Living in Parkersburg, WV

Explore Parkersburg and see how it fits the life you want to build.

29,240 Population Wood County County City Place Type West Virginia State
Overall Match6.9 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Parkersburg at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population29,240
Median Household Income$49,025
Median Home Value$121,600
Median Gross Rent$785
Median Age42.2
Average Household Size2.2
Unemployment7.9%
Work From Home9.9%
Homeownership65.0%
Housing Vacancy12.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Parkersburg is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Home values are relatively modest compared with local household income, giving the area a comparatively favorable ownership-affordability signal. Unemployment is elevated enough that job location and industry-specific opportunities deserve closer review.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Parkersburg Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Parkersburg →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Parkersburg and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value4.5 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment2.8 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability3.1 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly3.2 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength3.6 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Parkersburg

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$121,600
Median Gross Rent$785
Homeownership65.0%
Housing Vacancy12.6%
Housing Value9.0/10
Housing Stability6.2/10

Home values are comparatively balanced against local household income, although individual neighborhoods can still vary substantially. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Parkersburg, WV

Median Household Income$49,025
Unemployment7.9%
Work From Home9.9%
Employment5.6/10
Remote Work Friendly6.4/10
Income Strength7.2/10

The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. A meaningful share of employed residents work from home.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Parkersburg and how households are structured

Population29,240
Median Age42.2
Average Household Size2.2

Parkersburg is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Parkersburg

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Parkersburg point to hot summers, winters with regular freezing conditions, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and a meaningful winter snowfall season.

Average Summer High86.6°F
Average Winter Low24.0°F
Annual Rainfall44.2 in.
Annual Snowfall11.3 in.

Seasonal Life in Parkersburg

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.

Summer

Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.

Fall

Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.

Winter

Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

Parkersburg is located in Wood County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Wood County. Current county foreclosure activity is classified as medium, adding another housing-market signal for buyers comparing conventional and distressed-property opportunities.

County Intelligence

Parkersburg & Wood County

Medium Foreclosure Activity

Parkersburg is located in Wood County, West Virginia.

NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Parkersburg.

Current NarrowTheList data for Parkersburg shows a population of about 29,240. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Medium. Current signal uses NarrowTheList foreclosure-opportunity data until direct county delinquency and foreclosure datasets are connected.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship Wood County
How NarrowTheList uses it

County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Parkersburg.

For someone considering a move to Parkersburg, the available data currently points to comparatively attainable ownership costs relative to local income and employment conditions that make job-specific research important. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.