F

Sophia, WV

Source:

Affordability Score: 34/100

Population: 2,157 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Sophia, WV aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,157 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (34/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $35,451, median home value of $105,800, median rent of $806 per month, and 9.5% 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 25% 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 10.6% and poverty 41.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$35,451
Median household income
Education F
9.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B-
3.0x
Home value $105,800 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent D
$944/mo
2BR fair market rent (32% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$8,836/yr
Center-based infant care (25% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$35,451
▼ 43% vs national
Per Capita Income
$28,218
Unemployment Rate
10.6%
Poverty Rate
41.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$105,800
▼ 62% vs national
Median Rent
$806/mo
Owner Occupied
52.7%
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+
9.5%
▼ 20 ppt vs national
High School+
50.3%
Median Age
45.9
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$8,836/yr
25% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,401/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,671/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,749/yr

What This Means

Sophia, WV receives an overall affordability grade of F (34/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,157. Challenges include income and education and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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

Is Sophia, WV affordable?
Sophia, WV receives an overall affordability grade of F (34/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $35,451. Median home value is $105,800.
What is the cost of living in Sophia?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $806/mo. 2BR fair market rent $944/mo. Infant childcare $8,836/yr. Median home value $105,800.
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 →