Many Marshall students rent apartments off campus. With the rising rent and utility bills, especially in winter with the cost of heat, many off campus renters worry about covering these expenses.
According to Zillow, the average amount of rent in Huntington is about $950, and it varies by property and what utilities are included. Doing research online, it was found the average monthly cost of electricity in Huntington is $160. Some residents have also reported during the winter their heating bills can increase by two to five times higher than normal.
“I’m a college student, man. I’m broke, and I don’t really have disposable income like that,” sophomore nursing student Perry Knight said.
“I would say if you’re renting closer to Barboursville, it will be more expensive looking at a $1,000+ range, but if you’re renting in Huntington, it’ll be closer to $700 if we’re talking purely rent. Utilities are a whole different ballpark though,” said Ray Nichols, junior biomedical engineering major.
There are, however, solutions to the rising cost of electricity during the winter. Nichols explained a bit about a plan she has set up through Appalachian Electric Power called the Average Monthly Payment, which keeps her electrical bill from being higher in the winter.
According to its website, the AEP averages out the last 12 months of bills to create the average monthly payment. The amount changes slightly each month based on usage. The difference between the amount paid and the actual bill is added or subtracted from a deferred balance throughout the year.
Nichols has been renting for two years and recently moved to Barboursville summer 2025. She said the hardest part of renting off campus in November through January isn’t anything monetary, it’s trying to get to campus during the winter, especially considering the snowstorms Huntington receives.
While the cost of living in Huntington is 21% lower than the national average, the salary for college students isn’t high. According to ZipRecruiter, West Virginia ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Current College Student Salaries.
When Nichols and Knight were both asked what tips they had for people who are renting during the winter, they had similar advice: save and keep an account for living expenses.
“Definitely, every time you get a paycheck, I set aside half of my rent and half of my electric bill and just stuff that in a savings account that I never touch,” Nichols said. “That way, I know that I have it, so when my second paycheck of the month rolls around, I just take out the other half and send it to my landlord.”
Knight had similar advice, saying costs and expenses could sneak up when they’re not expecting it.
“I keep a fund in case it does become a bit too much. It does cost more in the winter, so I definitely think it’s harder to cover sometimes,” Knight said.
Caitlyn Thompson can be contacted at [email protected]
