B-

Keyser, WV

Source:

Affordability Score: 66/100

Population: 13,306 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Keyser, WV aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 13,306 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (66/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $70,944, median home value of $171,600, median rent of $771 per month, and 25.7% 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 $869 per month (studio $667, 1BR $695, 3BR $1,146, 4BR $1,250). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,231 per year, consuming 13% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Keyser, WV include housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 6.3% and poverty 16.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$70,944
Median household income
Education D
25.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A-
2.4x
Home value $171,600 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$869/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C
$9,231/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$70,944
▲ 14% vs national
Per Capita Income
$37,176
Unemployment Rate
6.3%
Poverty Rate
16.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$171,600
▼ 38% vs national
Median Rent
$771/mo
Owner Occupied
75.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$869/mo
▼ 28% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$667
1BR
$695
2BR
$869
3BR
$1,146
4BR
$1,250

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
25.7%
▼ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
66.9%
Median Age
43.5
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,231/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,765/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,971/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,068/yr

What This Means

Keyser, WV receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 13,306. This area performs well in housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Keyser ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Keyser, WV affordable?
Keyser, WV receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $70,944. Median home value is $171,600.
What is the cost of living in Keyser?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $771/mo. 2BR fair market rent $869/mo. Infant childcare $9,231/yr. Median home value $171,600.
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 →