Living Cost Compare
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Morgantown, WV versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $42,245 in Morgantown, WV and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 24% higher in Wilmington, DE. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Morgantown, WV
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$836
$1,103
+32% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$770
$1,024
+33% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$969
$1,213
+25% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,038
$1,394
+34% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$238,200
$224,500
+6% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$42,245
$55,269
+31% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,350
$54,310
+15% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
24.0 yr
37.0 yr
+13.0 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
44.3%
46.0%
+1.7 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.1%
33.1%
+25.0 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
17.3 min
23.0 min
+5.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
216.3
1,138.2
+426% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,976.4
3,182.4
+61% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+1.9°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
41.8 in
43.1 in
+1.3 in in Wilmington, 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)
15.4
19.3
+25% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.68
$29.73
+20% in Wilmington, 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 (WV / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
4.82%
6.60%
+1.8 pp in DE

Morgantown vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Morgantown or Wilmington?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Morgantown than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Morgantown versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Morgantown or Wilmington?
Morgantown is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).