Morgantown, WV — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·West Virginia·Morgantown

Monongalia County · Morgantown · population 30,490

First-time buyers
Morgantown, WV
Image: Wikipedia · Morgantown, West Virginia
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
63
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Morgantown stands

At or near all-time high.

Median home $281,909
1-year +2.4%
5-yr CAGR +3.0%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +0.1%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$282k$196k$229k$261k$293k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
82/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,427/mo$1,049$1,281$1,512202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent116127100120202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 16.5
Lean buy

At a 16.5 price-to-rent ratio, Morgantown is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
62 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
53 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
47 · w16%
Rent YoY
77 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
46 · w10%
Long thesis

Morgantown has held up across the cycle: home values at $281,909 with +3.0% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Morgantown's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Morgantown

Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia, with an estimated population of 30,490. The median home value in Morgantown is $281,909 as of 2026-04, up 2.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +3.0% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Morgantown average $1,427 per month, up 4.8% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 63 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Quiet strength: +2.4% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Morgantown (Wikipedia)

Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Monongahela River in north-central West Virginia, it is home to West Virginia University. With a population of 30,347 at the 2020 census, Morgantown is the third-most populous city in West Virginia. The Morgantown metropolitan area has an estimated 140,000 residents. The local economy is largely driven by education and healthcare, anchored by West Virginia University and the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Monongalia County right now.

NWS active alerts (WV)West Virginia Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Monongalia County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Morgantown

6 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Cheat Lake$391,981+2.2%
2Brookhaven$299,740+5.1%
3Sunnyside$227,785+0.9%
4Woodburn$210,682+0.1%
5First Ward$199,836-1.3%
6Jerome Park$182,122+0.9%

Cities like Morgantown

Bridgeport, WV65 · RisingFairmont, WV64 · RisingWheeling, WV61 · StableVienna, WV60 · Stable

Run the numbers for Morgantown

ToolCan I afford Morgantown?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Morgantown rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Morgantown to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolMorgantown cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
41° / 23°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
83° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
178
~49% of year
Annual precip
44″ rain
32″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
High

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Morgantown listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Morgantown area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
73%
Humid climate
Median household income
$55,200
West Virginia state median
Top industries (state-level)
HealthcareMining/CoalManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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