County FMR · HUD FY2026

Monongalia County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Monongalia County, WV - 9% below the US average.

$877
1-bedroom FMR
$1,099
2-bedroom FMR
+3.9%
YoY change
-9%
vs US avg

The verdict

Monongalia is the 5th most expensive of 55 counties in West Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,289 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,289
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#5
most expensive of 55 in West Virginia (2BR)
+14%
vs the state average
$35,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.2%).

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

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Monongalia County, West Virginia at $877 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,099/mo and a studio is $871/mo. This is 9% lower than the national average of $959 and 14% above the West Virginia average of $766.

Rent increased3.9% from FY 2025 ($844), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,080/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in West Virginia. Population: 105,988. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.2%, Census ACS). That's faster than West Virginia's statewide growth of -2.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MONONGALIA·COUNTY·WV·WV

Monongalia County, WV: $877/mo 1BR · #1289 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA WV
  • 1BR-FMR $877
  • 2BR-FMR $1,099
  • RANK-MID #1,289
  • YOY-UP +3.9%
  • VSUS-BELOW -9%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +14% WV
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-MID 106K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Kanawha County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $789–$965
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Kanawha ($48 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $714 · US avg: $893
$871/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY +22% vs state -2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $766 · US avg: $959
$877/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY +14% vs state -9% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $945 · US avg: $1,175
$1,099/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY +16% vs state -6% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,231 · US avg: $1,525
$1,318/mo
↑ 2.7% YoY +7% vs state -14% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,380 · US avg: $1,756
$1,657/mo
↓ 7.3% YoY +20% vs state -6% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $838
$871
+$33 (+3.9%)
1 Bedroom $844
$877
+$33 (+3.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,065
$1,099
+$34 (+3.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,283
$1,318
+$35 (+2.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,788
$1,657
$-131 (-7.3%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16.7%
Affordable
Need $34,840/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.8%
Affordable
Need $35,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21%
Affordable
Need $43,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.2%
Affordable
Need $52,720/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.7%
Burdened
Need $66,280/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%21%
Monongalia County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $62,704 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View West Virginia rent burden →

Where Monongalia sits among every US county

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

$1,099 higher than 59% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Monongalia compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other West Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Monongalia is highlighted. Nearby West Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Berkeley County ($971), Monongalia County (this county) ($877), Cabell County ($853), Harrison County ($843), Kanawha County ($829), Wood County ($745), Raleigh County ($719).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $877/mo compares to West Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation WV Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $103,550 10.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $80,490 13.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,990 13.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,520 14.1% Affordable
Electricians $63,850 16.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,550 18.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $54,570 19.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,620 21.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,040 21.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $37,610 28% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,370 28.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $30,590 34.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,220 37.3% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $27,910 37.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $24,960 42.2% 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 Monongalia County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Monongalia (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 17.2% overall, from $748 to $877. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.7% (FY 2024).

$700$750$800$850$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $877
Monongalia County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.9% $871 $877 $1,099
FY 2025 ↓2.1% $838 $844 $1,065
FY 2024 ↑9.7% $857 $862 $1,078
FY 2023 ↑7.8% $781 $786 $984
FY 2022 ↑2.0% $725 $729 $892
FY 2021 ↓4.4% $711 $715 $861
FY 2020 $743 $748 $880
Total change (6yr): +17.2%
Annualized: +2.7%/yr
1 BR: $748 → $877

Part of the Morgantown, WV Metro Area

Monongalia County is a central county of the Morgantown, WV metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Monongalia County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Preston County ($877), Monongalia County (this county) ($877).

Preston County
1 BR: $877/mo
Monongalia County (this county)
1 BR: $877/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Monongalia 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).

Sedgwick County
KS · 2 BR $1,099/mo
Tangipahoa Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,099/mo
Butler County
KS · 2 BR $1,099/mo
Harvey County
KS · 2 BR $1,099/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Wallowa County
OR · 21% of income · 2 BR $1,149/mo
Des Moines County
IA · 21% of income · 2 BR $1,063/mo
Barbour County
AL · 21% of income · 2 BR $776/mo
Monroe County
KY · 21% of income · 2 BR $866/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
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
Mercer County
1 BR: $717/mo Pop: 59,530
Jefferson County
1 BR: $953/mo Pop: 58,043
View all counties in West Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Monongalia County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Monongalia County is $877 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,099 and a studio is $871.
How does Monongalia County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Monongalia County is 9% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $877 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Monongalia County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Monongalia County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,099 ranks #1,289 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Monongalia County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,080 ($2,923/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Monongalia County.
Is rent going up or down in Monongalia County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Monongalia County increased by 3.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $844 to $877.
Which jobs can afford rent in Monongalia 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 $877/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Monongalia County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Monongalia County went from $748 in FY 2020 to $877 in FY 2026, a total change of +17.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Monongalia County? ▼
In Monongalia County, the FY 2026 FMR of $877/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 Monongalia County? ▼
For Monongalia County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($877/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.