Morgantown's standout: its schools outperform 96% of the state's. Overall it grades B+, 10th of 61 graded towns in West Virginia. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 93% of U.S. towns and it has 20 miles of trail. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 98% of U.S. towns, with 40 places on the National Register. 30% of residents live below the poverty line in Morgantown, above both the West Virginia town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Its National Register listings include Alexander Wade House and Old Stone House. On health, just 7 of West Virginia’s 141 towns do better.

StrongestA⁺History A⁺Schools AWalkabilityWeakestCSafety

What makes Morgantown stand out

Where Morgantown beats most towns.

Alexander Wade House

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1772

A history going back 254 years.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here31,867

Residents who work9,240

Work

3.4 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 98% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023.

Monongalia County Schools

School	Grades	Students
Mountainview Elementary School	PK–5	645
Eastwood Elementary School	PK–5	642
North Elementary School	PK–5	586

SchoolsA⁺

#3 of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade for schools

NCES · EDFacts.

Alexander Wade House · National Register of Historic Places

Morgantown’s story

254 years in pictures

Alexander Wade House is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1772, comes before those of 96% of the West Virginia towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 741 in 1860, 30,347 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1860 and 6 maps from 1902 on.

40 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1772Morgantown is settled

Explore the history →

How Morgantown grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within West Virginia), ordered by how far Morgantown is from typical.

How grading works

SchoolsA⁺Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9 of 20; 12.1% of households have no car; 14.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →SafetyCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC⁺Open →Cost of livingTypical home $282K, 4.4 years of the Morgantown metro’s $65K median household incomeBOpen →HealthHealthier than 56% of U.S. towns; West Virginia University Hospitals 0 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & income$45K median household incomeB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors7% conserved landAOpen →History44 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life10 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market51 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 23.9; 58% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Morgantown: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Morgantown, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerMon Power14.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMorgantown Utility BoardNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Morgantown’s trash rules yet

SchoolsMonongalia School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn West Virginia you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereMonongalia Clerk of the County CommissionMonongalia County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021

ZIP codes26505, 26501, 26506, 2650826505 72% · 26501 22% · 26506 4% · 26508 1%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Morgantown.

Morgantown is shaped by its college students, has schools in the top 5% of West Virginia and draws workers from Cheat Lake and beyond.

SchoolsA⁺

Morgantown earns an A+ for schools

Its A+ ranks #3 of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade for schools.

Its public schools are run by the Monongalia County Schools. Three of its 10 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

96%of WV districts it outscoresA⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
South Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	784	A⁻
Morgantown High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,754	A⁺
North Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	586	A⁺

Full pageMorgantown’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsMonongalia County Schools Vs. the neighborsBehind its 4 graded neighbors Every school10 schools · South Middle School Questions“Are Morgantown’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsA

Conserved land covers 6.7% of Morgantown

Its A for the outdoors ranks #3 of 61 in West Virginia.

The trail density in Morgantown is 1.8 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Baker's Ridge Park, at 215 acres.

#6for trails in WV

	Morgantown	West Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	1.8 miles per square mile	0.3	0.4
Conserved land	6.7%	2.5%	4.3%

6.7%

conserved · 455 of 6,766 acres

20 mi

of trails · 1.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. White Park	6.5 mi	193
2. Core Arboretum	2.3 mi	80
3. Dorsey's Knob Park	1.6 mi	73

Full pageMorgantown’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map20 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk6.5 miles of trail · White Park Conserved land6.7% conserved · 455 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Morgantown?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

HousingCost of living grade B

Morgantown stands out in West Virginia and nationally, with fewer of its households who own their home

Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Star City is next at $224K. 63.8% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.9% across West Virginia.

44% of households own their home in Morgantown. Only 4 of the 61 West Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of renters spending 30% or more of income on rent than Morgantown. The typical Morgantown home is worth about $282,000, up 3.3% in a year, 60% above the West Virginia typical home.

$282KZillow home value

	Morgantown	West Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	44%	68%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	64%	47%	48%
Median rent	$937 a month	$874 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Morgantown$282K

West Virginia$177K

Market temperature

days on market

98.8%

sale-to-list price

+3.3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageMorgantown’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 3.3% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 6.3 years of income Rents$937 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 4 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B⁻

About one in three working residents works right in Morgantown

31,867 jobs are based in Morgantown, 3.4 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 16.2 minutes, against 26.6 across West Virginia.

40% of Morgantown’s working residents work right in town. Morgantown’s average trip to work is 16 minutes. Jobs based in Morgantown grew to 31,867 in 2023, 10,304 more than in 2013.

40%work in town

	Morgantown	West Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	40%	13%	8%
Average trip to work	16 minutes	21 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$45,000	$59,000	$80,000
Work from home	15%	9.8%	11%

Where working residents work

In Morgantown40%

Westover4%

Granville2%

Charleston2%

Fairmont2%

3 mi

median commute distance

31,867

jobs based in Morgantown

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns

Full pageMorgantown’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here31,867 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work40% work in Morgantown Commute times16 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 3 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyC

More crime per resident in Morgantown than in 72% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes fell from 774 to 588 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Within West Virginia, it does better than 61% of towns.

28%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade

	Morgantown	West Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	2.4 per 1,000 residents	1.6	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	16.8 per 1,000 residents	16.6	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Morgantown2.4

West Virginia2.6

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Morgantown16.8

West Virginia10.9

U.S.15.5

28th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

61st

percentile among WV towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

515

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageMorgantown’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighbor Questions“Is Morgantown, WV safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Climate

In Morgantown, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Morgantown has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 22° and about 14 inches of snow falls in a winter.

14″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter24–42°

Spring40–64°

Summer60–83°

Fall43–66°

Oct 24

typical first frost

Apr 23

typical last frost

+1.0°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageMorgantown’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 22°Rain & snow14″ of snow a winter · 45 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HealthB

Compared with most of West Virginia and the rest of the country, fewer of Morgantown’s adults have high blood pressure

Against the 3,897 U.S. towns with household incomes like Morgantown’s, it is healthier than 95%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income. Within West Virginia it is healthier than 93% of the 61 graded towns: much of West Virginia scores lower on these measures.

26% of Morgantown adults have high blood pressure. Of the 61 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Morgantown. 33% of Morgantown adults have been diagnosed with depression.

56%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade

	Morgantown	West Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	27%	21%	17%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	26%	44%	35%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)	40%	34%	33%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	8%	16%	12%

32 measures vs. West Virginia

13 better9 too close to call10 worse

What stands out	Morgantown	WV
Fewer adults who have had cancer	4.5%	9.6%
Fewer adults with heart disease	4.2%	8.7%
More adults without reliable transportation	14.5%	8.9%

West Virginia University Hospitals

In Morgantown · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

93rd

percentile among WV towns

Full pageMorgantown’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore binge drinkers Hospitals & doctors nearbyWest Virginia University Hospitals How adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than WV on 13 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C⁺

Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Morgantown

137 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 20 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 137 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Morgantown.

56risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland flooding

137

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageMorgantown’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims137 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters4 federal disasters · Paid out in Morgantown Get ready2.1 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Nearby attractions

Fallingwater and 10 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Morgantown. Close and well known come first.

All 79 attractions →

Big draw32 mi MuseumFallingwater

in town Stadium & arenaMountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium

22 mi National BattlefieldFort Necessity National Battlefield226K visitors a year

31 mi LakeDeep Creek Lake

9 mi National Historic SiteFriendship Hill National Historic Site18K visitors a year

in town GardenEarl L. Core Arboretum

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Fallingwater: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 · Fort Necessity National Battlefield: Wilson44691, CC0 · Deep Creek Lake: Gohens84, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Friendship Hill National Historic Site: The original uploader was ScottyBoy900Q at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Earl L. Core Arboretum: Darren Ringer, CC BY-SA 2.5

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Morgantown

20pages on Morgantown

The big questions

SchoolsA⁺Beat 96% of WV districts · 10 schools SafetyC2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than WV on 13 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingB$282K typical home · up 3.3% in a year Work & commuteB⁻$45K median household income · 31,867 jobs here Natural hazardsC⁺FEMA risk higher than 56% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA20 mi of trails · 7% conserved land PlacesAttractions79 nearby · Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium under 1 mi LibraryAMorgantown Public Library CollegesWest Virginia Junior College-Morgantown, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1772 · 40 on the National Register Famous people44 born in Morgantown Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 68 residents Climate84° summer highs · 14″ of snow

Day to day

News13 recent stories about Morgantown WeatherHandbookZIP code 26501, 26502, 26504 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Morgantown

West Virginia UniversityUniversity or college · Public · MorgantownIn town$10,104 in-state tuition West Virginia Junior College-MorgantownUniversity or college · Private for-profit · MorgantownIn town$14,798 tuition

College town 42 of every 100 Morgantown residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

20 miles of trails in Morgantown

6.7% of the town is conserved land, across 18 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Morgantown

ConservedTrails

White Park6.5 mi of trails · 193 acres

Directions

Core Arboretum2.3 mi of trails · 80 acres

Directions

Dorsey's Knob Park1.6 mi of trails · 73 acres

Directions

Landmarks

40 places in Morgantown on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Alexander Wade HouseBuilt 1860 · National Historic Landmark

Old Stone House

Woodburn CircleBuilt 1870

Easton Roller Mill

Famous people from Morgantown

44 notable people were born in Morgantown.

See all 44 →

Don KnottsAmerican actor and stand-up comedian · 1924–2006

David SelbyAmerican actor · born 1941

Robert P. GeorgeAmerican legal scholar · born 1955

Alan HendersonAmerican basketball player · born 1972

William EasterlyAmerican development economist · born 1957

Francis Harrison PierpontAmerican politician · 1814–1899

About Morgantown

City in West Virginia, US

Official town website ↗

Morgantown is a city and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along the Monongahela River near the state border with Pennsylvania. With a population of 30,347 at the 2020 census, Morgantown is the third-most populous city in West Virginia. The city is a principal center of north-central West Virginia and anchors the broader Morgantown metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of 140,000. Morgantown is home to West Virginia University, the state's flagship public research university. Founded in 1785 by Zackquill Morgan, for whom it is named, Morgantown developed during the 19th century as a regional trading and transportation hub before emerg…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1772
Area: 10 sq mi
Elevation: 961 ft
ZIP code: 26501, 26502, 26504
Area code: 681, 304

Morgantown’s neighbors

4 towns share a border with Morgantown.

Explore the map →

WestoverStar CityBrookhavenGranvilleMorgantown

Westover

W · 4% of Morgantown workers commute here

Visit

Star City

NW · 1% of Morgantown workers commute here

Visit

Brookhaven

Visit

Granville

W · 2% of Morgantown workers commute here

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	WV rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Morgantown	#10	B⁺	B	C	A⁺	B
Westover	#14	B⁻	B	C⁻	A⁺	C
Star City	—	—	C⁺	—	A⁺	B⁺
Brookhaven	#9	B⁺	B⁻	—	A⁺	C⁺
Granville	—	—	A	—	A⁺	B⁻

Star City and Granville have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Star City, Brookhaven and Granville report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Morgantown with a neighbor →

Questions about Morgantown

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Morgantown, WV a good place to live?

By most measures, yes. Morgantown grades B+ overall, better than 70% of U.S. towns and #10 of 61 in West Virginia. It grades B for health, C for safety and A+ for schools.

Is Morgantown, WV safe?

Within West Virginia, it does better than 61% of towns.

What is Morgantown, WV known for?

44 notable people were born here, including Don Knotts and David Selby.

Post to Morgantown

Check your email

MorgantownWV

What should you know before moving to Morgantown?

What makes Morgantown stand out

Jobs vs. working residents

254 years in pictures

How Morgantown grades

Moving to Morgantown: who provides what

The data

Morgantown earns an A+ for schools

Conserved land covers 6.7% of Morgantown

Morgantown stands out in West Virginia and nationally, with fewer of its households who own their home

Typical home value

About one in three working residents works right in Morgantown

Where working residents work

More crime per resident in Morgantown than in 72% of U.S. towns

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

In Morgantown, expect four seasons and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

Compared with most of West Virginia and the rest of the country, fewer of Morgantown’s adults have high blood pressure

Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Morgantown

Fallingwater and 10 more within 40 miles

Everything we know about Morgantown

Colleges nearby

20 miles of trails in Morgantown

Landmarks

Famous people from Morgantown

About Morgantown

Morgantown’s neighbors

Questions about Morgantown