Population 70,758 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Morgantown
Household size in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Morgantown is a place of small households, averaging 2.30 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.4 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.7 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.7 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Morgantown is young: half of its residents are under 32.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 30.2 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Morgantown has the youngest population of any West Virginia city with 5,000+ people.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Morgantown: 7.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Morgantown has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of West Virginia cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Morgantown
Renters in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.2% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 52.0% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.5% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 51.6% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Morgantown: 51.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among owners, 50.4% have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Morgantown has the highest share of renters of any West Virginia city with 5,000+ people.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.4% of the housing in Morgantown, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Morgantown is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $676 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $749 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $863 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,022 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$345 | +$327 | +$606 |
The median renter in Morgantown pays $1,022 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in West Virginia overall ($905). Rent has climbed $345 a month since 2006–10, up 51%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Morgantown
Bachelor's degrees in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.9% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.3% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.0% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Morgantown: 53.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 8.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other West Virginia city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.8% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.6% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Morgantown: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points, mirroring the country. Morgantown has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of West Virginia cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Morgantown
| Period | Morgantown | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Morgantown is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.0 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Morgantown compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | 2.30 | 32.7 | 7.6% | 51.6% | 14.4% | 1985 | $1,022 | 53.0% | 94.6% | 5.1% |
| Westover | 2.03 | 43.0 | 5.3% | 43.3% | 6.7% | 1966 | $994 | 33.8% | 92.6% | 3.0% |
| Star City | 2.22 | 38.3 | 8.2% | 55.2% | 12.2% | 1974 | $1,089 | 51.7% | 96.7% | 1.4% |
| Granville | 2.22 | 23.9 | 6.0% | 60.4% | 19.6% | 1996 | $865 | 20.2% | 88.1% | 11.0% |
| Brookhaven | 2.64 | 37.0 | 14.2% | 15.8% | 7.9% | 1994 | $1,020 | 42.8% | 92.3% | 5.1% |
| Osage | 2.25 | 37.2 | 35.1% | 39.5% | 20.8% | 1990 | $818 | 51.9% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Baker Ridge | 2.17 | 34.0 | 1.9% | 39.9% | 4.7% | 2005 | $1,134 | 57.7% | 96.2% | 5.2% |
| Randall | 2.25 | 37.2 | 35.1% | 39.5% | 20.8% | 1990 | $818 | 51.9% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Dellslow | 3.06 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 13.5% | 8.9% | 1986 | $929 | 46.0% | 92.8% | 5.5% |
| West Van Voorhis | 1.89 | 49.9 | 15.8% | 0.0% | 8.1% | 1998 | $984 | 41.5% | 98.7% | 6.2% |
| Cheat Lake | 2.56 | 41.1 | 4.8% | 17.5% | 6.8% | 1994 | $1,134 | 59.7% | 97.6% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bismarck, ND · Brownsville, TX · Boca Raton, FL · Boston, MA · Broomfield, CO · Binghamton, NY · Bremerton, WA · Bolingbrook, IL · Brick, NJ · Bronx, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Morgantown. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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