morgantown
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When you are in search of a safe bustling town with a small city culture but with amazing amenities, Morgantown, West Virginia is a good choice. A city with an affordable cost of living is already a hit among families who prefer a slow pace of living but with high energy.

And for those who aspire to know more about the city, here is an amazing moving guide that covers every fact about the city you need to know before packing the bags.

Situated along the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North Central West Virginia and the third-largest city in the state. It is also best known as the home of West Virginia University.

And without wasting much time, let’s delve into the city details.

Let's get started.

QuickFacts

Quick facts to know before you move to Morgantown, WV

  • Settled in 1772, Morgantown has a rich history and a “wild and wonderful” present.
  • The city is the third-largest in West Virginia.
  • It is best known for West Virginia University.
  • The city is named after Zackquill Morgan, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War, who was hired as a surveyor to create "Morgan’s Town."
  • The city is vibrant for its high student population.
  • College football is a big deal here.
  • The city also has an impressive art scene.
  • The city is a center of outdoor activities.
  • The nightlife makes dining a part of the culture.
  • The economy is one of the weakest in the US.

10 things to know before moving to Morgantown, WV

  • Morgantown is less diverse in terms of population.
  • The University of West Virginia is located here.
  • A large chunk of the population is students.
  • The public transport system is highly robust here.
  • Government spending is high here.
  • The population is mostly highly educated.
  • There is less risk of tornadoes and storms.
  • The property and sales taxes are higher in Morgantown
  • The city is also famous among retirees for its laid back attitude.
  • A major portion of the city is open

What's the population of Morgantown, WV?

As per the latest stats, Morgantown has roughly 29,316 people with a population density of 3,090 people per square mile. The median age in the city is 24.4 and the student population is a major reason for this. About 38.4% of the population lives below the poverty line, one of the highest in the US.

To know the population of Morgantown better, here are a few stats.

  • Morgantown’s total population is 29,316.
  • The population is made up of 54.6% males and 45.5% females.
  • The median age in Morgantown is 24.4.
  • The city population is made up of 84.0% White, 5.3% Black or African American, 4.5% Asian, and 2.1% from two or more races.
  • About 3.2% of the population is of Hispanic ethnicity.
  • The median household size in Morgantown is 2.3 persons.
  • About 27.8% of the residents are married couples living together.
  • On average, 10.5% of the residents are single and have children.

How fast can you commute to Morgantown, WV?

One of the big pluses of moving to Morgantown is the short commuting time. Moving here, you’ll spend less time here on roads because the traffic is too low. The average one-way commute time is 16.2 minutes, which is much shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.

Here are the latest stats about how people commute to the office regularly.

  • About 63.7% drive their car alone
  • About 6.7% carpool with others
  • About 7.6% work from home
  • Approximately 3.5% take mass transit

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What is the weather like in Morgantown, WV?

The weather of a city is a major factor that influences your decision to move there. Morgantown is a 4-season city lying in the transition between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate. Summers are usually mild with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low-80s while winters can be cold with temperatures often dipping below freezing. July is the hottest month here while January is the coldest.

We’ve got a few additional facts about the Morgantown climate.

  • The city receives about 43 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.
  • Morgantown averages 28 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.
  • On average, the city gets about 155 sunny days per year against the US average of 205 sunny days.
  • The city receives some kind of precipitation, on average, 149 days per year in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Reasons

Top reasons to move to Morgantown, WV

Home to the University of West Virginia and amazingly drenched in scenic beauty, Morgantown witnesses many relocations every year. And there are valid reasons for people moving here.

Here are a few among them.

  • High livability
  • Affordable housing
  • Low risk of natural disasters
  • High government spending
  • High education rate
  • A lot of open spaces
pros and cons

Pros & Cons of Moving to Morgantown, WV

It is true that just like any place; Morgantown too has its own share of pluses and minuses.

And because you’re serious about relocating here, knowing both the pros and cons of moving to Morgantown will help you.

The pros
  • Good food
  • Low traffic
  • Robust public transport system
  • Small town feel
  • Low volcanic risk
  • Low earthquake risk
  • Low cancer mortality rate
The cons
  • High sales tax
  • High risk of storms
  • High risk of tornadoes
  • High poverty rate
  • High rent
Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in Morgantown, WV

As you move in, you would need to find a home, that too in a decent area. Morgantown though small in size has got many places in and around to buy or rent a home.

To help you we’ve listed out the best 10 neighborhoods for you. Here are the 10 best places to buy or rent a home in and around Morgantown.

Rank City Population Home Value
1. Imperial Woods/Brandywines Estates 912 $436,491
2. Clinton Furnace/Halleck 1.023 $344,806
3. The Flatts 680 $439,722
4. Cheat Lake 145 $516,747
5. South Hills 1,011 $282,116
6. Van Voorhis 989 $232,480
7. Baker Ridge/Hoard 1,362 $447,186
8. Star City 1,014 $322,705
9. Browns Chapel/Gum Spring 992 $355,700
10. Greer/Rock Forge 1,122 $283.332

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Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Morgantown, WV

The cost of living is a major factor deciding the move. And when the new destination is Morgantown, you can breathe easy as the living costs are much lower here.

Living Expense Morgantown West Virginia National Average
Overall 90.3 79.4 100
Grocery 101.4 95.8 100
Health 126.3 127 100
Housing 77.6 39.3 100
Median Home Cost $257,900 $139,700 $338,100
Utilities 85.6 85.9 100
Transportation 76.8 90.1 100
Miscellaneous 107 85.1 100
Job Market

How is the job market in Morgantown, WV?

Despite its smaller size, the job market records impressive growth, much better than most US cities. The unemployment rate in Morgantown is also much lower than the US average.

So when you are here for a job, the prospects are much higher. We thought that having a few job-related facts in Morgantown would benefit you and here are some.

  • The job growth in Morgantown has been positive.
  • The future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 37.3%.
  • The unemployment rate here is 4.4%.
  • Jobs have increased by 2.2% over the past year.
  • The average salary in Morgantown is $45,000.
  • The median home cost in Morgantown is $257,900.

Here is a breakdown table to better understand the Morgantown job market.

Employment Information Morgantown, West Virginia United States
The income per Cap $26,824 $37,638
Household Income $36,991 $69,021
Unemployment Rate 4.4 6.0%
Recent Job Growth -3.30% -6.18%
Future Job Growth 37.31% 33.51%

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Fastest growing jobs in Morgantown, West Virginia

As you are in the process of packing the bags to Morgantown and the main goal is a job, knowing the fast-growing jobs in the city will be highly helpful. When you have the list, it becomes easier to analyze whether you are fit enough to pick one among them.

Here are the top ten fastest-growing jobs in the city.

Rank Job Title Average salary Growth %
1 Home health aid $20,060 129.2%
2 Physical therapist $78,310 127.6%
3 Physician assistant $91,990 122.6%
4 Marketing internship $40,231 119.2%
5 Nurse practitioner $89,890 116.5%
6 Industrial mechanic $41,910 114.4%
7 Dental hygienist $47,724 110.9%
8 Respiratory therapist $47,808 107.7%
9 Licensed practicing nurse $31,653 105.7%
10 Certified nursing assistant $25,572 101.7%

Top career options in Morgantown, WV

Once you are in Morgantown and look for a job, your preference would be jobs with fat paychecks, and having a list of the highest paying jobs in the city would make things easier. And knowing this, we’ve filtered out the highest-paying jobs in Morgantown.

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry Level Salary
1 Chief executives $152,660 $63,160
2 Purchasing managers $141,540 $59,410
3 Agricultural and engineering managers $131,400 $99,370
4 Pharmacists $125,770 $29,770
5 Industrial production managers $125,480 $77,500
6 Natural science managers $124,590 $80,060
7 General dentists $124,310 $37,630
8 Human resources managers $119,400 $61,520
9 Lawyers $104,170 $37,370
10 Industrial engineers $103,000 $61,900

Best companies to work for if you’re moving to Morgantown, WV

When you are in Morgantown and are in search of a job, you would aspire to join the best company. Here, best refers to the most ‘employee friendly’. Fortunately, we’ve researched to list out 10 firms that rank high in employee satisfaction.

Here is the list

  • West Virginia University
  • Gabriel Brothers
  • Urgent Care Holdings, Inc.
  • Swanson Industries
  • Intelligent Solutions
  • West Virginia Radio Corporation
  • March-Westin
  • Pace Enterprises
  • NextGen Federal Systems
  • Regional Eye Associates

What's the average salary & income in Morgantown, WV?

While you consider applying for a job in Morgantown, your first question will be – what’s a decent salary here? Any amount you earn above $40,000 is a good salary here as you’d be earning more than what half of the residents here earn. The average salary in Morgantown is $45,000. A good hourly wage in Morgantown is $22.04 per hour.

Here are a few informative points related to the average salary and income in Morgantown.

  • Morgantown’s average annual pay for average jobs is $45,000 a year
  • Morgantown’s average hourly pay for average jobs is $22.04 an hour
  • Morgantown’s average weekly pay for average jobs is $861per week
  • Morgantown’s average monthly pay for average jobs is $3,750 per month
  • Morgantown’s top earners (90th percentile) make $93,000 annually

Major industries in Morgantown, West Virginia

Now that you are in the last leg of relocating to Morgantown and a job is a priority, you would be keen to know the type of businesses flourishing here. Having an idea about the major industries will be of great help in analyzing whether your professional experience, knowledge, and preferences will work out.

Here is a list of major industries in Morgantown, WV

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Chemicals
  • Glass & glassware
  • Livestock
Housing Market

How is the housing market in Morgantown, WV?

The median value of housing in the area is $257,900, significantly less than the national median of $338,100. When you compare the housing cost with most neighboring cities, you’ll know that Morgantown is much more affordable. This means you have a higher chance of buying a house here. While about 47.5% of the city residents stay in rented homes, 5.2% of homes in the city are available for rent.

We’ve got a few housing facts that will help you.

  • Morgantown’s median home cost is $257,900.
  • The median age of Morgantown real estate is 53 years old.
  • The city’s home appreciation in the last 10 years has been 50.2%.
  • Renters make up 47.5% of the Morgantown population.
  • About 5.2% of houses and apartments in Morgantown are available to rent.

Average rental prices in Morgantown, WV

Interestingly, it is not the home prices but even home rentals that are budget-friendly in Morgantown, making it easier to rent one in a decent neighborhood. It is a fact that your initial days in Morgantown would be in a rented home and it is natural to be curious to know the rent details. Knowing this, we’ve got you the rental facts in Morgantown.

  • Morgantown’s average rent for a studio apartment is $790
  • Morgantown’s average rent for a 1-bedroom home or apartment is $890
  • Morgantown’s average rent for a 2-bedroom home or apartment is $980
  • Morgantown’s average rent for a 3-bedroom home or apartment is $1,300
  • Morgantown’s average rent for a 4-bedroom home or apartment is $1,690
Taxes

What are taxes like in Morgantown, VW?

It is good to have an idea about the taxes in Morgantown as you would love to know your take-home salary after cutting the taxes.

Your salary might seem to be fat on paper but once the tax is cut, it may look trimmed. Here are a few tax-related facts existing in Morgantown, WV.

  • The Sales Tax Rate in Morgantown is 6.0%. The US average is 7.3%.
  • The West Virginia State levies a 6.5% tax on income while the US average is 4.6%.
  • The average property tax rate in Morgantown is 0.55%
Things To Do

What are the best things to do in Morgantown, West Virginia?

Morgantown is ‘almost heaven’ in terms of fun and entertainment. The Appalachian town combines the energy of a University city with the coziness of a small town. And it has got something for everyone.

We’ve got a list of 10 things you need to do in Morgantown.

  • Go white water rafting on the Cheat River
  • Catch a football match at the Mountaineer Field
  • Shop at Morgantown Farmers Market
  • Stroll around the West Virginia Botanic Garden
  • Admire the collections at the Art Museum Of WVU
  • Attend A Performance At The Metropolitan Theatre
  • Take in the scenery at Cooper’s Rock
  • Learn about local history at the Morgantown History Museum
  • Explore Core Arboretum
  • Enjoy a day at Cheat Lake Park and Trail
safety

How safe is Morgantown, West Virginia?

When security is your primary concern while deciding the new moving destination, Morgantown is absolutely for you. The city has an impressive record in terms of safety. The crime rate is much lower here than the US average. About 71% of the city residents feel extremely safe living here.

To help you know the crime stats in Morgantown, we’ve got a few facts.

  • Morgantown’s violent crime is 19.0 while the US average is 22.7.
  • Morgantown’s property crime is 32.2 while the US average is 35.4.
  • Your chance of being a violent crime victim is 1 in 311 in Morgantown.
  • Your chance of being a property crime victim is 1 in 37 in Morgantown.
  • About 71% of the population feels safe in Morgantown.
  • The city is safer than 10% of US cities.

Tip:Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

School

What are the top schools in Morgantown, West Virginia?

The city is home to the University of West Virginia and it is natural to be the center of education.

A major population here has completed higher studies and hence you don’t need to worry about the education standards while relocating with the family. We’ve researched to prepare a list of the best educational institutions in the city, which may help you once you are here.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Morgantown is no doubt one of the prettiest towns in West Virginia. With amazing riverfront areas, unlimited dining options, laidback attitude, friendly neighborhoods, and splendid four-season climate, Morgantown is a fabulous place to raise a family.

Affordability is the major selling point of the city. Property taxes are lower, and with lower costs for groceries, utilities, and transportation, you can save quite some money by relocating to this city. The city's cost of living index is 90.3, which is 10% lower than the national average.

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