Jefferson County
KY · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $1,272/mo

Nearby Counties in West Virginia

Largest counties by population in West Virginia

Showing the 8 largest of 54 other counties in West Virginia.

Kanawha County
1 BR: $829/mo Pop: 179,895
Berkeley County
1 BR: $971/mo Pop: 123,283
Monongalia County
1 BR: $877/mo Pop: 105,988
Cabell County
1 BR: $853/mo Pop: 93,965
Wood County
1 BR: $745/mo Pop: 84,272
Raleigh County
1 BR: $719/mo Pop: 74,303
Harrison County
1 BR: $843/mo Pop: 65,862
Jefferson County
1 BR: $953/mo Pop: 58,043
View all counties in West Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Mercer County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Mercer County is $717 per month. A 2-bedroom is $896 and a studio is $618.
How does Mercer County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Mercer County is 25% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $717 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Mercer County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Mercer County's 2-bedroom FMR of $896 ranks #410 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Mercer County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,680 ($2,390/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Mercer County.
Is rent going up or down in Mercer County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Mercer County increased by 5.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $683 to $717.
Which jobs can afford rent in Mercer 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 $717/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Mercer County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Mercer County went from $533 in FY 2020 to $717 in FY 2026, a total change of +34.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Mercer County? ▼
In Mercer County, the FY 2026 FMR of $717/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 Mercer County? ▼
For Mercer County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($717/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.