Huntington, WV Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Huntington, WV: What You Need to Know

Huntington is a city in southwestern West Virginia along the Ohio border. The 2006 movie “We Are Marshall,” starring Matthew McConaughey, put a spotlight on the city. 

Schools and Higher Education

Marshall University, founded in 1837, is the premier institution of higher education in the area. It has 13,204 students and offers over 100 academic programs. On November 14, 1970, almost all members of the university’s football team died in a plane crash. The tragedy’s impact on the community was dramatized in “We Are Marshall,” which was filmed in Huntington. In addition to Marshall, there are 45 other universities within 100 miles of the city. The public school system consists of 17 schools with an enrolment of 8,082 students. Southside Elementary School and Kellogg Elementary School are among the highly ranked schools in the city.

Shopping in Town

Pullman square helped reinvigorate downtown by offering great shopping, dining, and entertainment all in one place. Pick up something unique at Shops at the Heritage Station, where you’ll find a dozen locally owned artisan stores, eateries, a wine bar, and a yoga studio. For full-fledged retail therapy, head over to the Huntington Mall in nearby Barboursville. It’s an enclosed shopping mall featuring 150 stores.

Cost of Living

Huntington (population: 45,110) is a vibrant, picturesque college town and a reasonable place to live in. Its cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 10.6%, 37.9%, and 33.0% lower than the national average, respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $696. In West Virginia, residents pay 3% to 6.5% in income tax and 6% in statewide sales tax. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

Huntington is a close-knit community with Marshall University at the heart of it. Almost half of all city residents are renters. Those who prefer the suburbs are drawn to Barboursville for its good schools and the largest shopping mall in West Virginia. Since Huntington borders Ohio, some people who work in Huntington live in South Point, Ironton, or other suburbs across the state line.

Weather and Climate

Huntington gets 44 inches of rain per year versus the U.S. average of 38 inches, and 14 inches of snow annually compared with the national average of 28 inches.  However, it’s located at the mouth of the Guyandotte River, a tributary of the Ohio River, making it vulnerable to floods. In January 1937, the Ohio River’s floodwater at Huntington peaked at more than 19 feet above flood stage. Called the Great Flood, it devastated cities across several states with property damage reaching $500 million. Huntington built its floodwalls the following year.