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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Chester, WV Housing Affordability Index

Chester, West Virginia has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 174.1 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 112th most affordable of 257 scored West Virginia cities, compared with 145.2 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $112,000 home with 20% down, the West Virginia average 30-year fixed rate of 7.19% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $607, or 13% of the city’s $56,607 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Chester is updated every night from live West Virginia mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Chester MBR-HAI 174.1 Highly Affordable
Rank in West Virginia 112 of 257 1 = most affordable
West Virginia 145.2 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.19% West Virginia lenders
Median home value $112,000 U.S. Census Bureau

Chester is 28.9 points above the West Virginia score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the West Virginia index

View Chester Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Chester

$607/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.19%
$26,000
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$56,607
Median Household Income
West Virginia: $59,608
2.0x
Price-to-Income Ratio
West Virginia: 2.7x
$714/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$800/yr
Median Property Tax
0.71% of median value
25.5%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
39.1%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Chester, West Virginia. The rate is the West Virginia average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Chester Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Chester, West Virginia score: 174.1 (Highly Affordable), ranked 112 of 257 West Virginia cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/west-virginia/chester”