The heart of Morgantown, West Virginia, is also its largest employer: West Virginia University. Primarily a rural community known for its access to mountainous trails, rivers and lakes, the city comes to life during the school year, when its population of more than 30,000 residents nearly doubles. Aside from its students, the university employs more than 13,000 faculty and staff, helping Morgantown achieve status as the third-most populous city in West Virginia
Sunnyside is busy little neighborhood with views of the Monongahela River.
The Suncrest neighborhood encompasses the main campus of West Virginia University.
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A buyer's market in Morgantown
Morgantown has a mixed inventory of single-family homes, condos and townhomes. Styles range from ranch-style homes to colonial revivals and large, modern homes. In 2024, median prices were $324,000 for single-family homes and $256,500 for townhomes, up 4% from the previous year. Homes tend to stay on the market for an average of 45 days, selling for as low as $100,000 for condos and ranch-style homes and into the millions for large, palatial estates.
Newer construction homes can be found on a few streets in Suncrest.
A townhouse is an option for those looking for more affordable housing in Suncrest.
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Adventures of the Appalachia
Sitting on the banks of the Monongahela River 15 miles west of Coopers Rock State Forest, the city offers abundant green space and natural amenities. Hikers looking for a relatively easy trek can find easy trails at Core Arboretum, a 91-acre arboretum with more than 3 miles of mostly wooded trails. The park’s trails range from easy to very difficult and connect to the Caperton Rail Trail, which spans six miles along the Monongahela River. For a mild challenge, nearby Dorsey’s Knob Park offers a half-mile loop to the summit of Dorsey’s Knob, where hikers enjoy vistas of Morgantown below. For whitewater rafting, fishing, disc golf and other adventures, Cooper Rock State Forest sits just east of Morgantown.
The Core Arboretum is a beautiful green space with several trails.
The Caperton Trail is a popular place for folks to ride their bicycles.
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High rankings and future STEM education at Monongalia County Schools
Morgantown students are served by the Monongalia County Schools district, which earns an A on Niche. Ranked the best school district in West Virginia, Monongalia hosts 10 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools and one school that combines middle and high school grades. The district’s upcoming Renaissance Academy will be a technology-focused STEM school providing professional career training to high school students. “Students interested in STEM will get to choose any path they want,” Hagerty says. “And what’s nice is the school will partner with WVU and other local businesses.” The pride of the city — West Virginia University — allows students to continue their education after high school, offering more than 350 degree programs across three non-clinical campuses.
The student to teacher ratio at University High School is 16 to 1.
Mountaineer Middle School is leading the youth of Morgantown into the future.
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Faithful football fans, community creatives and rich history
So celebrated is West Virginia University football that parties tend to start early, says Jennifer Hagerty, Morgantown native and Realtor with Mountain Ridge Realty. “We have people who start tailgating a day or two before a game,” she says. “People will even buy a place just so they have somewhere to stay during football games.” Though outlawed in 2011, the tradition of burning a couch after big wins is still an occasional celebration. Supplementing the college’s sports scene, the Art Museum of West Virginia gives Morgantown residents a place to take in culture, while the Metropolitan Theatre offers a neoclassical-revival setting for live music and theatre performances. The city is also home to several venues that host concerts and other events throughout the year. Historical elements add to the city’s cultural scene, with sites like the Old Stone House dating back to the late 1700s. The house now serves as a historical site, a gift shop with handmade and other items and the headquarters for the Service League of Morgantown. This community organization utilizes charitable, cultural and educational activities to raise money for efforts like local library books and historical preservation.
Football games as well as other events are performed at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The Metropolitan Theatre was first opened in 1924 in Downtown Morgantown and is still open.
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Public buses, podcars and scenic highways
The Mountain Line Transit Authority serves the city’s public transportation needs with bus stops along major thoroughfares like University Avenue and Beechurst Avenue. The university also offers Personal Rapid Transit, a railed podcar system connecting five stations across the university campus and downtown Morgantown. The service is free to students and faculty, but residents can ride for 50 cents. The city’s main road, Beechurst Avenue, runs beside the river and connects drivers to Interstates 68 and 79. Flyers can take Interstate 79 south for 32 miles to the North Central West Virginia Airport or 78 miles to the larger Pittsburgh International Airport.
Breweries, retailers and farmers markets
The commercial area surrounding the Metropolitan Theatre holds many local shops and restaurants. From tattoo studios to toy stores, the downtown sections of High Street and Walnut Street offer unique places to get ink or pick up a gift. Restaurants are an eclectic mix in the area, including options for American fare, Peruvian, Thai, Mexican and more. The city also has a handful of popular breweries, with locally crafted beers available downtown and along Chestnut Ridge Road north of the university. Options for fresh produce and other grocery needs include the Morgantown Farmers Market, held outside every Saturday from May through the first week of November. From December through April, vendors set up shop inside the Monongalia County Center. There are also national chains like Kroger and ALDI.
River Fair Trade in Downtown Morgantown sells fair trade goods from around the world.
Oliverio's Ristorante is a Downtown Morgantown favorite for great food and atmosphere.
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A drop in crime
According to FBI data, violent crime rates in Morgantown tend to be lower than the averages for West Virginia and the United States overall. Property crime rates, on the other hand, are somewhat erratic but trend higher than state and national rates. Environmental data shows that Morgantown has lower air quality than most of the state’s other cities. Data estimates that 14% of Morgantown properties face flood risk in the next 30 years, but that risk is mainly to public properties, not residential and commercial properties.
On average, homes in Morgantown, WV sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Morgantown, WV over the last 12 months is $305,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
