Moving to
Huntington.

All Huntington data Compare Huntington

45,787people live here $45,100median household income▼ 44% below US $912median rent per month▼ 35% below US $127,200median home value▼ 62% below US

What it's like to live in Huntington

Huntington is a small city in West Virginia with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.

The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Huntington deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and a poverty rate above the national average.

The good

Rent below the national average
Affordable home prices
Short commutes
Several well-rated hospitals
Low student-teacher ratio

The not so good

Below-average household incomes
Crime above national average
Shrinking population
High poverty rate
High rent burden for renters
Cold winters

How Huntington compares

Median household income

Huntington$45,100

West Virginia avg$59,608

US$80,734

Median rent (per month)

Huntington$912

West Virginia avg$872

US$1,413

Median home value

Huntington$127,200

West Virginia avg$162,600

US$332,700

What it takes to move to Huntington

Based on Huntington's median rent, home value and household income

To rent

$1,824

up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit

Income to keep rent under 30%: $36,480 a year
56% of Huntington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent

To buy

$25,440

a 20% down payment on the median home

With 10% down: $12,720
Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)

Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.

The details

Cost of living▼ 35% below US

$912/mo median rent

Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $912 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $127,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.

Median home value $127,200 · 56% of renters cost-burdened

Job marketNear US average

4.1% unemployment

Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.

City-level (BLS)

Safety▲ 103% above US

670 violent crimes per 100k

Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.

Property crime 3366/100k · Huntington Police Department · 2025 data

Getting around▼ 27% below US

19 min average commute

Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.

How workers get to work

Drive alone

70%

Carpool

11%

Work from home

9.4%

Walk

4.9%

Other

3.7%

Public transit

1.5%

Climate

Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)

30-year averages, 1991–2020

Healthcare

5 hospitals

There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.

Medicare-certified hospitals

Education & workforceNear US average

35% bachelor's degree or higher

Education levels run about average, with 35% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.

Schools

15 public schools inside the boundary

There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.

Parks & recreation

The nearest national park or historic site is Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (72 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.

Bottom line

Huntington's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($912/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.

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