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City · 30,236 residents · Monongalia County, West Virginia

Morgantown , West Virginia

In Morgantown, a typical home is worth $259,400 and typical rent is $937 a month. Compared with all of Monongalia County, typical household income is 32% lower, typical rent is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $259,400

    3% below the county

    60% above West Virginia

    • Morgantown
    • Monongalia
    • West Virginia

  • Typical rent

    $937a month

    5% below the county

    7% above West Virginia

    • Morgantown
    • Monongalia
    • West Virginia

  • Typical household income

    $44,727a year

    32% below the county

    25% below West Virginia

    • Morgantown
    • Monongalia
    • West Virginia

  • Households that own their home

    44%

    14 points below the county

    31 points below West Virginia

    • Morgantown
    • Monongalia
    • West Virginia

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$281,832
3.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,413 a month
3.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Morgantown is in Monongalia County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Monongalia County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Morgantown apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Morgantown has the lowest homeownership rate of the 31 cities in West Virginia with more than 5,000 people: 44%.

  2. Morgantown has the largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 30 cities in West Virginia with more than 5,000 people: 64%.

  3. Nearby, in Clarksburg, the typical home value is $129,900: 50% less than in Morgantown ($259,400).

  4. The typical household income in Morgantown is $44,727, 32% less than in Monongalia County as a whole ($65,346).

  5. Nearby, in Clarksburg, the typical rent is $790: 16% less than in Morgantown ($937).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Morgantown

What homes there are in Morgantown, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Morgantown are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 46%, against 50% in Monongalia County.

Year built

Homes in Morgantown are older: the typical year built is 1966; in Monongalia County, 1988.

There are fewer big homes in Morgantown than in Monongalia County: 49% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 57%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Morgantown sit under the FHA limit for Monongalia County ($541,287): about 92%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 67% of rented homes in Morgantown cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Monongalia County ($1,143).

With a mortgage

$1,490 a month

Monongalia County: $1,557 a month

Without a mortgage

$462 a month

Monongalia County: $430 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Monongalia County: 56%

In Morgantown, 53% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,490 a month, about the same as in Monongalia County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Morgantown gained value more slowly than in Monongalia County: 23% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

Rents in Morgantown rose more slowly than in Monongalia County: 10% since 2015–2019, against 18%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMorgantownMonongalia CountyWest VirginiaUnited States
Rental vacancy 8.7%8.3%6.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.6%1.2%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate0.6%1.3%3.4%
People per household 2.082.262.372.53
Drive alone 62%71%78%69%
Carpool 8%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike 13%5%3%3%
Work from home 15%13%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Morgantown look like those in Monongalia County: the rental vacancy rate is 8.7%.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.08 on average, against 2.26 in Monongalia County.

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 13%, more than in Monongalia County (5%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Morgantown?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Morgantown, worth $259,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 55% of the typical household income in Morgantown, which is $44,727 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $88,129 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Monongalia County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Morgantown. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,079 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,056

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$254,702
Total interest
$366,456
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,381 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,044 a month

  • Tight

    $1,044 to $1,342 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,342 a month

    Your payment · 55%

Compared with the typical household income in Morgantown ($44,727 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,056
Principal & interest$1,725
Property tax$108
Home insurance$108
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$115

You need at least $9,079 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Morgantown and Monongalia County

Morgantown is in Monongalia County, West Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Morgantown's own numbers

Typical home value
$259,400
Typical monthly rent
$937
Typical yearly household income
$44,727
Households that own their home
44%
Effective property tax rate
0.5%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Monongalia County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,143
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+31%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Monongalia County.

Everything about Monongalia County

Buying

Buying a home in Morgantown

A typical home in Morgantown is worth $259,400: 3% below the county and 60% above West Virginia. With the typical household income in Morgantown ($44,727 a year), a typical home costs 5.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Morgantown 5.8 years
  • Monongalia 4.1 years
  • West Virginia 2.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Monongalia County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Monongalia County rose 45% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Monongalia County.

Period County West Virginia U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.8% +4.1% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +31% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +45% +54% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Morgantown next to Monongalia County, West Virginia and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Morgantown $259,400
  • Monongalia $267,700
  • West Virginia $162,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Morgantown $937
  • Monongalia $987
  • West Virginia $872
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Morgantown $44,727
  • Monongalia $65,346
  • West Virginia $59,608
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Morgantown next to Monongalia County and West Virginia
Measure Morgantown Monongalia County West Virginia U.S.
Typical home value $259,400 $267,700 $162,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $937 $987 $872 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $44,727 $65,346 $59,608 $80,734
Households that own their home 44% 58% 75% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,301 $1,248 $865 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.5% 0.47% 0.53% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 54% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Monongalia County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Morgantown

For a typical $259,400 home in Morgantown, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Morgantown's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,056a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,079
    Cash to close
    $16,861
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $115

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,009a month

    Down payment
    $12,970
    Cash to close
    $20,752
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $123

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,622a month

    Down payment
    $51,880
    Cash to close
    $59,662
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,862a month

    Down payment
    $38,910
    Cash to close
    $46,692
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Morgantown and for Monongalia County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Morgantown

0.5%of the home’s value each year

$1,301 a year for the typical owner in Morgantown.

  • Morgantown 0.5%
  • Monongalia 0.47%
  • West Virginia 0.53%

What West Virginia publishes $20,000 homestead exemption for owners 65 or older or disabled (West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code))

Exemptions and deadlines in West Virginia

Flood risk in Monongalia County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Monongalia County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
617
Of those, with NFIP insurance
11%
County West Virginia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 8.1% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 11% 10% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Morgantown

Typical rent in Morgantown is $937 a month: 5% below the county. In Morgantown, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Monongalia County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,143 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.98 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Monongalia County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $876 $16.85 $35,040
1 bedroom $902 $17.35 $36,080
2 bedrooms $1,143 $21.98 $45,720
3 bedrooms $1,404 $27.00 $56,160
4 bedrooms $1,704 $32.77 $68,160

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Morgantown

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Morgantown has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,120 in 26501 to $1,210 in 26506.

2 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Monongalia County ($1,143).

  • 26501 $1,120$1,380
  • 26505 $1,210$1,490
  • 26506 $1,210$1,490

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Morgantown when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Morgantown

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Morgantown. These are the largest.

  • Marjorie Gardens 1100 Dorsey Ave, Morgantown 26501 126 low-income homes · For families (304) 292-6418
  • Twin Knobs Apts 81 Twin Knobs, Morgantown 26508 68 low-income homes · 2 bd: 56 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 1997
  • Cedar Glen II 500 Abigail Ct, Morgantown 26508 51 homes, 50 low-income · 1 bd: 6 · 2 bd: 21 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Cedar Glen I 15 Madeline Cir, Morgantown 26508 48 homes, 47 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2000
  • Greene Glen I 205 Glen Abbey Ln, Morgantown 26508 48 homes, 47 low-income · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 1996

See all 12 buildings in Monongalia County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Morgantown

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Monongalia County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Morgantown

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Morgantown or Monongalia County. The ones below are statewide in West Virginia: they work in Morgantown the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in West Virginia

  • Low Down Home Loan

    Statewide in West Virginia

    West Virginia state fund loan of up to $12,000 for the down payment and closing costs, over 15 years at 2% interest, only with the Homeownership Program mortgage. Offered by West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Morgantown

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Morgantown, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • The Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority

    103 12th St, Fairmont · 16 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (304) 363-0860

  • Homeownership Center, Inc.

    2276 Randolph Ave, Elkins · 46 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (304) 636-9115

  • Change, Inc

    3158 West St, Weirton · 63 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (304) 797-7733

All counseling agencies in West Virginia

Help in Spanish near Morgantown

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Morgantown

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Monongalia County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in West Virginia Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Monongalia County

These cities are also in Monongalia County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Monongalia County Housing in West Virginia

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Morgantown, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Monongalia County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Morgantown.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Morgantown

Short answers with the numbers for Morgantown and all of Monongalia County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Morgantown?

The typical home value in Morgantown is $259,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Monongalia County it is $267,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Morgantown?

Typical rent in Morgantown is $937 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Monongalia County is $1,143.

What is the FHA loan limit in Morgantown?

Morgantown uses the FHA limit for all of Monongalia County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Morgantown?

The typical homeowner in Morgantown pays $1,301 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.5% of the home’s value; in Monongalia County, the rate is 0.47%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Morgantown?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Monongalia County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).