Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Morgantown, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.5% of gross income.

Morgantown rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Morgantown median rent
$1,413/mo
Bus Driver salary (West Virginia)
$44,047/yr
Rent as % of income
38.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,671, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,101/mo in rent. Morgantown's median rent of $1,413 exceeds that threshold by $312/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 66.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Morgantown, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Bridgeport, WV
$1,400/mo (38.1% of income)
Star City, WV
$1,400/mo (38.1% of income)
Bridgeport, WV
$1,391/mo (37.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morgantown

View full rent data for Morgantown, WV →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Morgantown, WV?

Median rent in Morgantown is $1,413 a month. A typical bus driver in West Virginia earns about $44,047 a year, which makes that rent 38.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Morgantown?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in West Virginia (~$44,047/yr) supports up to $1,101 a month in rent. Morgantown's current median rent is $1,413/mo, which is $312/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Morgantown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a bus driver in West Virginia works roughly 66.7 hours a month to cover Morgantown's median rent of $1,413.

Where is rent cheaper than Morgantown for a bus driver?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Bridgeport ($1,400/mo), Star City ($1,400/mo), Bridgeport ($1,391/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived West Virginia state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Morgantown, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.