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Cost of living in Morgantown, WV

Compared with New York. Change city

$2,156a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $25,870 a year, enough to cover 13 months of the mortgage in Morgantown. The average commute is 14 minutes shorter each way, about 2.3 hours a week back4.

Typical home $349,700 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $1,048 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

Morgantown, MorgantownZoshua Colah / Unsplash
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  • College townWest Virginia University
  • Mountains and trailsAppalachian trails and rivers

Morgantown at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Morgantown$1,922/mo
$349,700 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Morgantown$1,048/mo
About $949 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Morgantown

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Morgantown$349,700
53% less, a $392,300 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Morgantown$171
2.9 times the space for the money

Pays you to move

9
$12,000 cashAscend West Virginia: Morgantown Area$12,000 cash paid in 24 equal monthly installments over two years (lump sum option after buying a home in WV); offer valued at over $20,000Who qualifies: US citizen or permanent resident, 18+, full-time remote job with a company outside WV or a remotely managed business; must live outside WV now and move inside the community boundary (about 30 minutes from the city center) after acceptance; full amount requires 24 months of WV residency.Program details, 2026-10-29 (page modified); FAQ 2026-07-31
$12,000 cashAscend Heroes (veterans)$12,000 paid in 24 equal monthly payments; remaining balance can be paid as a lump sum after buying a homeWho qualifies: US military veterans (or active duty separating within six months) with a full-time remote job, a remote-capable business, or a full-time West Virginia job; same citizenship, age and two-year terms as Ascend WV.Program details, accessed 2026-10-30; site (C) 2026; terms PDF 2026-01-07

Weather

8
  • 24°January low
  • 84.4°July high
  • 27.6 inSnow per year

Day-to-day costs

  • Housing costs631% cheaper than averageNew York: 49% above
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York6$124,361
Morgantown in a paragraph

The median listed home in Morgantown is $349,700 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 17% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,922 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,048 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 93.3, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $124,361 here.

Your New York, in Morgantown

We're matching Morgantown's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

See how Morgantown ranks for your household

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Is Morgantown a good place to live?

Morgantown fits families who want prices 7% below the US average and homes list 17% below the US median. The main trade-off is real winters. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

What you gain

  • Prices 7% below the US averageEveryday prices, rent included, index at 93.3 against a US average of 100.BEA regional price parities, 2024
  • Homes list 17% below the US median$349,700 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
  • Pays you to moveAscend West Virginia: Morgantown Area: $12,000 cash.Program page, 2026-10-29 (page modified); FAQ 2026-07-31
  • University townWest Virginia UniversitySlower Sundays city profile
  • Mountains and trails close byAppalachian trails and riversSlower Sundays city profile

What you trade

  • Real wintersJanuary lows average 24°F with 27.6 inches of snow a year.NOAA 1991-2020 normals
  • No nonstop flights to New YorkTrips home mean a connection or a drive to a bigger airport.Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026

More on Morgantown and West Virginia

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Morgantown cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Morgantown, WV?

The median listed home in Morgantown is $349,700 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 17% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,922 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,048 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 93.3, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $124,361 here.

How much would I save moving from New York to Morgantown?

The median listed home is $349,700 in Morgantown against $742,000 in the New York metro, 53% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $2,156 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

How much is rent in Morgantown?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Morgantown metro is $1,048 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $949 more. The US median is $1,563.

What salary in Morgantown matches $150,000 in New York?

$124,361. That is $150,000 adjusted by the BEA regional price parities for both metros (93.3 in Morgantown, 112.6 in New York, 2024).

Does Morgantown pay you to move there?

Yes. Ascend West Virginia: Morgantown Area offers $12,000 cash. Who qualifies: US citizen or permanent resident, 18+, full-time remote job with a company outside WV or a remotely managed business; must live outside WV now and move inside the community boundary (about 30 minutes from the city center) after acceptance; full amount requires 24 months of WV residency.. Confirm current terms with the program.

What is the weather like in Morgantown?

January lows average 24°F and July highs 84.4°F, with 27.6 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Morgantown Municipal Airport).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
  2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
  4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
  5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
  6. 6Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
  7. 7Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  8. 8Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Morgantown Municipal Airport.
  9. 9Incentives: terms come from each program's page. Confirm eligibility with the program before you move.
Sources for this page