Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Morgantown, WV?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.

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

Morgantown median rent
$1,488/mo
Dental Assistant salary (West Virginia)
$41,276/yr
Rent as % of income
43.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,440, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,032/mo in rent. Morgantown's median rent of $1,488 exceeds that threshold by $456/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 75 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Hurricane, WV
$1,433/mo (41.7% of income)
Star City, WV
$1,400/mo (40.7% of income)
Bridgeport, WV
$1,391/mo (40.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morgantown

View full rent data for Morgantown, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Morgantown, WV?

Median rent in Morgantown is $1,488 a month. A typical dental assistant in West Virginia earns about $41,276 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Morgantown?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in West Virginia (~$41,276/yr) supports up to $1,032 a month in rent. Morgantown's current median rent is $1,488/mo, which is $456/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Morgantown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a dental assistant in West Virginia works roughly 75 hours a month to cover Morgantown's median rent of $1,488.

Where is rent cheaper than Morgantown for a dental assistant?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Hurricane ($1,433/mo), Star City ($1,400/mo), Bridgeport ($1,391/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant 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.