West Virginia athletic department agrees to partnership with local mulch company
West Virginia has agreed to a multi-year partnership with Grant County Mulch that makes the company the official mulch supplier of the Mountaineers' athletic department, the university announced August 13.
Based in Petersburg, West Virginia, about 90 miles southeast of West Virginia's Morgantown campus, Grant County Mulch is the largest bulk mulch supplier in the country, according to the Mountaineers' release.
As part of the newly inked and undeniably unique agreement — after all, how many colleges have an official mulch supplier? — Grant County Mulch will be racing a West Virginia-themed truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the Richmond Raceway in Virginia on August 15. The truck is owned by CR7 Motorsports and will be driven by Grant Enfinger.
Beyond the company's logo being displayed on LED boards at football and basketball games, as well as on the outfield wall at baseball games, the Mountaineers' post-game radio show for football and men's basketball will award a 'Tough as Mulch' player of the game.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Both of us — and our parents — were born and raised in West Virginia, so this partnership means more than business to us," Larry and Janie Berg, founders of Grant County Mulch, said in a statement. "It's about honoring our roots, supporting our home state, and being part of something that represents the pride and spirit of West Virginians everywhere."
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7 hours ago
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Study: The states where being a homeowner has paid off the most (and the least)
Key takeaways Nearly every corner of the country has experienced a surge in home equity since 2020, but homeowners in certain states have experienced more gains than others. West Virginia registered the largest percentage increase in average home equity, rising 450%, while Washington D.C. had the sharpest decline in average home equity, dropping 38%. Southern and Midwestern states have generally seen the greatest average home equity growth, while Western states have posted some of the least. From 2020 to 2025, average home equity has increased 142% nationwide. Collectively, tappable equity among mortgage-holders is $11.5 trillion, the highest in five years. Home equity rises, but homeowners reap varying rewards If you bought a home back in 2020, congrats: You are probably sitting on a seriously valuable asset right now. Thanks to sky-high home prices and low pandemic-era mortgage rates, homeowners have seen their equity – their home's value, minus its mortgage balance – skyrocket over the last five years. On average, home equity has grown an impressive 142 percent nationwide since 2020, with a 4.2 percent increase just in the past year, Bankrate's new study finds. Shop Top Mortgage Rates A quicker path to financial freedom Your Path to Homeownership Personalized rates in minutes But not all states have benefited identically from the boom. Real estate markets vary greatly from region to region. So Bankrate went beyond the national average to the state level, to identify where average home equity gains have been the biggest — and the smallest. For its analysis, Bankrate estimated the amount of average equity growth by comparing average home values and average mortgage balances across all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., using Q1 2025 data from Zillow and Experian. Important note: This data only reflects mortgage-holding homeowners, including those with a primary mortgage, any second mortgages (home equity loans) and any home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). It does not include homeowners with a paid-off home/zero mortgage balance, since data wasn't available for them. Long story short: Since 2020, in certain parts of the country, homeownership has paid off dramatically more than in other parts. In a few places, it's even been a losing proposition. Where has home equity grown the most? In the last five years, average home equity stakes have increased just about everywhere. But it's increased in some states more than others – and even decreased in a few. Here are the five where homeownership has paid off the most, and the five where it's paid off the least. Biggest gainers in average home equity Smallest gainers in average home equity West Virginia (450%*) 1. District of Columbia (-38%) Oklahoma (431%) 2. Louisiana (-22%) Connecticut (297%) 3. Alaska (17%) Kansas (234%) 4. North Dakota (19%) Illinois (217%) 5. Colorado (48%) *% change since 2020 While home equity has grown in most areas in the U.S. since 2020, our analysis shows that growth has been greater in the South and Midwest than in the West (with some notable exceptions, like Louisiana and Texas). Five of the 10 states with the least equity growth are Western states, which feature home values growing slower than the national average (other than Utah) and larger debt sums than the national average. States with the most home equity growth More than two dozen states throughout the recorded triple-digit increases in home equity in the past five years. But Southern and Midwestern homeowners have seen the biggest percentage gains: Nine out of the 10 states with the most equity growth since 2020 occupy one of those regions. Here's a closer look at the top five. 1. West Virginia 5-year % change in average home equity: +450% Average home equity (2020): $6,529 Average home equity (2025): $35,931 Mountain State homeowners are reaching new heights in home equity gains: The average home equity stake has more than quadrupled since 2020. The substantial gains reflect in part the fact that West Virginia has the lowest home prices nationwide, averaging $171,861. 2. Oklahoma 5-year % change in average home equity: +431% Average home equity (2020): $8,766 Average home equity (2025): $46,562 Oklahoma takes the number two spot for equity growth in the last five years, the only other state with a gain over 400 percent. Not only are mortgage balances ($170,580) well below the national average, but the Sooner state also has some of the most affordable home prices ($217,142) in the country, ranking the fourth-lowest for average home values. 3. Connecticut 5-year % change in average home equity: +297% Average home equity (2020): $41,959 Average home equity (2025): $166,656 The sole Northeastern state in the top five, Connecticut has had a near 300 percent gain in equity over five years. Although the state has the highest home prices ($426,752) and the highest mortgage debt ($260,096) as of the first quarter of 2025, price growth still translated into significant equity increases. 4. Kansas 5-year % change in average home equity: +234% Average home equity (2020): $20,471 Average home equity (2025): $68,385 One of two Midwestern states to make the top five, Kansas experienced the second-largest increase in home values nationwide from 2020 to 2025. Average mortgage debt in 2025 was $173,204, 33 percent lower than the national average. 5. Illinois 5-year % change in average home equity: +217% Average home equity (2020): $25,533 Average home equity (2025): $80,837 Illinois rounds out the top five, posting an estimated home equity growth rate of 217 percent between 2020 and 2025. While its 38 percent rise in home prices is the slowest among the top five, steady growth still delivered a solid equity payoff for Prairie State homeowners. Average equity gains in dollar amounts Percentage gains are not the same as dollar gains. If we look at average home equity increases in terms of cash since 2020, a different set of states leads the pack. Over the five-year period, Hawaii ($167,791), New Hampshire ($158,684), California ($153,843), New Jersey ($148,791) and Massachusetts ($148,735) experienced the largest dollar increases in average home equity. Because these states already had high equity to begin with, their percentage gains were smaller (62 to 136 percent) compared to Southern and Midwestern states. States with the least home equity growth Home equity has surged in much of the country since 2020, but not every state is participating equally in the party. Most notably, five of the 10 states with the least home equity growth on average in the last five years are Western states (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Utah), where mortgage debt is higher and home price growth is slower than the national average. Here's a closer look at the bottom five. 1. District of Columbia 5-year % change in home equity: -38% Average home equity (2020): $172,628 Average home equity (2025): $106,606 At the bottom of the list is Washington D.C., with a 38 percent decrease in estimated home equity in the last five years. Despite having the highest average home prices of the five regions with the least equity growth ($617,355), home values have increased only 2.8 percent since 2020, the lowest rate studywide. The District of Columbia is also the only East Coast market in the bottom 10. 2. Louisiana 5-year % change in home equity: -22% Average home equity (2020): $40,365 Average home equity (2025): $31,492 The good times aren't rollin' in Louisiana. Since 2020, it's the only market besides D.C. where average home equity has dropped, down 22 percent over five years. Slower home price growth, climbing insurance costs and growing climate risks/extreme weather incidents are likely to blame for the decline. 3. Alaska 5-year % change in home equity: +17% Average home equity (2020): $90,469 Average home equity (2025): $106,288 Alaska is one of two Western states in the bottom five with the least average equity growth since 2020, with gains of only 17 percent. High mortgage balances and slower home price appreciation have frozen equity growth for many homeowners across the state. 4. North Dakota 5-year % change in home equity: +19% Average home equity (2020): $66,721 Average home equity (2025): $79,511 The only Midwestern state to rank among the bottom five states is North Dakota, with an equity growth rate of 19 percent in the last five years. It's worth noting, though, the Roughrider State has shown signs of a rebound recently, with a 19.7 percent equity increase from 2024 to 2025 alone. 5. Colorado 5-year % change in home equity: +48% Average home equity (2020): $147,133 Average home equity (2025): $218,008 Rounding out the bottom five is Colorado, with an estimated five-year home equity growth rate of 48 percent and an average equity stake of $218,008, more than double those of the other four on the least-gainer list. Colorado's five-year equity growth rate also reflects slower home value increases than the national average. Changes in home equity by state Average home prices, mortgage balances and home equity values by state Note: States are ranked in order of 5-year percentage change in home equity State Typical home price (2020) Average mortgage balance (2020) Average home equity (2020) Typical home price (2025) Average mortgage balance (2025) Average home equity (2025) 1-year percent change in home equity (2024- 2025) 5-year percent change in home equity (2020- 2025) West Virginia $120,185 $113,656 $6,529 $171,861 $135,930 $35,931 27.4% 450% Oklahoma $148,447 $139,681 $8,766 $217,142 $170,580 $46,562 9.7% 431% Connecticut $268,914 $226,955 $41,959 $426,752 $260,096 $166,656 13.2% 297% Kansas $162,184 $141,713 $20,471 $241,589 $173,204 $68,385 19.7% 234% Illinois $203,327 $177,794 $25,533 $281,311 $200,474 $80,837 17.7% 217% Kentucky $148,203 $128,478 $19,725 $219,644 $159,129 $60,515 19.8% 207% Georgia $216,924 $179,722 $37,202 $338,891 $231,225 $107,666 -2.2% 189% Virginia $288,555 $246,018 $42,537 $409,602 $288,102 $121,500 12.3% 186% New Mexico $206,448 $163,715 $42,733 $314,233 $197,950 $116,283 6.0% 172% Missouri $176,345 $142,631 $33,714 $261,071 $173,623 $87,448 8.4% 159% South Carolina $200,674 $164,090 $36,584 $305,106 $211,894 $93,212 0.5% 155% Ohio $161,042 $125,623 $35,419 $240,403 $152,655 $87,748 12.9% 148% Montana $279,123 $187,566 $91,557 $464,096 $247,187 $216,909 4.9% 137% New Hampshire $301,187 $184,210 $116,977 $503,333 $227,672 $275,661 9.6% 136% North Carolina $217,279 $164,741 $52,538 $339,657 $217,352 $122,305 0.7% 133% Florida $252,780 $193,725 $59,055 $392,734 $257,457 $135,277 -9.0% 129% Alabama $168,766 $144,946 $23,820 $235,871 $182,264 $53,607 2.7% 125% Indiana $166,679 $123,842 $42,837 $252,148 $156,496 $95,652 9.7% 123% New Jersey $365,098 $243,523 $121,575 $560,229 $289,863 $270,366 13.5% 122% Maine $249,547 $141,359 $108,188 $414,609 $177,763 $236,846 4.3% 119% Arkansas $157,142 $133,510 $23,632 $220,282 $168,761 $51,521 4.3% 118% Michigan $180,199 $135,610 $44,589 $259,045 $162,525 $96,520 11.0% 116% Rhode Island $311,505 $189,976 $121,529 $491,191 $233,445 $257,746 11.8% 112% Iowa $167,538 $134,134 $33,404 $229,625 $160,384 $69,241 13.2% 107% Arizona $287,458 $208,949 $78,509 $436,324 $274,792 $161,532 -4.1% 106% Tennessee $218,050 $162,963 $55,087 $336,962 $224,239 $112,723 0.9% 105% Nebraska $190,928 $143,691 $47,237 $274,932 $178,646 $96,286 7.2% 104% Maryland $327,673 $255,796 $71,877 $433,171 $288,500 $144,671 8.4% 101% Nevada $312,556 $234,085 $78,471 $456,366 $300,511 $155,855 10.4% 99% Pennsylvania $199,404 $148,141 $51,263 $280,375 $178,705 $101,670 8.7% 98% Wisconsin $221,019 $141,722 $79,297 $325,978 $171,362 $154,616 11.2% 95% South Dakota $217,648 $155,813 $61,835 $316,218 $195,947 $120,271 6.1% 95% Delaware $282,537 $189,678 $92,859 $403,176 $223,224 $179,952 3.9% 94% California $566,327 $371,974 $194,353 $797,772 $449,576 $348,196 5.2% 79% Massachusetts $447,184 $259,041 $188,143 $658,923 $322,045 $336,878 8.4% 79% Wyoming $260,330 $191,478 $68,852 $361,776 $239,965 $121,811 16.7% 77% Vermont $278,671 $151,096 $127,575 $402,407 $178,561 $223,846 -2.0% 75% Idaho $303,915 $179,943 $123,972 $474,976 $257,644 $217,332 3.2% 75% New York $360,136 $243,408 $116,728 $498,283 $295,426 $202,857 14.4% 74% Washington $426,296 $273,654 $152,642 $617,812 $357,849 $259,963 6.3% 70% Mississippi $147,367 $124,547 $22,820 $192,055 $153,515 $38,540 8.3% 69% Utah $359,207 $224,960 $134,247 $536,740 $312,174 $224,566 2.9% 67% Hawaii $623,262 $354,203 $269,059 $850,605 $413,755 $436,850 0.9% 62% Texas $223,475 $183,761 $39,714 $309,475 $245,710 $63,765 -9.9% 61% Minnesota $267,300 $178,918 $88,382 $349,878 $214,324 $135,554 5.8% 53% Oregon $378,376 $232,669 $145,707 $511,958 $289,318 $222,640 2.4% 53% Colorado $416,712 $269,579 $147,133 $564,793 $346,785 $218,008 0.1% 48% North Dakota $233,077 $166,356 $66,721 $279,484 $199,973 $79,511 19.7% 19% Alaska $316,321 $225,852 $90,469 $372,358 $266,070 $106,288 5.2% 17% Louisiana $196,100 $155,735 $40,365 $212,246 $180,754 $31,492 -4.4% -22% District of Columbia $600,708 $428,080 $172,628 $617,355 $510,749 $106,606 -13.6% -38% National $253,922 $207,491 $46,431 $369,233 $256,803 $112,430 4.2% 142% What's behind the rise in home equity? Think of home equity as the part of your home that you own outright: It's the difference between your home's market value and what you still owe on your mortgage. As you chip away at your mortgage balance, your equity grows. It also rises with an increase in home prices and property values. That's exactly what's happened across much of the U.S. since 2020. The total value of mortgaged homes nationwide has risen fast, by over $10 trillion in the last five years – much faster than mortgage debt, according to property data analyst ICE Mortgage Technology. As a result, tappable equity is at its highest level in five years. That's the amount homeowners can access while still maintaining a 20 percent stake in their homes, as most lenders require. $11.6T Tappable equity levels have fluctuated slightly in the last year, but among mortgage-holding homeowners, the total now stands at around $11.6 trillion – a record high. Why is home equity growth significant for homeowners? The growth in home equity has been a big boost to many a family's bottom line, since residential real estate is usually the single largest asset people have. Growth in home equity means bigger profits when selling your home and more flexibility when purchasing a new one. It can also provide borrowing power in the form of a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to pay for renovations, consolidate debt or be a financial cushion for emergencies. About a quarter of homeowners are considering using one of these tools in the next year, according to the ICE '2025 Borrower Insights Survey,' due to their long terms and relatively low interest rates. So, home equity is more than just a number. It's a significant asset. When it grows, it increases your wealth, becoming a powerful financial tool that can bring you one step closer to achieving plans and goals, or creating a nest egg for the next generation. MethodologyTo estimate where home equity has grown the most and least in the U.S. in the last five years (from 2020 to 2025) on a percentage basis, Bankrate analyzed typical home prices against the average mortgage balances in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Average home equity estimates reflect homeowners who have a mortgage, as the mortgage balance data did not include homeowners with paid-off mortgages. Bankrate's ranking is an estimate of home equity in each state based on: Zillow's typical home prices by state, which reflect homeowners who have mortgages and own 100 percent of their homes. These figures reflect all home types, including single-family and multifamily homes. Zillow's data measures the typical value for homes within the 65th to 95th percentile range for a given state as of Q1 2025. Experian's average mortgage balances by state reflect the average mortgage debt of homeowners with a non-zero balance. Experian mortgage balance data reflects balances for all home types, including single-family and multifamily homes. The mortgage balances could include multiple liens, such as first mortgages, second mortgages and home equity lines of credit, as of Q1 2025. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11 hours ago
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doxo Report Ranks States by Household Bill Burden, From Highest to Lowest
doxo's data shows California is the most expensive state for household bills, while West Virginia remains one of the most affordable SEATTLE, August 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The newly released 2025 State-by-State Bill Pay Market Report from doxoINSIGHTS offers an in-depth look at how household bill costs vary across the nation. The report reveals that Americans spend a median of $2,058 per month—approximately 31% of the U.S. median household income of $84,583—on essential bills. Costs vary widely by state, with California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Massachusetts among the most expensive, while West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma rank as the most affordable. Leveraging doxo's proprietary dataset, which covers 97% of U.S. ZIP codes and 45 bill pay service categories, the report provides Americans with a more accurate and detailed picture. It analyzes median monthly bill payments rather than relying on industry averages or survey-based market estimates. This state-level breakdown reveals how household bills contribute to the overall cost of living across all 50 states. doxo's Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI) provides a consistent basis for comparison nationwide. The 2025 State-by-State Bill Pay Market Report offers resolution at the state level, providing the most comprehensive view into the Bill Pay Economy™. The 2025 report details: Monthly and annual household bill median costs for each state. Breakdowns of the 13 most common household bills: Mortgage, Rent, Auto Loan, Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water & Sewer, Waste & Recycling), Auto Insurance, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Health Insurance (consumer-paid portion), Alarm & Security, and Life Insurance. Key findings include: Californians spend a median of $2,854 each month on the thirteen most common household bills, which is 39% higher than the national median. In contrast, residents of West Virginia spend a median of $1,149 each month, 44% below the national median. Full rankings of the most expensive and most affordable states to live in are available in the complete report. A list of the 10 most expensive and least expensive states is outlined below. 10 Most Expensive States for Household Bills State MedianMonthly Bill1 Cost of BillsIndex (COBI)2 % ofHH Income % +/-National Median California $2,854 139 33% + 39% Hawaii $2,712 132 33% + 32% New Jersey $2,621 127 29% + 27% Massachusetts $2,614 127 29% + 27% Maryland $2,505 122 28% + 22% Washington $2,453 119 29% + 19% New York $2,412 117 31% + 17% Colorado $2,391 116 30% + 16% Connecticut $2,354 114 28% + 14% Alaska $2,276 111 30% + 11% 10 Least Expensive States for Household Bills State MedianMonthly Bill1 Cost of BillsIndex (COBI)2 % ofHH Income % +/-National Median West Virginia $1,149 56 23% - 44% Mississippi $1,502 73 32% - 27% Arkansas $1,539 75 30% - 25% Oklahoma $1,543 75 28% - 25% New Mexico $1,581 77 29% - 23% Kentucky $1,587 77 29% - 23% Alabama 1,601 78 29% - 22% Indiana $1,620 79 27% - 21% Iowa $1,622 79 26% - 21% Kansas $1,624 79 25% - 21% 1 Median Monthly Bill shown above reflects the Median Household Bill Pay Expense for the thirteen most common bills paid monthly, including housing (rent/mortgage). See full report for details. 2 For the Cost of Bills Index (COBI), the number 100 represents the national median, and then, states, counties, and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. Data is sourced from the doxoINSIGHTS 2025 U.S. Household Bill Pay Report, reflecting consumer payment data from March 2024 to March 2025. For the latest analysis of U.S. household bill expenses, please visit and select a state to explore state, county, and city data. To view more from doxoINSIGHTS and its 2025 State-by-State Bill Pay Market Report, including a full breakdown of the amount paid in household bills across all of the 50 states, click here. About doxoINSIGHTS doxoINSIGHTS provides direct insight into The Bill Pay Economy™ by leveraging consumer surveys and doxo's unique aggregate bill pay data set, comprising actual bill payment activity to confirmed household service providers across the country. doxo data brings together the broadest available data set for analyzing actual household bill payment activity, pulling from over 10 million paying consumers across over 97% of U.S. zip codes. doxo's payment network covers over 120,000 billers in 45 different service categories and enables payments using bank accounts, credit cards or debit cards. This uniquely broad statistical foundation powers doxoINSIGHTS reports – uncovering key trends for household financial health and bill payment behavior. Uncovering an even deeper level of insight into Americans' cost of living, doxo's proprietary Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), a new feature of doxoINSIGHTS, provides a consistent basis of comparison at the state, county, and city levels. About doxo doxo delivers innovation that transforms the bill pay experience for consumers, billers, and financial technology providers. For over 10M consumers, doxo's all-in-one bill pay makes it simple to organize and pay any bill on any device through a secure checkout. For billers, doxo's network-driven platform enables online and mobile payments with a ridiculously simple integration, radically lower costs, and game-changing features that are unavailable with legacy bill pay vendors. For fintech partners, doxo delivers financial innovations to consumers across 97% of US Zip Codes, paying from more than 8,000 financial institutions to over 120,000 billers in 45+ service categories. For employees, doxo is a creative, ever-learning team that is passionate about building fintech tools that dramatically improve the bill pay experience. For investors, doxo provides an extraordinary opportunity to invest alongside Jackson Square Ventures, MDV, and Bezos Expeditions to disrupt a market that accounts for over $4T of US Household spend. To learn more about America's leading bill pay network, visit View source version on Contacts Media contact Dotted Line Communications for doxoJenny Davispress@
Yahoo
15 hours ago
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West Virginia athletic department agrees to partnership with local mulch company
On the same day Kansas received a record-breaking $300 million donation, one of the Jayhawks' Big 12 counterparts secured a deal of its own. West Virginia has agreed to a multi-year partnership with Grant County Mulch that makes the company the official mulch supplier of the Mountaineers' athletic department, the university announced August 13. Based in Petersburg, West Virginia, about 90 miles southeast of West Virginia's Morgantown campus, Grant County Mulch is the largest bulk mulch supplier in the country, according to the Mountaineers' release. REQUIRED READING: Kansas receives record-setting $300 million gift from donor David Booth As part of the newly inked and undeniably unique agreement — after all, how many colleges have an official mulch supplier? — Grant County Mulch will be racing a West Virginia-themed truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the Richmond Raceway in Virginia on August 15. The truck is owned by CR7 Motorsports and will be driven by Grant Enfinger. Beyond the company's logo being displayed on LED boards at football and basketball games, as well as on the outfield wall at baseball games, the Mountaineers' post-game radio show for football and men's basketball will award a 'Tough as Mulch' player of the game. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Both of us — and our parents — were born and raised in West Virginia, so this partnership means more than business to us," Larry and Janie Berg, founders of Grant County Mulch, said in a statement. "It's about honoring our roots, supporting our home state, and being part of something that represents the pride and spirit of West Virginians everywhere." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: West Virginia agrees to partnership with local mulch company
