Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Morgantown, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.1% of gross income.

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

Morgantown median rent
$1,539/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (West Virginia)
$55,743/yr
Rent as % of income
33.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,645, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,394/mo in rent. Morgantown's median rent of $1,539 exceeds that threshold by $145/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 57.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Martinsburg, WV
$1,536/mo (33.1% of income)
Martinsburg, WV
$1,533/mo (33% of income)
Martinsburg, WV
$1,527/mo (32.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morgantown

View full rent data for Morgantown, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Morgantown, WV?

Median rent in Morgantown is $1,539 a month. A typical real estate agent in West Virginia earns about $55,743 a year, which makes that rent 33.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Morgantown?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in West Virginia (~$55,743/yr) supports up to $1,394 a month in rent. Morgantown's current median rent is $1,539/mo, which is $145/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Morgantown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a real estate agent in West Virginia works roughly 57.4 hours a month to cover Morgantown's median rent of $1,539.

Where is rent cheaper than Morgantown for a real estate agent?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Martinsburg ($1,536/mo), Martinsburg ($1,533/mo), Martinsburg ($1,527/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent 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.