Morgantown, WV · standard
ZIP Code 26505
Monongalia County, West Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 38,772
- 1,140/sq mi High-density area
- $45,536
- Median income Below-median income area
- $278,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 55.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Morgantown pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 10th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 37%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,140
- people per sq mi
- 33%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 26505 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 26505 (Morgantown, WV) rose +10.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 227.7 in 2023 to 250.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 26505 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, with 38,772 residents across 34.0 square miles, a density of 1,140 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 26505 reports a modest median household income of $45,536 (21% below the average West Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,074. The poverty rate is 31.1%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $278,000 (101% above the average West Virginia ZIP), with only 32.5% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $981.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 55.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 25.2, and the average commute is 17 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Monongalia County, so 26505 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 26505
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Morgantown, WV
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 26505.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
187 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
152 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
138 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
100 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
89 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 26505, Morgantown, WV · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
38,772
Population
34.0
Area (sq mi)
1,140
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 26505?
25.2
Median Age
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Female
9.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$45,536
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$34,074
Per Capita Income
31.1%
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Unemployment Rate
16.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 26505 ranks nationally
Morgantown, WV household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$45,536 10th percentile higher than 10% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,730housing units
18,730
Total Housing Units
16,251
Occupied Units
2,479
Vacant Units
2.04
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$278,000
Median Home Value
+101% vs state ZIP avg
$981
Median Rent
1984
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+10.1%
YoY Change (2024)
251
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+151%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 26505 have increased 10.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +151% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.5% | 192 |
| 2021 | +7.2% | 206 |
| 2022 | +9.4% | 225 |
| 2023 | +1.2% | 228 |
| 2024 | +10.1% | 251 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,000 business establishments in ZIP 26505, employing approximately 16,488 people with a combined annual payroll of $876,797,000.
1,000
Businesses
16,488
Employees
$876.8M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 187 | 18.7% |
| Retail trade | 152 | 15.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 138 | 13.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 100 | 10.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 89 | 8.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 79 | 7.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 64 | 6.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 37 | 3.7% |
| Construction | 35 | 3.5% |
| Information | 23 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 22 | 2.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 20 | 2.0% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10 | 1.0% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 5 | 0.5% |
| Utilities | 5 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 26505 vs 26534 →
ZIP 26505 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 26505
Morgantown (26505)
38,772 residents
- 26508
Morgantown (26508)
29,170 residents
- 26501
Morgantown (26501)
19,616 residents
- 26541 2,624
Maidsville (26541)
2,624 residents
- 15474 2,049
Point Marion (15474)
2,049 residents
- 15327 1,527
Dilliner (15327)
1,527 residents
- 15451 955
Lake Lynn (15451)
955 residents
- 26534 789
Granville (26534)
789 residents
- 15315 776
Bobtown (15315)
776 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 26505 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 26505 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 26508
Morgantown (26508)
$90,041 median income
- 26541
Maidsville (26541)
$73,444 median income
- 15327
Dilliner (15327)
$70,296 median income
- 26501
Morgantown (26501)
$63,529 median income
- 15474
Point Marion (15474)
$62,500 median income
- 15467
New Geneva (15467)
$60,313 median income
- 15315
Bobtown (15315)
$48,362 median income
- 26505
Morgantown (26505)
$45,536 median income
- 15451 $34,861
Lake Lynn (15451)
$34,861 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 26505 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26534 | Granville, WV | 789 | 2.8 mi |
| 26543 | Osage, WV | 252 | 3.3 mi |
| 26508 | Morgantown, WV | 29,170 | 4.3 mi |
| 26501 | Morgantown, WV | 19,616 | 5.4 mi |
| 15327 | Dilliner, PA | 1,527 | 6.9 mi |
| 15474 | Point Marion, PA | 2,049 | 7.2 mi |
| 15315 | Bobtown, PA | 776 | 7.7 mi |
| 15467 | New Geneva, PA | 141 | 9.4 mi |
| 26541 | Maidsville, WV | 2,624 | 7.3 mi |
| 15451 | Lake Lynn, PA | 955 | 8.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 26505, both outside WV so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (38,772 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Monongalia County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 26505 in?
ZIP code 26505 (Morgantown) is located in Monongalia County, West Virginia. Monongalia County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/monongalia-wv.
What is the population of ZIP code 26505?
ZIP code 26505 in Morgantown, WV has a population of 38,772 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 26505?
The median household income in ZIP 26505 is $45,536, which is 40% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 26505?
The median home value in ZIP 26505 is $278,000, which is 0% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 26505?
The largest racial group in ZIP 26505 is White at 82.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 26505?
ZIP code 26505 has 1,000 business establishments employing approximately 16,488 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 26505?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 26505 are: Accommodation and food services (187), Retail trade (152), Health care and social assistance (138). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 26505?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 26505 increased by 10.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 151%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 26505?
In ZIP code 26505, 74.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 55.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 26505?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 26505 is 16.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 26505?
In ZIP code 26505, approximately 32.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 67.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 26505?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 26505 is 31.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 26505's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 26505 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Morgantown, WV ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.