Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Morgantown, WV
Morgantown's price-to-income ratio is 5.1x — homes cost 5.1 times the local median household income of $42,200. Housing is stretched relative to local incomes. Many workers are effectively priced out of buying, creating deep rental demand. This is favorable for landlords but also means your tenants may be more cost-sensitive.
A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Morgantown (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,430/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,606. The median rent of $1,330/mo is roughly comparable to buying costs — in this environment, renters choose flexibility while buyers choose equity building. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.
The median household income in Morgantown is $42,200, with a population of 50,000 declining at -0.4% per year. Morgantown is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions.
Despite higher relative prices, Morgantown compensates with deep rental demand from a large population priced out of homeownership. Focus on neighborhoods where rent growth is strongest and tenant quality is highest.
Morgantown vs West Virginia state average and national average across key investment metrics. Morgantown beats the national average but trails the West Virginia average on cap rate.