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When you are in search of a safe bustling town with a small city culture but with amazing amenities, Morgantown, West Virginia is a good choice. A city with an affordable cost of living is already a hit among families who prefer a slow pace of living but with high energy.
And for those who aspire to know more about the city, here is an amazing moving guide that covers every fact about the city you need to know before packing the bags.
Situated along the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North Central West Virginia and the third-largest city in the state. It is also best known as the home of West Virginia University.
And without wasting much time, let’s delve into the city details.
Let's get started.
As per the latest stats, Morgantown has roughly 29,316 people with a population density of 3,090 people per square mile. The median age in the city is 24.4 and the student population is a major reason for this. About 38.4% of the population lives below the poverty line, one of the highest in the US.
To know the population of Morgantown better, here are a few stats.
One of the big pluses of moving to Morgantown is the short commuting time. Moving here, you’ll spend less time here on roads because the traffic is too low. The average one-way commute time is 16.2 minutes, which is much shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Here are the latest stats about how people commute to the office regularly.
Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Morgantown, WV.
The weather of a city is a major factor that influences your decision to move there. Morgantown is a 4-season city lying in the transition between a humid subtropical and humid continental climate. Summers are usually mild with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low-80s while winters can be cold with temperatures often dipping below freezing. July is the hottest month here while January is the coldest.
We’ve got a few additional facts about the Morgantown climate.
Home to the University of West Virginia and amazingly drenched in scenic beauty, Morgantown witnesses many relocations every year. And there are valid reasons for people moving here.
Here are a few among them.
It is true that just like any place; Morgantown too has its own share of pluses and minuses.
And because you’re serious about relocating here, knowing both the pros and cons of moving to Morgantown will help you.
As you move in, you would need to find a home, that too in a decent area. Morgantown though small in size has got many places in and around to buy or rent a home.
To help you we’ve listed out the best 10 neighborhoods for you. Here are the 10 best places to buy or rent a home in and around Morgantown.
| Rank | City | Population | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Imperial Woods/Brandywines Estates | 912 | $436,491 |
| 2. | Clinton Furnace/Halleck | 1.023 | $344,806 |
| 3. | The Flatts | 680 | $439,722 |
| 4. | Cheat Lake | 145 | $516,747 |
| 5. | South Hills | 1,011 | $282,116 |
| 6. | Van Voorhis | 989 | $232,480 |
| 7. | Baker Ridge/Hoard | 1,362 | $447,186 |
| 8. | Star City | 1,014 | $322,705 |
| 9. | Browns Chapel/Gum Spring | 992 | $355,700 |
| 10. | Greer/Rock Forge | 1,122 | $283.332 |
Tip:When you’ve got a home to move in Morgantown, WV, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
The cost of living is a major factor deciding the move. And when the new destination is Morgantown, you can breathe easy as the living costs are much lower here.
| Living Expense | Morgantown | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90.3 | 79.4 | 100 |
| Grocery | 101.4 | 95.8 | 100 |
| Health | 126.3 | 127 | 100 |
| Housing | 77.6 | 39.3 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $257,900 | $139,700 | $338,100 |
| Utilities | 85.6 | 85.9 | 100 |
| Transportation | 76.8 | 90.1 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 107 | 85.1 | 100 |
Despite its smaller size, the job market records impressive growth, much better than most US cities. The unemployment rate in Morgantown is also much lower than the US average.
So when you are here for a job, the prospects are much higher. We thought that having a few job-related facts in Morgantown would benefit you and here are some.
Here is a breakdown table to better understand the Morgantown job market.
| Employment Information | Morgantown, West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| The income per Cap | $26,824 | $37,638 |
| Household Income | $36,991 | $69,021 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4 | 6.0% |
| Recent Job Growth | -3.30% | -6.18% |
| Future Job Growth | 37.31% | 33.51% |
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Start My Quote NowAs you are in the process of packing the bags to Morgantown and the main goal is a job, knowing the fast-growing jobs in the city will be highly helpful. When you have the list, it becomes easier to analyze whether you are fit enough to pick one among them.
Here are the top ten fastest-growing jobs in the city.
| Rank | Job Title | Average salary | Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home health aid | $20,060 | 129.2% |
| 2 | Physical therapist | $78,310 | 127.6% |
| 3 | Physician assistant | $91,990 | 122.6% |
| 4 | Marketing internship | $40,231 | 119.2% |
| 5 | Nurse practitioner | $89,890 | 116.5% |
| 6 | Industrial mechanic | $41,910 | 114.4% |
| 7 | Dental hygienist | $47,724 | 110.9% |
| 8 | Respiratory therapist | $47,808 | 107.7% |
| 9 | Licensed practicing nurse | $31,653 | 105.7% |
| 10 | Certified nursing assistant | $25,572 | 101.7% |
Once you are in Morgantown and look for a job, your preference would be jobs with fat paychecks, and having a list of the highest paying jobs in the city would make things easier. And knowing this, we’ve filtered out the highest-paying jobs in Morgantown.
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary | Entry Level Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief executives | $152,660 | $63,160 |
| 2 | Purchasing managers | $141,540 | $59,410 |
| 3 | Agricultural and engineering managers | $131,400 | $99,370 |
| 4 | Pharmacists | $125,770 | $29,770 |
| 5 | Industrial production managers | $125,480 | $77,500 |
| 6 | Natural science managers | $124,590 | $80,060 |
| 7 | General dentists | $124,310 | $37,630 |
| 8 | Human resources managers | $119,400 | $61,520 |
| 9 | Lawyers | $104,170 | $37,370 |
| 10 | Industrial engineers | $103,000 | $61,900 |
When you are in Morgantown and are in search of a job, you would aspire to join the best company. Here, best refers to the most ‘employee friendly’. Fortunately, we’ve researched to list out 10 firms that rank high in employee satisfaction.
Here is the list
While you consider applying for a job in Morgantown, your first question will be – what’s a decent salary here? Any amount you earn above $40,000 is a good salary here as you’d be earning more than what half of the residents here earn. The average salary in Morgantown is $45,000. A good hourly wage in Morgantown is $22.04 per hour.
Here are a few informative points related to the average salary and income in Morgantown.
Now that you are in the last leg of relocating to Morgantown and a job is a priority, you would be keen to know the type of businesses flourishing here. Having an idea about the major industries will be of great help in analyzing whether your professional experience, knowledge, and preferences will work out.
Here is a list of major industries in Morgantown, WV
The median value of housing in the area is $257,900, significantly less than the national median of $338,100. When you compare the housing cost with most neighboring cities, you’ll know that Morgantown is much more affordable. This means you have a higher chance of buying a house here. While about 47.5% of the city residents stay in rented homes, 5.2% of homes in the city are available for rent.
We’ve got a few housing facts that will help you.
Interestingly, it is not the home prices but even home rentals that are budget-friendly in Morgantown, making it easier to rent one in a decent neighborhood. It is a fact that your initial days in Morgantown would be in a rented home and it is natural to be curious to know the rent details. Knowing this, we’ve got you the rental facts in Morgantown.
It is good to have an idea about the taxes in Morgantown as you would love to know your take-home salary after cutting the taxes.
Your salary might seem to be fat on paper but once the tax is cut, it may look trimmed. Here are a few tax-related facts existing in Morgantown, WV.
Morgantown is ‘almost heaven’ in terms of fun and entertainment. The Appalachian town combines the energy of a University city with the coziness of a small town. And it has got something for everyone.
We’ve got a list of 10 things you need to do in Morgantown.
When security is your primary concern while deciding the new moving destination, Morgantown is absolutely for you. The city has an impressive record in terms of safety. The crime rate is much lower here than the US average. About 71% of the city residents feel extremely safe living here.
To help you know the crime stats in Morgantown, we’ve got a few facts.
Tip:Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.
The city is home to the University of West Virginia and it is natural to be the center of education.
A major population here has completed higher studies and hence you don’t need to worry about the education standards while relocating with the family. We’ve researched to prepare a list of the best educational institutions in the city, which may help you once you are here.
Mylan Park Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 473 students | Rating: 8/10
Cheat Lake Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 830 students | Rating: 7/10
Brookhaven Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 579 students | Rating: 7/10
Ridgedale Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 466 students | Rating: 6/10
Mountainview Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 726 students | Rating: 6/10
Mountaineer Middle School
Public, 6-8 | 645 students | Rating: 7/10
Suncrest Middle School
Public, 6-8 | 510 students | Rating: 7/10
South Middle School
Public, 6-8 | 786 students | Rating: 6/10
Westwood Middle School
Public, PK-8 | 789 students | Rating: 5/10
Morgantown High School
Public, 9-12 | 1,845 students | Rating: 8/10
University High School
Public, 9-12 | 1,307 students | Rating: 6/10
West Virginia University
West Virginia Junior College
Garrett College
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