How many renters live in Preston County, West Virginia?
The County of Preston County has 34,206 people living in 12,623 households.
There are 5,433 renters living in 2,433 renter households in this County. Renters make up 15.88 percent of the population living in Preston County.
What is the rental market like in Preston County, West Virginia?
There are an estimated 15,175 housing units in the Preston County area. Of these, 2,575 units are rental homes, making up 17 percent of the housing market. For every renter household in Preston County, West Virginia, there are 1 rental units.
What is the vacancy rate for rentals in Preston County?
The rental vacancy rate in Preston County is 4 percent. This is a lower than average vacancy rate. When rental vacancy rates are low there are fewer available units. Rents tend to be higher as more people compete for scarce housing.
How many rental units are in Preston County for each bedroom size?
Occupied Rental Units by Size in Preston County
| Studio | One-Bedroom | Two-Bedroom | Three-Bedroom | Four+ Bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 376 | 756 | 1,142 | 98 |
Occupied Rental Units by Size in Preston County
A large number of apartments in Preston County have two or fewer bedrooms. Seniors and young professionals especially may have more success finding an apartment that meets their needs.
How many renter households in Preston County are overburdened by housing costs?
Among renter households in this market, 34 percent have housing cost burden. Further, 15 percent of households are extremely rent overburdened. When renters pay too much for their housing, it leaves little money for other necessities like food, clothes, or medicine.
The federal government says that renters are cost-burdened if they pay more than a third of their monthly income for rent and utilities.
How Much Is Rent in Preston County
Depending on size, the Fair Market Rent - HUDs measurement of the cost of an average housing unit - ranges from $857 to $1,829. FMRs are updated annually by HUD for every city and county nationwide.
| Bed Size | 2024 Fair Market Rents |
| Studio | $857 |
| One BR | $862 |
| Two BR | $1,078 |
| Three BR | $1,346 |
| Four BR | $1,829 |
2024 Fair Market Rents in Preston County, West Virginia
How many units are rented at Fair Market Rent (FMR) in Preston County?
Renters with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher must select a home that is at or below the area’s Fair Market Rent. Markets with a large share of units above FMR tend to have longer search times to find a qualified unit, while those with a large share of units below FMR tend to have more choices and shorter search times. The share below FMR can vary by size of unit, as shown in the table below.
These are the approximate number of units renting below the FMR in this market:
| Unit Size | Count of Units Below FMR | Percentage of Total Units Below FMR |
| Studio | 9 | 41 percent |
| One BR | 350 | 93 percent |
| Two BR | 534 | 71 percent |
Rental Units Below FMR in Preston County, West Virginia
How many affordable rental units are in Preston County?
There are a variety of federal affordable housing programs serving households in Preston County, West Virginia including the following:
| Federal Program | Unit Count |
| Low Income Housing Tax Credit | 222 |
| Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance | 110 |
| Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly | 19 |
| USDA Section 515 Rural Rental Housing | 182 |
Tracked Units by Federal Program in Preston County, West Virginia
Rental units may be funded in part by multiple federal programs.
Income Based Apartments in Preston County, West Virginia
Preston County features 252 income based apartments. Tenants of income based apartments typically pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Low Rent Apartments in Preston County, West Virginia
There are 188 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Preston County.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Preston County, West Virginia
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Preston County landlords $600 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $200 towards rent in Preston County.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Preston County, West Virginia for a two-bedroom apartment is between $970 and $1,186.
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.
