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Buying a home in War, West Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in War is worth about $32,600, 80% below the West Virginia median of $162,600 and 90% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $199 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of their home's value, higher than the West Virginia rate of 0.53%. The median household earns $29,500 a year, so the median home costs 1.1 times the median income (2.7 times for West Virginia). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 15% of those owners still have a mortgage.

War at a glance

War West Virginia U.S.
Median home value $32,600 $162,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $199 $865 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.61% 0.53% 0.94%
Median household income $29,500 $59,608 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 71% 75% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 15% 46% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $615 $1,255 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.5% 17.3% 21.0%
Median rent $703 $872 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 21.9% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1954 1976 1980
Vacant homes 25.4% 15.4% 10.1%
Population 628 1,778,373 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in War

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median War home of $32,600 with 20% down costs about $206 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $260, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $8,811 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 8% of the median War household income of $29,500; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $109,000.

The median rent here is $703 a month, a little more than the monthly cost of owning the median home with 20% down.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$6,520
Loan amount$26,080
Principal and interest$175
Property taxes (0.61% a year)$17
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$14
PMI$0
Total per month$206

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$1,141
Loan amount$32,010
Principal and interest$215
Property taxes (0.61% a year)$17
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$14
FHA mortgage insurance$14
Total per month$260

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Questions about home buying in War

What is the median home value in War?

About $32,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in War?

Homeowners pay a median $199 a year, which is about 0.61% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in War?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $206 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $8,811 a year.

More about War

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data