Preston County, West Virginia Housing Market Prices
Preston County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 9% below the West Virginia median$85,967
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Median rent 14% below the West Virginia median$750
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $85,967 | $94,699 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 21.2% | 1.7% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $750 | $871 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.2% | 3.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Preston County is about 9% lower than in West Virginia. Rent is about 14% lower than the West Virginia average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Preston County, up about 21.2% and 3.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Preston County rose about 28.6% between 2015 and 2024, from $583 to $750. Over the same span, rent in West Virginia rose about 35.6%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 1.4 yearly household incomes in Preston County.
Buying the median-priced home in Preston County costs roughly 9.6 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Preston County. The price-to-rent ratio in West Virginia is about 9.1.
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $85,967 | $94,699 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $62,037 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Preston County rose about 23.7%, while median household income rose about 57.5% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 68.7% | 63.3% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 15.6% | 21.3% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 15.6% | 15.4% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 19.0 | 18.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2007 | 2008 | 2011 |
Preston County has a homeownership rate of 68.7%, higher than the West Virginia average of 63.3%. Its housing vacancy rate is 15.6%, compared with 15.4% in West Virginia.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.37 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1985 | 1975 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Preston County was built around 1985. On average, 2.4 people live in a home with about 5.9 rooms, staying for about 19.0 years on average.
Preston County, WV Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
Preston County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 4 counties compared here, 34,160 residents against a local median of 107,163. The measure that sets Preston County, WV apart most is median home price: $85,967, 37% below the local median of $135,588.
The counties themselves spread $120,604 on median home price, so Preston County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Preston County, WV has the 3rd highest median home price of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston County, WV | 34,160 | $85,967 #3/4 | $750 #4/4 | 81.5% #1/4 |
| Garrett County, MD | 28,615 | $135,588 | $765 | 79.7% |
| Monongalia County, WV | 107,163 | $178,061 | $986 | 57.9% |
| Fayette County, PA | 125,964 | $57,458 | $792 | 72.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Preston County, West Virginia.
What is the median home price in Preston County, West Virginia?
The median home price in Preston County, West Virginia is $85,967, lower than the West Virginia average of $94,699.
What is the average home price in Preston County, West Virginia?
The typical home price in Preston County, West Virginia, reported as the median sale price, is $85,967. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Preston County, West Virginia?
The median gross rent in Preston County, West Virginia is $750 per month, lower than the West Virginia average of $871.
What was the median gross rent in Preston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Preston County, West Virginia was $662 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Preston County, West Virginia?
The price-to-rent ratio in Preston County, West Virginia is about 9.6, meaning it would take roughly 9.6 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Preston County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Preston County, West Virginia?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Preston County, up about 21.2% and 3.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Preston County, West Virginia?
68.7% of households in Preston County, West Virginia own their home, higher than the West Virginia average of 63.3%.
What is the vacancy rate in Preston County, West Virginia?
The housing vacancy rate in Preston County, West Virginia is 15.6%, higher than the West Virginia average of 15.4%.
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