Dunbar, WV vs Fairmont, WV

Dunbar is moderately more affordable than Fairmont, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Dunbar scores 69 compared to 73 for Fairmont, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fairmont can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Dunbar is $904/month compared to $902/month in Fairmont — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fairmont has cheaper rent, Dunbar actually has lower median home values ($121,100 vs $159,100).

Median household income in Dunbar is $54,647 compared to $60,791 in Fairmont (-10.1%). While Fairmont is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Dunbar spend roughly 19.9% of their income on rent, more than the 17.8% in Fairmont.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (56.2°F vs 54.9°F). Dunbar receives more rainfall at 46.2" per year compared to 44.8" in Fairmont.