Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 57% higher in South Burlington, VT. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$836
$1,557
+86% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,533
+99% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,805
+86% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$2,356
+127% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$399,600
+68% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$97,229
+130% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$60,020
+27% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
38.8 yr
+14.8 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
44.3%
60.1%
+15.8 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
65.1%
+7.0 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
17.3 min
18.9 min
+1.6 min in South Burlington, VT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
239.4
+11% in South Burlington, VT
Property Crime
1,976.4
4,446
+125% in South Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.0°F
46.0°F
+7.0°F in Morgantown, WV
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
36.8 in
+5.0 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.4
24.4
+58% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$26.07
+6% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in South Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Morgantown, WV
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
8.75%
+3.9 pp in VT

Morgantown vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or South Burlington?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or South Burlington?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).