Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 26138 - 2027

Location: Ritchie County, WV | Metro: Parkersburg-Vienna, WV MSA

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$730
1 Bedroom	$770
2 Bedrooms	$940
3 Bedrooms	$1,240
4 Bedrooms	$1,270
5 Bedrooms	$1,473
6 Bedrooms	$1,650
7 Bedrooms	$1,782
8 Bedrooms	$1,871

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

Median Household Income

$115,729

Housing Units

Renter Percentage

N/A

Occupancy Rate

100.0%

Renter Occupied

ZIP code 26138, located in West Virginia, is characterized by its low population density and primarily residential nature. The area is predominantly composed of homeowners rather than renters, which significantly influences the local real estate market dynamics.

The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment in ZIP 26138 for fiscal year 2024 is set at $850, providing a benchmark for rental rates in the area.
Market rent data for ZIP 26138 is currently unavailable, indicating a lack of significant rental activity that could skew typical market analysis metrics.
The median home value in the area is not available, suggesting that there is limited recent transactional data to determine a reliable median price point.
Rental share in ZIP 26138 stands at 0.0%, highlighting the dominance of owner-occupied homes over rental properties.
The Days on Market (DOM) for listings in this area is not available, which could imply either a very quick or slow selling environment, but requires further investigation to confirm.
The median household income in ZIP 26138 is $115,729, reflecting a higher-than-average earning capacity for the region, which supports homeownership over renting.

Given the high median income and the absence of a substantial rental market, landlords and small-portfolio investors should focus on the potential for long-term appreciation in property values rather than short-term rental yields. The FMR serves as a useful guideline for setting rents where applicable, but the scarcity of rental units suggests that the demand for rentals is minimal. Therefore, investment strategies should prioritize purchasing properties for appreciation and eventual resale, rather than immediate rental income generation.

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).

About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.