The Town FilesParkersburg, West Virginia
City in Wood County · population 29,738 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,600
- Household income
- $49,025
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 42.2
Parkersburg is a city of 29,738 people in Wood County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $121,600, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more walkable than 97% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 96% of West Virginia towns, better for cycling than 95% of West Virginia towns.
How Parkersburg ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Parkersburg is worth $121,600, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $49,025, which is more affordable than 52% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $785 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parkersburg | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $785 | $811 |
| Median household income | $49,025 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Parkersburg
| People | Parkersburg | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Parkersburg
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.3 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parkersburg since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 10, 2003 about 3.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2015.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2018 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4359: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 35,511 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,626 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Parkersburg itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Parkersburg
19 public schools with 7,978 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg High School | 9-12 | 1,552 | 15.8 |
| Parkersburg South High School | 9-12 | 1,385 | 15.4 |
| Edison Middle School | 6-8 | 568 | 14.2 |
| Blennerhassett Elementary School | PK-5 | 527 | 14.6 |
| Jefferson Elementary Center | PK-5 | 525 | 9.2 |
| Blennerhassett Middle School | 6-8 | 520 | 15.3 |
| Hamilton Middle School | 6-8 | 413 | 12.1 |
| Emerson Elementary School | PK-5 | 407 | 12.7 |
| Lubeck Elementary School | PK-5 | 381 | 14.7 |
| Van Devender Middle School | 6-8 | 286 | 9.2 |
| Madison Elementary School | PK-5 | 270 | 11.3 |
| Franklin Elementary Center | PK-5 | 266 | 11.1 |
Towns near Parkersburg
- Belpre, OH2.9 mi · 6,728 people · home $159,000
- Vienna, WV4.3 mi · 10,652 people · home $154,300
- Blennerhassett, WV4.7 mi · 3,118 people · home $179,800
- Williamstown, WV10.6 mi · 2,997 people · home $182,500
- Marietta, OH12.3 mi · 13,385 people · home $161,800
- Devola, OH15.2 mi · 2,639 people · home $235,800
- Ravenswood, WV24.1 mi · 3,865 people · home $97,600
Parkersburg questions
Is Parkersburg, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parkersburg scores better for retirees than 6% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 12%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Parkersburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Parkersburg is valued at $121,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,025, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $785 a month.
What is the weather like in Parkersburg?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 11.3 inches of snow.
Does Parkersburg get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parkersburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 10, 2003. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)