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Moving Guides/Morgantown

Moving to Morgantown

What you need to know before relocating to Morgantown, West Virginia. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Morgantown a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Morgantown compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($903/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($235,000) are well below the us median; violent crime rate (265/100k) is well below the national average.

Morgantown at a Glance

Population
142K
Median Income
$59,045
Median Rent
$903/mo
Median Home Price
$235,000
Unemployment
3.3%
Avg Commute
63084 min

Cost of Living in Morgantown

The median rent in Morgantown is $903/month, while the median home value is $235,000. With a median household income of $59,045, residents spend roughly 18% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Morgantown metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
36% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
23% below

Job Market

Morgantown has a median household income of $59,045, which is 21% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Morgantown

The violent crime rate in Morgantown is 265 per 100,000 residents, which is 30% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1195 per 100,000 residents.

Education in West Virginia

West Virginia has a high school graduation rate of 90% and per-pupil spending of $13,892/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

24% of West Virginia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

West Virginia has 256 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 8.6% uninsured rate, and 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in West Virginia is 72.2 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Morgantown

+Pros

  • Rent ($903/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($235,000) are well below the US median
  • Violent crime rate (265/100k) is well below the national average
  • High school graduation rate of 90%

-Cons

  • Median household income ($59,045) trails the national median
  • Longer-than-average commute (63084 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Morgantown a good place to live?

Morgantown, West Virginia has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($903/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($235,000) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Morgantown?

The median rent in Morgantown is $903/month and the median home value is $235,000. The median household income is $59,045. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Morgantown safe?

Morgantown has a violent crime rate of 265 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Morgantown?

Morgantown has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $59,045.

Explore More About Morgantown