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Living in
Cheat Lake.
Cheat Lake is an unincorporated community in Monongalia County, WV. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Cheat Lake
Cheat Lake is a community of 10,485 people in West Virginia. The median household income is $117,014, median rent runs about $1,113 per month, and median home values are around $367,600. Unemployment is low at 3.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Cheat Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Foreign-Born
4.4%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
+13.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Cheat Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cheat Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (23.7%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
59.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above WV average
Rent, home values, and income in Cheat Lake
In Cheat Lake, rent runs 29% above the WV average, and home values are 126% above the WV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,674
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below WV average
Unemployment in Cheat Lake
Unemployment in Monongalia County, which includes Cheat Lake, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the WV average.
Unemployment rate
Cheat Lake: Monongalia County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Monongalia County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Cheat Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.8 min avg
How Cheat Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cheat Lake, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Morgantown Municipal Airport Walter L. (Bill) Hart Field (MGW)
Regional airport · few flights15k passengers boarded in 2025
- 60 mi
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Medium hub4.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 137 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office, which covers Cheat Lake, runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
72.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
237.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Monongalia County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
71.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Monongalia County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Monongalia County, which includes Cheat Lake, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $248,000 |
| 2024 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200,000 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $28,000 |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | $231,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | $53,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Winter Weather | $80,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | Hail | $6,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Weather | $30,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Monongalia County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Monongalia County, which includes Cheat Lake, is typically good.
Median AQI
42
Monongalia County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cheat Lake has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.2"
Annual Snowfall
14.4"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
110
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
145
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 3.21" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 2.68" |
| Mar | 51°F | 29°F | 3.65" |
| Apr | 64°F | 39°F | 3.84" |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.73" |
| Jun | 82°F | 58°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 85°F | 63°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 3.92" |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.76" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.31" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 3.27" |
| Dec | 42°F | 27°F | 3.41" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cheat Lake
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cheat Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mon Health Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 mi away · Morgantown
West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Morgantown
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cheat Lake
Cheat Lake's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 61.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
61.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Cheat Lake (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 17,385 students · in-state tuition $10,752 · 63% graduate · median earnings $62,910 (10 yrs after entry)
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown
6.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 673 students · in-state tuition $14,798 · 68% graduate · median earnings $37,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Friendship Hill National Historic Site, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cheat Lake
Cheat Lake has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Friendship Hill National Historic Site (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Friendship Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayFort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
17 mi awayFlight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
57 mi awayJohnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
73 mi awayAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
National Historic Site
85 mi awayCedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cheat Lake
Cheat Area
121 Crosby Rd., Morgantown
Cities Near Cheat Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cheat Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cheat Lake FAQ
Is Cheat Lake, West Virginia affordable?⌄
Cheat Lake's median rent is $1,124/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $117,014/year. Median home value is $367,600.
Is Cheat Lake, West Virginia safe?⌄
Cheat Lake is policed by the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 73 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 238 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cheat Lake, West Virginia?⌄
Monongalia County, which includes Cheat Lake, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cheat Lake, West Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Cheat Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,124/month and median household income is $117,014/year. The median home value is $367,600. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cheat Lake, West Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Cheat Lake is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from