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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Morgantown, WV is $1,539. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Morgantown cheaper than other West Virginia cities?

Morgantown is one of the pricier cities in West Virginia, ranking #5 out of 14 cities tracked at $1,539/mo.

When was Morgantown rent data last updated?

Morgantown rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WV

Morgantown

Name: Average Rent Prices in Morgantown, WV
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 30,236·5th most expensive in West Virginia·Morgantown rents are up 24.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,539/mo

Year-over-Year

+24.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.5%

vs US Median

-$426

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Morgantown · $1,539

More affordable than 73% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

28/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% above what Morgantown's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,539/mo

Expected by trend

$1,389/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Morgantown's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$857

1 BR

$860

2 BR

$1,087

3 BR

$1,310

4 BR+

$1,823

Research median

$1,087/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,468/yr

At $1,539/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 24.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+24.8% YoY, -1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Morgantown, WV is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 58.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,236

Median income

$44,727

Median age

23.9

Renters

56.3%

Age distribution

56.9%

15.6%

Under 189.4%

18–3456.9%

35–5415.6%

55–647.9%

65+10.2%

Gender

52.4%

47.6%

Male52.4%

Female47.6%

Race & ethnicity

84.5%

White84.5%

Black4.6%

Hispanic4.3%

Asian3.7%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

19.2%

17.4%

58.5%

No HS diploma4.9%

HS diploma19.2%

Some college17.4%

Bachelor's+58.5%

Housing tenure

43.7%

56.3%

Owner43.7%

Renter56.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Morgantown, WV has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,065 → $1,539

up 44.5%

Income

$36,991 → $44,727

up 20.9%

Population

29,316 → 30,236

up 3.1%

Renter share

58.4% → 56.3%

-2.1 pts

Bachelor's+

55.7% → 58.5%

+2.8 pts

Median age

24.4 → 23.9

-0.5 yrs

Rent in Morgantown, WV has climbed 44.5% since 2021, going from about $1,065 per month to roughly $1,539 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Morgantown, WV now reports about $44,727, up from $36,991 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 23.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 29,316 to 30,236 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. About 56.3% of households rent today, against 58.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 55.7% to 58.5%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Morgantown, WV reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Morgantown

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View Morgantown rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Morgantown on your salary?

At $1,539/mo, how Morgantown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $80,308/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $57,018/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $65,680/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $117,394/yr · Rent = 15.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $150,000/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $53,389/yr · Rent = 34.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $48,204/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $59,415/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Morgantown rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Morgantown. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Morgantown

About renting in Morgantown, WV

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Morgantown is $1,539/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $857/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,087/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $860/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,310/mo.

At 41% of local median household income ($44,727/yr), Morgantown ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 24.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Morgantown an affordable city for renters?

Morgantown is considered stretched for renters. At $1,539/mo, rent takes approximately 41% of the local median household income ($44,727/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Morgantown significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Morgantown?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,539/mo in Morgantown. The local median household income is $44,727/yr, meaning the typical Morgantown household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Morgantown?

Rent in Morgantown has increased 24.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Morgantown neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Morgantown are 26505 ($1,389/mo), 26501 ($1,441/mo), and 26508 ($1,839/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Morgantown is $1,539/mo.

How does Morgantown rent compare to other cities in West Virginia?

Morgantown is one of the pricier cities in West Virginia for rent, ranking #5 out of 14 tracked cities at $1,539/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Morgantown?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Morgantown ($1,539/mo): Star City ($900/mo), Uniontown ($985/mo), Bridgeport ($1,149/mo).

What percentage of Morgantown residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 56.3% of Morgantown households are renters, while 43.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Morgantown has a strong rental market.

How does Morgantown rent compare to the national average?

Morgantown's median rent of $1,539/mo is $426 (22%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within West Virginia, it ranks #5 out of 14 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

41%

STRETCHED

At $1,539/mo, rent takes ~41% of Morgantown's median household income ($44,727/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Morgantown 41%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2.36–5.12%

Run the Morgantown affordability calculator →

Nearby cities