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Buying a home in Ritchie County, West Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in Ritchie County is worth about $115,900, 29% below the West Virginia median of $162,600 and 65% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $763 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of their home's value, higher than the West Virginia rate of 0.53%. The median household earns $50,582 a year, so the median home costs 2.3 times the median income (2.7 times for West Virginia). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 33% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Ritchie County at a glance

Ritchie County West Virginia U.S.
Median home value $115,900 $162,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $763 $865 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.66% 0.53% 0.94%
Median household income $50,582 $59,608 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 84% 75% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 33% 46% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,038 $1,255 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 14.7% 17.3% 21.0%
Median rent $579 $872 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.7% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1975 1976 1980
Vacant homes 18.8% 15.4% 10.1%
Population 8,286 1,778,373 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Ritchie County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Ritchie County home of $115,900 with 20% down costs about $736 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $929, 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 $31,533 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Ritchie County household income of $50,582; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $186,000.

The median rent here is $579 a month, so owning the median home costs about $157 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$23,180
Loan amount$92,720
Principal and interest$624
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$64
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$48
PMI$0
Total per month$736

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,056
Loan amount$113,801
Principal and interest$766
Property taxes (0.66% a year)$64
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$48
FHA mortgage insurance$51
Total per month$929

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Questions about home buying in Ritchie County

What is the median home value in Ritchie County?

About $115,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Ritchie County?

Homeowners pay a median $763 a year, which is about 0.66% 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 Ritchie County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $736 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $31,533 a year.

More about Ritchie County

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