Neighborhood · Morgantown, WV

First Ward Eviction Risk: Moderate

2 census tracts · pop 6,785 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.6/10 · range 3.9–5.1

First Ward is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Morgantown with 2 census tracts and a population of 6,785 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 4.6/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 41% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 22% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $923/month sits 1% lower than the Morgantown citywide average ($937).

Risk score

4.6

Moderate

2 tracts · population-weighted

First Ward vs Morgantown How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

40.7% +0%

Morgantown: 40.7%

Average gross rent

$923 -1%

Morgantown: $937

Average HH income

$53,384 +26%

Morgantown: $42,245

Poverty rate

17.0% -49%

Morgantown: 33.6%

Renter share

53.4% -5%

Morgantown: 56.3%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across First Ward and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 3.9–5.1

Why First Ward scores 4.6

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 1.8–1.8 across tracts

1.8

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 4.9–4.9 across tracts

4.9

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 5.0–5.4 across tracts

5.2

Rent control risk

41% of income on rent · Range 1.0–5.0 across tracts

2.6

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 1.5–3.0 across tracts

2.4

Tenant organizing strength

53% renter households · Range 4.5–9.1 across tracts

6.4

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 3.0–5.5 across tracts

4.0

Economic stress

17.0% below poverty line · Range 3.2–5.0 across tracts

4.3

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 2.6–5.3 across tracts

3.7

Risk score comparison

First Ward vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in First Ward

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
54061011000	5.1	4,030	48%	$806
54061011100	3.9	2,755	30%	$1,094

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 61

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 67%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 14%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 30%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 79%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in First Ward

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

13.2%Housing insecurity
12.1%Utility shutoff threat
15.3%Food insecurity
16.9%SNAP enrollment
8.1%No health insurance
30.8%Any disability

Frequently asked

About First Ward

What is the eviction-risk score for First Ward?

First Ward scores 4.6/10 (Moderate tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does First Ward compare to Morgantown overall?

First Ward scores 1.3 points higher than Morgantown overall (3.3/10). Renters spend 41% of income on rent vs 41% citywide. Average rent: $923 vs $937.

What is the average rent in First Ward?

Average gross rent in First Ward is $923/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of First Ward residents are renters?

53% of First Ward households are renter-occupied (vs 56% in Morgantown). The neighborhood has 6,785 residents.

Is First Ward a high social-vulnerability area?

First Ward sits in the 61st percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in First Ward have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in First Ward is census tract 54061011000 (score 5.1/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 3.9 to 5.1, a spread of 1.2 points.

How safe is First Ward for landlords?

First Ward carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.6/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Morgantown as a whole (3.3/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of First Ward?

First Ward has 6,699 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (80.5%), Black (non-Hispanic) (10.4%), Other / Multiracial (4%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near First Ward

4.8 Greenmont 2 tracts · pop 8,344 5.5 Copper Beech 2 tracts · pop 7,979

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Morgantown

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to First Ward.

4.6 Greenmont 2 tracts · pop 8,344 5.1 Pineridge North 1 tracts · pop 3,278 3.9 Virginia Manor 1 tracts · pop 5,835 5.5 Copper Beech 2 tracts · pop 7,979 5.9 Tanglewood 1 tracts · pop 3,189 6 The Flatts 1 tracts · pop 1,747

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