Uprootmap
Columbus vs Morgantown
Columbus and Morgantown
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Morgantown are under the US rate in this release, 2.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Columbus to Morgantown
In 2022-2023, 25 households filed a move from Columbus to Morgantown (about 35 people, average adjusted gross income $43,960). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,176 in Columbus and $869 in Morgantown. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Morgantown has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Morgantown is 83% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Columbus.
Morgantown averages 186 sunny days, with July highs around 86°F and January nights around 29°F. Columbus is 179 sunny days, 85°F in July, 21°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Morgantown and 24 in Columbus.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 25 households moved Columbus → Morgantown (about 35 people, average AGI $43,960). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Columbus and Morgantown changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 197 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,250
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Morgantown
Questions
Is Morgantown cheaper than Columbus after tax and rent?
Yes. Morgantown leaves about $270 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,176 in Columbus and $869 in Morgantown.
Does Morgantown have state income tax?
Morgantown is in West Virginia, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Columbus to Morgantown?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.