Rent vs. Buy in Kanawha County, WV

Should you rent or buy in Kanawha County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$131,200

Median Rent

$868/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

12.6x

Homeownership Rate

69.7%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$663
Property Tax$75
Insurance$44

Total Monthly$782

Renting

Monthly Rent$868
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$893

In Kanawha County, buying is approximately $86/mo cheaper than renting (before equity buildup and tax benefits).

About Kanawha County, West Virginia

Kanawha County in West Virginia has a median household income of $55,226 and an effective property tax rate of 0.7%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 12.6x, buying is likely more cost-effective for long-term residents.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

Run Your Personalized Analysis for Kanawha County

Enter your specific numbers — home price, rent, income, down payment — and get a Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 scenarios, NPV breakeven analysis, and tax-adjusted comparison.

Start Free Analysis →

Other Counties in West Virginia

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.