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Living in
Parkersburg.
About
Life in Parkersburg
If you're considering Parkersburg, you're looking at an affordable Appalachian city where the cost of living genuinely works in your favor—median home values hover around $122,000 and rent averages $785 monthly. The job market is reasonably stable with 4.7% unemployment, and your commute would typically run under 18 minutes, which beats most American cities. That said, this is a place that's been shrinking; the population has declined about 2% in recent years, which tells you something about long-term economic trajectory and whether young people are staying.
Parkersburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.5%
Foreign-Born
1.2%
Broadband Internet
86.0%
of households
Population Growth
-3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.2% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Parkersburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Parkersburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (23.1%), and 0.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
21.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.6%
of households
Married Couples
35.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
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 10% below WV average
Rent, home values, and income in Parkersburg
In Parkersburg, rent runs 10% below the WV average, and home values are 25% below the WV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$820
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $148,010 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above WV average
Unemployment in Parkersburg
Unemployment in Parkersburg is 0.5 percentage points higher than the WV average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Parkersburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.2 min avg
How Parkersburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Parkersburg, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Mid Ohio Valley Regional Airport (PKB)
Regional airport · few flights5,257 passengers boarded in 2025
- 87 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M 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 18% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Parkersburg runs 18% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
269
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,385.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Parkersburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wood County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wood County, which includes Parkersburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $58,750 |
| 2024 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $83,250 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19,300 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $33,250 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $68,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,500 |
| 2018 | 7 | Flood | $108,500 |
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
Wood County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wood County, which includes Parkersburg, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Wood County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Parkersburg has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.2"
Annual Snowfall
11.3"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
106
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
137
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 24°F | 3.41" |
| Feb | 44°F | 26°F | 3.01" |
| Mar | 54°F | 33°F | 4.00" |
| Apr | 67°F | 42°F | 3.74" |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 4.48" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 4.89" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.63" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.65" |
| Sep | 80°F | 57°F | 3.23" |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 2.95" |
| Nov | 55°F | 35°F | 2.83" |
| Dec | 45°F | 29°F | 3.39" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Parkersburg
Parkersburg has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Camden Clark Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Camden Clark Medical Center · 800 Garfield Ave
- Outpatient center: Camden Clark Primary Care · 602 Division St, Parkersburg
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Marietta Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Marietta
Selby General Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Marietta
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Parkersburg
Parkersburg's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Parkersburg (within 15 miles)
Washington State College of Ohio
13 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,484 students · in-state tuition $4,128 · 43% graduate · median earnings $38,317 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 952 students · in-state tuition $40,842 · 56% graduate · median earnings $65,386 (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: Gauley River National Recreation Area, 79 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Parkersburg
Parkersburg has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gauley River National Recreation Area (79 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
79 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
82 mi awayFriendship Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Parkersburg
Parkersburg/Wood Co. Public Library
3100 Emerson Av., Parkersburg
South Parkersburg
1807 Blizzard Dr., South Parkersburg
Cities Near Parkersburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Parkersburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Parkersburg FAQ
Is Parkersburg, West Virginia affordable?⌄
Parkersburg's median rent is $785/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,025/year. Median home value is $121,600.
Is Parkersburg, West Virginia safe?⌄
Parkersburg's violent crime rate was 269 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2386 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Parkersburg, West Virginia?⌄
Parkersburg has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Parkersburg, West Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Parkersburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $785/month and median household income is $49,025/year. The median home value is $121,600. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Parkersburg, West Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Parkersburg is 19 minutes, which is shorter than 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