Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 7% higher in Hartford, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$973
$836
+14% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$770
+26% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$969
+25% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,038
+28% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$238,200
+10% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$42,245
+7% in Hartford, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$47,350
+21% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
24.0 yr
+9.4 yr in Hartford, CT
Homeownership
25.7%
44.3%
+18.6 pp in Morgantown, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
58.1%
+39.8 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
22.8 min
17.3 min
+5.5 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
216.3
+59% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,949.2
1,976.4
+33% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
53.0°F
+1.8°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
41.8 in
+1.8 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
15.4
+36% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$24.68
+6% in Morgantown, WV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / WV)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
4.82%
+2.2 pp in CT

Hartford vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Morgantown?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).