1st Advantage MortgageMorgan County households have a median income of $72,179 and median rent of $794 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Morgan County at a glance
- How Morgan County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Morgan County
- Housing costs in Morgan County
- Places inside Morgan County
- How Morgan County compares with nearby counties
- Who lives in Morgan County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Morgan County
- A Morgan County household budget, worked through
- West Virginia rules that apply in Morgan County
- Checklist for Morgan County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Morgan County at a glance
With an estimated 17,426 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Morgan County ranks 33rd of 55 in West Virginia for population. Land area is 229 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 76 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV metropolitan area. Bath (Berkeley Springs) is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 975 people (6% of the county total).
How Morgan County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Morgan County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward construction (12% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Morgan County. Long commutes are common here: 44% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Morgan County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 12.0% | +5.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Public administration | 10.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -1.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Paychecks and income spread in Morgan County
Morgan County households have a median income of $72,179 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 55 in West Virginia.
| Households earning | Morgan County | +/- vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | -9.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.8% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.6% | +4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -1.3 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.2%, 6 points lower than the state's 16.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.377 here. None of these numbers decides a Morgan County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Morgan County
Renters in Morgan County pay a median of $794 a month, 9% below the West Virginia figure of $872. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. Home values center on $240,600, or 3.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 84% of homes. The median year built is 1987.
| Cost | Morgan County | West Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $794/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,600 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.7% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Morgan County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Places inside Morgan County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Morgan County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 2,021 residents, leaving about 88% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath (Berkeley Springs) | town | 975 | $39,219 | $762 | 5 mi |
| Great Cacapon | CDP | 587 | $53,173 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Paw Paw | town | 459 | $65,000 | $977 | 11 mi |
How Morgan County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Berkeley County at 14 miles out to Hampshire County at 25. Income ranges from $59,603 in Allegany County to $97,606 in Frederick County; 3 of these neighbors top Morgan County's median. Some neighbors are in Maryland and Pennsylvania and Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Morgan County resident follows West Virginia rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | - | $72,179 | $794/mo | 84% |
| Berkeley County, WV | 14 mi | $80,815 | $1,233/mo | 76% |
| Washington County, MD | 24 mi | $77,747 | $1,147/mo | 67% |
| Allegany County, MD | 24 mi | $59,603 | $805/mo | 71% |
| Frederick County, VA | 24 mi | $97,606 | $1,507/mo | 79% |
| Fulton County, PA | 25 mi | $65,836 | $809/mo | 78% |
| Hampshire County, WV | 25 mi | $63,116 | $720/mo | 83% |
Who lives in Morgan County, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.1%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Measure | Morgan County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.0% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Morgan County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 22.2% |
| 60+ min | 21.4% |
Before borrowing in Morgan County
Based on the Morgan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 44% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Morgan County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 49, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
A Morgan County household budget, worked through
Here is the Morgan County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $72,179 a year is $6,015 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $794, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,792 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
West Virginia rules that apply in Morgan County
Consumer lenders serving Morgan County are licensed by the state, not the county; in West Virginia that is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the West Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Morgan County applicants
Steps that save money for Morgan County residents:
- Price the Morgan County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the West Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The West Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Morgan County?
$72,179 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $59,608 for West Virginia. It ranks 4th of 55 in the state.
How much is rent in Morgan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $794 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Morgan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Bath (Berkeley Springs), Great Cacapon, Paw Paw.
Can Morgan County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every West Virginia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Morgan County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In West Virginia it is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions.