D

Crab Orchard, WV

Source:

Affordability Score: 40/100

Population: 2,488 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Crab Orchard, WV aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,488 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (40/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $41,198, median home value of $125,600, median rent of per month, and 12.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $944 per month (studio $715, 1BR $719, 3BR $1,313, 4BR $1,377). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $8,836 per year, consuming 21% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 19.1% and poverty 32.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$41,198
Median household income
Education F
12.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.0x
Home value $125,600 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent C
$944/mo
2BR fair market rent (27% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$8,836/yr
Center-based infant care (21% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$41,198
▼ 34% vs national
Per Capita Income
$23,349
Unemployment Rate
19.1%
Poverty Rate
32.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$125,600
▼ 54% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
77.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$944/mo
▼ 21% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$715
1BR
$719
2BR
$944
3BR
$1,313
4BR
$1,377

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
12.9%
▼ 17 ppt vs national
High School+
62.3%
Median Age
50.1
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$8,836/yr
21% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,401/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,671/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,749/yr

What This Means

Crab Orchard, WV receives an overall affordability grade of D (40/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,488. Challenges include income and education and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Crab Orchard, WV affordable?
Crab Orchard, WV receives an overall affordability grade of D (40/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $41,198. Median home value is $125,600.
What is the cost of living in Crab Orchard?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $944/mo. Infant childcare $8,836/yr. Median home value $125,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →