West Virginia · FIPS 54055 · HUD FY 2027
Mercer County, West Virginia Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Mercer County is $946 a month (rent plus utilities), 9% below the West Virginia average of $1,039 and 46% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $50 (5.6%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $37,840 a year to afford it.
- $9462-bedroom FMR+$50 (+5.6%) vs FY 2026
- $7461-bedroom FMRWest Virginia: $840 · U.S.: $1,478
- $37,840Income for a 2-bedroom$18/hour full-time
- 29 of 552BR rank in West Virginia1 = highest rent
| Unit | Mercer County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | West Virginia avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $659 | $618 | +$41 (+6.6%) | $781 | $1,379 | $26,360 |
| 1 bedroom | $746 | $717 | +$29 (+4.0%) | $840 | $1,478 | $29,840 |
| 2 bedrooms | $946 | $896 | +$50 (+5.6%) | $1,039 | $1,761 | $37,840 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,250 | $1,206 | +$44 (+3.6%) | $1,346 | $2,266 | $50,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,340 | $1,258 | +$82 (+6.5%) | $1,522 | $2,607 | $53,600 |
How Mercer County compares
- Mercer County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across West Virginia, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $944 (Wyoming County) to $1,505 (Hampshire County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $659, $746, $946, $1,250, $1,340. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 17 ZIP codes mostly in Mercer County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $940 to $1,040.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Mercer County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24701 | $660 | $740 | $940 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | 1% below |
| 24712 | $720 | $820 | $1,040 | $1,370 | $1,470 | +$90 (+9.5%) | 10% above |
| 24714 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 24715 | $710 | $770 | $970 | $1,260 | $1,360 | +$70 (+7.8%) | 3% above |
| 24724 | $660 | $740 | $940 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | 1% below |
| 24729 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 24731 | $670 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 24733 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 24737 | $670 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$40 (+4.4%) | about the same as |
| 24738 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 24739 | $720 | $810 | $1,030 | $1,360 | $1,460 | +$80 (+8.4%) | 9% above |
| 24740 | $660 | $740 | $940 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$60 (+6.8%) | 1% below |
| 24747 | $680 | $760 | $970 | $1,280 | $1,370 | +$40 (+4.3%) | 3% above |
| 25820 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 25841 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,340 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
| 25922 | $660 | $740 | $940 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$60 (+6.8%) | 1% below |
| 25971 | $660 | $750 | $950 | $1,260 | $1,350 | +$50 (+5.6%) | about the same as |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.