Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 28% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$993
$836
+16% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$770
+26% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$969
+18% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,038
+36% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$238,200
+4% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$42,245
+28% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$47,350
+1% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
24.0 yr
+11.1 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
44.3%
+2.7 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
58.1%
+31.0 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
24.0 min
17.3 min
+6.7 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
216.3
+79% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
1,976.4
+68% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
53.0°F
+3.9°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
41.8 in
+4.2 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
15.4
+20% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$24.68
+17% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / WV)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
4.82%
+1.8 pp in DE

Dover vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Morgantown?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).