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City Housing Verdict

Morgantown, WV

High Pressure

Your dollar goes further in Morgantown, WV — everyday costs run about 14% below the national average (Cost Index: 86). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $238,200, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $42,245 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Morgantown already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 25% rent burden, 5.6x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 79. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Morgantown.

Monthly Housing
$888/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
25%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$2,132/mo
After housing and debt · $711/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 39%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
86
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$238,200
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$888/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$42,245
National: $78,538
Population
30,273
Purchasing Power
63
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
79 / 100
21% below average
Rent Index
66 / 100
34% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
93 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
100 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
86
Affordable · 14% below average

Morgantown Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $238,200 and West Virginia's property tax rate of 0.58%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$42,245
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
25%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5.6x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Morgantown looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Morgantown, WV

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,382
Monthly Impact
$115
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.58%
National avg: ~1.00%

West Virginia Place Tax Context

Tax TypeWest VirginiaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.58%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate5.12%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.52%~5.0%

Compare Morgantown to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Morgantown, WV
86
66
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Morgantown, WV: 79
Rent Prices
66

FAQ: Living in Morgantown

Is Morgantown, WV an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Morgantown run about 14% below the US average (Cost Index: 86). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $238,200, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $888, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Morgantown fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $888, while local median household income is $42,245. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 25% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Morgantown, WV?+

West Virginia has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.12%. The effective property tax rate is 0.58%. On a home worth $238,200, that translates to roughly $1,382 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.52% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Morgantown, WV?+

The typical monthly rent in Morgantown is around $888. That's roughly 34% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $238,200, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Morgantown, WV?+

The median home in Morgantown is valued at $238,200. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,204/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 44% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Morgantown?+

Grocery prices in Morgantown are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 93). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Morgantown, WV like to live in?+

Morgantown is a smaller city with a population of about 30,273. The median age of residents is 24, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 33.62%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in West Virginia

If Morgantown feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in West Virginia

Use these city pages when you want to compare Morgantown against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly