Morgantown, WV Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Morgantown, WV Crime & Safety (2026)

Is Morgantown, WV safe?

Yes — Morgantown earns an overall crime grade of B at the city level, and when you zoom into neighborhood-level analysis, the picture is even more reassuring: 100% of the six analyzed neighborhoods received an A-range grade (A+, A, or A-). That means every part of Morgantown that was examined falls into the "Very Safe" tier. For context, the city-wide safety rating is classified as Grade A (Very Safe), which places Morgantown among the safer mid-sized college towns in the region. No neighborhood scored below an A-, a remarkable uniformity that is relatively rare in cities with Morgantown's economic profile.

What is the crime rate in Morgantown compared to similar cities?

Morgantown's neighborhood safety data tells a striking story: 6 out of 6 analyzed neighborhoods (100%) earned a Grade A, with zero neighborhoods receiving a B, C, D, or F. This is notable given that the city carries a poverty rate of 34.7% and an unemployment rate of 10.9% — two socioeconomic indicators that often correlate with elevated crime in peer cities. Despite those pressures, Morgantown's crime grades remain consistently high across neighborhoods ranging from the affluent Greystone on the Cheat (median income: $180,433) to the lower-income Downtown Morgantown Historic District (median income: $15,236), both of which still achieved A-range safety grades. The city's overall crime grade of B reflects a safe environment relative to national benchmarks.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Morgantown?

All six analyzed neighborhoods are considered safe, but here is how they rank by grade:

• Greystone on the Cheat — Grade A+: The top-rated neighborhood, with a population of 366 and a median household income of $180,433. It is the only area in the city to achieve an A+ designation.
• First Ward — Grade A: Home to about 1,170 residents and a median income of $70,649, First Ward combines community density with strong safety performance.
• South Park — Grade A: With 3,720 residents — the largest neighborhood analyzed — South Park maintains a Grade A rating and a median income of $55,329, demonstrating that safe neighborhoods can also be densely populated.
• Sunnyside — Grade A: Despite a lower median income of $18,514, Sunnyside's 2,776 residents benefit from a Grade A safety environment, showing that income alone does not determine neighborhood safety in Morgantown.
• Evansdale — Grade A: A smaller community of 589 residents with a median income of $41,865, Evansdale rounds out the A-tier neighborhoods.
• Downtown Morgantown Historic District — Grade A-: The smallest analyzed neighborhood (135 residents) and the lowest median income ($15,236), yet it still achieves an A- — the only neighborhood that ranks slightly lower within the A tier.

Collectively, 83% of neighborhoods (5 of 6) achieved a full Grade A, while the remaining 17% (Downtown Morgantown Historic District) earned an A-. No neighborhood scored below an A-.

Which Morgantown neighborhoods have relatively higher crime?

Even Morgantown's "higher crime" areas are still graded Grade A — meaning they are objectively safe by any standard letter-grade measure. The neighborhoods that rank comparatively lower within the city's A-tier are Evansdale, Sunnyside, South Park, and First Ward. It is worth emphasizing that "higher crime relative to Morgantown" is very different from "high crime" in an absolute sense; all four of these areas still hold Grade A ratings. Residents and prospective movers should interpret these distinctions as fine-grained differences within a broadly safe city, not as warnings to avoid specific areas.

Is Morgantown a good place to live in 2026?

From a safety standpoint, Morgantown scores exceptionally well: 100% of analyzed neighborhoods carry an A-range crime grade, and the city-wide safety classification is Very Safe (Grade A). The city's population of approximately 77,193 is supported by West Virginia University, which drives economic activity and community engagement. The median home value of $211,529 and median rent of $840 make Morgantown relatively affordable compared to national averages. The median household income of $42,474 reflects economic diversity — ranging from high-income enclaves like Greystone on the Cheat ($180,433) to working-class areas like Sunnyside ($18,514) — yet safety grades remain uniformly high across all income levels. The city does carry a poverty rate of 34.7% and an unemployment rate of 10.9%, which are meaningful quality-of-life considerations beyond crime alone. Overall, for families, students, and professionals prioritizing safety, Morgantown's 2026 crime data makes a strong case for the city as a secure place to call home.

How does neighborhood income affect crime grades in Morgantown?

Morgantown's data reveals a nuanced relationship between income and safety. The wealthiest neighborhood — Greystone on the Cheat at a median income of $180,433 — does earn the highest grade (A+). However, Sunnyside, with one of the lowest median incomes in the city at $18,514, still holds a Grade A rating. Similarly, the Downtown Morgantown Historic District, with a median income of just $15,236, achieves an A-. This suggests that while income plays some role in safety outcomes, Morgantown's overall crime environment is low enough that even its most economically challenged neighborhoods remain in the top safety tier. Across all six neighborhoods — spanning incomes from $15,236 to $180,433 — 100% scored in the A range, a testament to city-wide safety management rather than income-driven disparities.