Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Morgantown?

Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Morgantown?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $31,000 in Morgantown.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Morgantown?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Concord vs Morgantown Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 50% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio

$876

$836

+5% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$770

+32% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$969

+34% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,038

+41% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$238,200

+26% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$42,245

+50% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,350

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

24.0 yr

+16.7 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

44.3%

+13.1 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

58.1%

+18.0 pp in Morgantown, WV

Avg Commute

23.2 min

17.3 min

+5.9 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

216.3

+20% in Morgantown, WV

Property Crime

1,251.5

1,976.4

+58% in Morgantown, WV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

53.0°F

+6.6°F in Morgantown, WV

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

41.8 in

+1.2 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

15.4

+43% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$24.68

+14% in Morgantown, WV

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Morgantown, WV

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / WV)

None

+6.0 pp in WV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.82%

+4.8 pp in WV

Concord vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Morgantown?: Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Morgantown?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Morgantown?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).