ZIP 26505
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
September. Asking rents in ZIP 26505 usually run 0.9% below trend in September and 0.6% above it in December, about $20 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 26505 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2017.
Rent in ZIP 26505 changed +6.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 West Virginia ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 26505 rose 27.1% while median household income rose 16% ($39,271 to $45,536). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 26505 is 36.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($45,536) is $1,138 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($950); a 2-bedroom is $1,190.
1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Morgantown.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 26505. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 26505 (Morgantown, WV) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 55.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 26505 in Morgantown, WV has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 26505 in Morgantown, WV stood at $1,035 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,315, reflecting a 27.1% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 26505 in Morgantown, WV now reports about $45,536, up from $40,909 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.0% since 2021, moving from about 36,066 residents to roughly 37,492. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 26505 in Morgantown, WV reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 26505
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 26505 covers Morgantown, WV. The median rent here is $1,315/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $950/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,190/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($45,536/yr), ZIP 26505 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 26505 compare to the rest of Morgantown?
At $1,315/mo, rent takes ~35% of ZIP 26505's median household income ($45,536/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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