Metropolitan Area

Charleston, WV

West Virginia0
75
/100
Strong Buy
#91 of 894 metros
Top 10% nationally for investing

Market Snapshot

$148,817
Median Home Price
42% below national median
$1,265/mo
Median Rent
9% below national median
10.20%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 1% nationally
+$42
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$148,817
Down Payment (20%)$29,763
Loan Amount$119,054
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,265
Monthly P&I-$780
Est. Expenses (35%)-$443
Net Cash Flow+$42/mo
6.6%
Cap Rate (all cash)
1.5%
Cash-on-Cash Return
10.20%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 6.6% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on metro-wide median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Individual counties and properties vary significantly.

Run Full AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
75/100
75
Cash Flow(30%)
100/100

Based on 10.20% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
50/100

Based on 0.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Based on 0.0% population growth. Growing areas indicate economic stability.

Affordability(20%)
98/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow metro-level home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. This metro score represents area-wide averages; individual counties may vary significantly.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Above-average rent-to-price ratio (10.20%)
  • +Affordable relative to local incomes
  • +Low unemployment (0.0%)

Challenges

  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 6.6% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Counties in Charleston, WV

County data is being compiled for this metro area.

Compare to Similar Metros

Metro AreaVerdict
Coffeyville, KS
Coffeyville, KS
85$101,366$86210.20%Strong BuyView
Blytheville, AR
Blytheville, AR
84$115,156$1,06411.08%Strong BuyView
Roanoke Rapids, NC
Roanoke Rapids, NC
84$107,523$1,07712.02%Strong BuyView
Enid, OK
Enid, OK
83$144,157$1,25010.40%Strong BuyView
Houghton, MI
Houghton, MI
83$194,696$1,73310.68%Strong BuyView
Current
Charleston, WV
75$148,817$1,26510.20%Strong Buy

Rent vs buy in this metro

Rent vs buy in Charleston, WVMedian $149,776 · rent $1,081/mo

The Bottom Line

Strong BuyCharleston, WV is a strong buy market with excellent fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

The Charleston, WV metro area scores 75/100, ranking #91 of 894 US metros (top 10%). The 10.20% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential across the metro. At current rates with 20% down, a median-priced property could generate approximately $42/month in cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow
+$42/mo
Cap Rate
6.6%
Cash-on-Cash
1.7%

Ready to Invest in Charleston, WV?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties, or explore individual counties for more targeted opportunities.

Single Family1-4 unit rentalsHouse HackOwner-occupiedMultifamily5+ unit properties
Explore Other Markets