Morgantown West Virginia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Morgantown, WV (the Morgantown metro area) was $775 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Morgantown was $752 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Morgantown median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Morgantown rental vacancy rates, Morgantown rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Morgantown.
Real Gross Rent in Morgantown West Virginia (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| West Virginia Median Gross Rent | $727 | -2.81% | +1.82% |
| Morgantown, WV Median Gross Rent | $775 | -9.04% | -2.39% |
Morgantown, WV Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Morgantown peaked in real terms in 2015 at $918 and is now $143 (15.58%) lower. Average gross rent for Morgantown peaked in real terms in 2015 at $938 and is now $186 (19.83%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Morgantown: Morgantown WV Median, Morgantown WV Average, West Virginia Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Morgantown
| Date | US Median |
West Virginia Median |
Morgantown, WV Median |
Morgantown, WV Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $727 | $775 | $752 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $748 | $852 | $911 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $711 | $808 | $822 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $714 | $794 | $784 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $716 | $918 | $938 |
| 2014 | $986 | $693 | $800 | $810 |
| 2013 | $953 | $653 | $743 | $747 |
| 2012 | $940 | $646 | $686 | $676 |
| 2011 | $941 | $647 | $734 | $702 |
| 2010 | $955 | $638 | $763 | $729 |
| 2009 | $960 | $629 | $694 | $679 |
| 2007 | $927 | $617 | $676 | $700 |
| 2005 | $910 | $604 | $679 | $655 |
Morgantown Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2017 the rental vacancy rate for Morgantown West Virginia was 6.59% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Morgantown West Virginia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| West Virginia | 7.24% | +0.40% | -0.68% |
| Morgantown, WV | — | — | — |
Trends in Morgantown, WV Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Morgantown peaked in 2016 at 12.78%. Since then it has fallen by 6.19% to 6.59%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Morgantown WV, West Virginia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Morgantown
| Date | US | West Virginia | Morgantown, WV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.24% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.84% | — |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.21% | 6.59% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.92% | 12.78% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.82% | 10.84% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.91% | 12.25% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.75% | 3.92% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.82% | 3.94% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.13% | 2.37% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.96% | 2.48% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 8.76% | 4.56% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.79% | 7.91% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.58% | 5.12% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Morgantown, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Morgantown, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.49% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Morgantown West Virginia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| West Virginia | 17.86% | -2.14% | -1.00% |
| Morgantown, WV | 16.49% | -3.37% | -1.66% |
Trends in Morgantown, WV Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Morgantown household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.59%. Since then it has fallen by 6.10% to 16.49%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Morgantown WV, West Virginia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Morgantown West Virginia
| Date | US | West Virginia | Morgantown, WV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.86% | 16.49% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.00% | 19.86% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.05% | 19.02% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.86% | 18.15% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.28% | 22.59% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.17% | 21.70% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.04% | 18.01% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.12% | 19.26% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.68% | 18.66% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 17.93% | 18.85% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.69% | 21.20% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.00% | 17.55% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.33% | 20.88% |
Renter Fraction in Morgantown West Virginia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Morgantown in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Morgantown as a fraction of total Morgantown households. In 2019 34.99% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Morgantown Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| West Virginia | 26.59% | -0.91% | -0.97% |
| Morgantown, WV | 34.99% | -2.66% | -1.90% |
Trends in the Morgantown, WV Renter Fraction
The Morgantown household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 39.87% and is now 4.88% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Morgantown WV, West Virginia, US
History of Morgantown Renter Fraction
| Date | US | West Virginia | Morgantown, WV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 26.59% | 34.99% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 27.50% | 37.65% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 27.46% | 38.38% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 27.56% | 36.89% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 27.69% | 37.19% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 27.83% | 35.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 27.67% | 35.27% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.02% | 39.87% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 27.74% | 38.68% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 25.41% | 35.98% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.38% | 35.65% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.13% | 30.62% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 24.63% | 33.16% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / West Virginia
- / Morgantown
