Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Morgantown is healthier than 95%
Morgantown differs from West Virginia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Morgantown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Morgantown
Morgantown is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Morgantown is healthier than 56%. Against the 3,897 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 95%. Health Grade ↓
Morgantown looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 93% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 56% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Morgantown doesn’t win on
18.8% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across West Virginia, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Morgantown
1 in 7 adults lack reliable transportation (14.5%), vs 8.9% across West Virginia. Food insecurity (21.2% vs 16.2%) and utility shut-off threats (13.8% vs 11%) are higher too. 23.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 17.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Morgantown
Morgantown runs below West Virginia on nine chronic conditions, most of all cancer (4.5% vs 9.6%), heart disease (4.2% vs 8.7%) and stroke (2.1% vs 4.2%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the West Virginia figure falls outside Morgantown’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind Morgantown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morgantown is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #5 of 61 in West Virginia. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Morgantown’s median household income is $44,727; among the 3,897 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 95%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few West Virginia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Morgantown is healthier than 93% of graded towns, against 56% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
20 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Morgantown adults…
Morgantown runs below WV on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Morgantown residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.2% of Morgantown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Care in and near Morgantown
1 hospital in Morgantown, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Morgantown; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Morgantown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Morgantown adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Morgantown runs above West Virginia.
2 in 5 Morgantown adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Morgantown and the towns around it
Morgantown’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | B | 31.5% | 8% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Westover | C | 35.6% | 13.6% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Star City | B+ | 31% | 10.4% | 12% | CDC place |
| Brookhaven | C+ | 34% | 12.5% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Granville | B− | 32.4% | 9.4% | 15.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Morgantown adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Morgantown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Morgantown is better than West Virginia on 13 and worse on 10; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Morgantown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Morgantown | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.4%18.7–24.2 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.7–14.9 | 17.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 26.5%23.8–29.3 | 21.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.5%26.4–36.9 | 40.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8%7–9.1 | 15.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.2%23.2–29.2 | 44% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.4%25.4–31.4 | 42.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19%17–21.1 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.5%4.1–5 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%2–2.3 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.4%15.6–21.7 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4%12.4–16.6 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.4–28.9 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.7–22 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41%35.8–46.5 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.7–11.1 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74%70.1–77.7 | 81% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.1%49.6–56.8 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 73.9%70.7–76.9 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 61.7%59.1–64.1 | 79.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.5–70.6 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.7%75.9–86.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 33.4%29.5–37.5 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.1%35.4–45 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%19–26 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.2%18.1–24.7 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%12.6–17.1 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%12–15.8 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.2%19.9–26.7 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%30.9–39.2 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.7%21.1–26.4 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 5.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.5 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the West Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Morgantown
Is Morgantown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morgantown is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: B for health, #5 of 61 in West Virginia. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Morgantown?
CDC estimates 31.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.4% and 36.9%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Morgantown?
West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Morgantown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Morgantown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11.1%), against 8.5% across West Virginia.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Morgantown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Morgantown.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The West Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.