Living Cost Compare
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/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 $980 in Fort Wayne, IN versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Wayne, IN, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 30% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fort Wayne, IN
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$798
$836
+5% in Morgantown, WV
1 Bedroom
$782
$770
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN
2 Bedroom
$984
$969
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,038
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$169,700
$238,200
+40% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$60,293
$42,245
+30% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,700
$47,350
+1% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.0 yr
24.0 yr
+11.0 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
62.2%
44.3%
+17.9 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.5%
58.1%
+29.6 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
21.4 min
17.3 min
+4.1 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
308.9
216.3
+30% in Fort Wayne, IN
Property Crime
2,245.4
1,976.4
+12% in Fort Wayne, IN

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.5°F
53.0°F
+2.5°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
38.3 in
41.8 in
+3.5 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Morgantown, WV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.5
15.4
+12% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.52
$24.68
+1% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Morgantown, WV
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / WV)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.82%
+1.9 pp in WV

Fort Wayne vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Wayne or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Fort Wayne, IN's $980, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fort Wayne than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Fort Wayne versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Wayne or Morgantown?
Fort Wayne is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).