Fair Market Rents: Kanawha County, WV (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Kanawha County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | WV median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $714/mo | $667 (+7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $829/mo | $745 (+11%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,036/mo | $915 (+13%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,325/mo | $1,195 (+11%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,372/mo | $1,311 (+5%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in WV. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Kanawha County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Kanawha County
We track 86 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 57 | 3,163 |
| Dunbar | 4 | 346 |
| Elkview | 4 | 124 |
| Nitro | 3 | 133 |
| Saint Albans | 3 | 325 |
| Sissonville | 3 | 130 |
| South Charleston | 8 | 433 |
| St Albans | 5 | 210 |