parkersburg
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And just like hundreds of others, are you also serious about packing the bags with the family to Parkersburg?

You may have dozens of queries related to the city, which are crucial when you have a plan to live there in the coming years.

Do not worry as we’ve compiled all the relevant information you need to know about Parkersburg.

The ultimate Parkersburg moving guide is all about the facts related to the city which may benefit the hundreds of people who are serious about moving here from different parts of the US.

And here we go.

QuickFacts

Quick facts to know before you move to Parkersburg, WV

  • The area was originally home to Indigenous peoples of the Osage, Delaware, Shawnee, and other Ohio Valley tribes.
  • The early settlement happened around 1785 on a tract of land originally purchased by a man named Alexander Parker.
  • Settlers named it Newport in the late 18th century following the American Revolutionary War.
  • It was renamed Parkersburg in 1810.
  • Parkersburg served as a transportation and medical center for Union forces during the American Civil War.
  • Initially a town in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it became a part of West Virginia after the state was formed in 1863.
  • The city is one of the biggest industrial centers of the state.
  • The city has one of the largest populations in West Virginia.
  • Real estate is cheaper here.
  • The city has a low risk of natural disasters.

Top 10 things to know before moving to Parkersburg, WV

  • The city is highly affordable.
  • It is the fourth most populous city in West Virginia.
  • The population has been declining in recent years.
  • The city is highly industrialized.
  • Parkersburg is a great place to attend college.
  • There are lots of jobs here.
  • The poverty rate is higher.
  • Abundant outdoor recreation options are available.
  • The city has a four-season climate.
  • The city is famous for its beer culture.

What's the population of Parkersburg, WV?

Parkersburg is the fourth most populous in the state with about 29,749 residents. This means the city has 2,487.35/sq mi. The population is declining over the last decade and the median age here is 42.3. About 21.2% of the population in the city is below the poverty line.

To know the population better, here are a few stats.

  • Parkersburg’s total population is 29,749.
  • The population is made up of 49.8% males and 50.2% females.
  • The median age in Parkersburg is 42.3.
  • The city population is made up of 93.4% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2 Native American, and 2.7% from two or more races.
  • About 1.2% of the population is of Hispanic ethnicity.
  • The median household size in Parkersburg is 2.3 persons.
  • About 43.2% of the residents are married couples living together.
  • On average, 18.9% of the residents are single and have children.

How fast can you commute to Parkersburg, WV?

Despite being one of the most populous cities in the state, roads in Parkersburg have low traffic, which saves you from spending more time on the road while traveling to the office and back home. On average, a Parkersburg resident spends 17.8minutes on the road which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes. However, this can also be longer than many US cities.

If you are keen to know how the city residents reach the office regularly, here are the latest stats.

  • About 80.9% drive their car alone
  • About 10.1% carpool with others
  • About 2.0% work from home
  • Approximately 1,8% take mass transit

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What is the weather like in Parkersburg, WV?

The city experiences a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Parkersburg witnesses a wide range of weather conditions throughout the year with windy days, intense thunderstorms, hail storms, occasional snow storms, and light freezing rain or sleet in the winter months. January is the snowiest month in Parkersburg while July is the hottest one.

Here are a few Parkersburg weather facts.

  • The city receives about 42 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.
  • Parkersburg averages 16 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.
  • On average, the city gets about 179 sunny days per year against the US average of 205 sunny days.
  • The city receives some kind of precipitation, on average, 142 days per year in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Reasons

Top reasons to move to Parkersburg, WV

Parkersburg witnesses a large number of new arrivals. And people flock here for many reasons out of which, we have filtered out 6 positives of the city.

Here are a few among them.

  • More affordability
  • Low commute time
  • Amazing outdoor recreation
  • Good schooling options
  • More jobs
  • Low property prices
pros and cons

Pros & Cons of moving to Parkersburg, WV

When you consider moving to a new city, analyzing both the merits and demerits is a good idea and to help you, we’ve got the best and worst of Parkersburg.

Cross-check both before you make the final call.

The pros
  • Amazing outdoor fun options
  • Low population
  • Good schools and colleges around
  • Low cost of living
  • Low property prices
  • Low property tax
  • Low risk of natural disasters
The cons
  • High poverty rate
  • High crime rate
  • Dry weather
  • Low median income
Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in Parkersburg, WV

As you move into Parkersburg, especially with the family, you would need a home in a decent neighborhood.

And luckily, this city in West Virginia has got many good neighborhoods to rent or buy a house at affordable rates. To help you, we’ve filtered out the 10 places to live here.

Rank City Population Home Value Average rental
1. North Hills 1,469 $262,116 $1,167
2. Blennerhassett 1,604 $178,206 $749
3. Pettyvlle 823 $143,722 $1,415
4. Davisville 2,574 $185,981 $1,471
5. Beechwood/City Center 1,099 $179,794 $1,260
6. Dallison/Deerwalk 1,095 $212,516 $1,057
7. Woodland Park 1,418 $141,937 $1,315
8. North Parkersburg 1,036 $110,812 $833
9. South Parkersburg 2,015 $97,494 $1,479
10. Newport/Tavennersville 1,408 $116,197 $1,045

Tip:When you’ve got a home to move in Parkersburg, WV, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Parkersburg, WV

Moving to Parkersburg also saves your wallet as the city is highly affordable. The average cost of living is $33,333 a year which is much lower than most cities in West Virginia.

While the house cost as well as rental is lower than the national average, the average commuting time is also shorter than the US average which means you spend less gasoline.

Here is a break-up of the cost of living in Parkersburg.

Living Expense Parkersburg West Virginia National Average
Overall 74.4 79.4 100
Grocery 96.6 95.8 100
Health 116.4 127 100
Housing 34.9 39.3 100
Median Home Cost $133,400 $139,700 $338,100
Utilities 89.4 85.9 100
Transportation 74.2 90.1 100
Miscellaneous 102.6 85.1 100
Job Market

How is the job market in Parkersburg, WV?

Parkersburg is one of the major business cities in the state and this reflects on the job market with a positive job growth.

And this is expected to further grow in the future, brightening your chances if your reason for moving here is a job.

And we’ve got a few job-related facts in Parkersburg, which may benefit you.

  • The job growth in Parkersburg has been positive.
  • The future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 17.9%.
  • The unemployment rate here is 7.5%.
  • Jobs have increased by 0.3% over the past year.
  • The average salary in Parkersburg is $42,980.
  • The median household income of a Parkersburg resident is $38,960 a year.
  • The median home cost in Parkersburg is $138,400.

Here is a breakdown table to better understand the Parkersburg job market.

Employment Information Parkersburg, West Virginia United States
The income per Cap $24,262 $37,638
Household Income $38,960 $69,021
Unemployment Rate 7.5 6.0%
Recent Job Growth -5.07% -6.18%
Future Job Growth 17.91% 33.51%

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Fastest growing jobs in Parkersburg, WV

Parkersburg has a strong presence of industries and moving here, finding good jobs won’t be a challenge. However, having a list of the fast-growing jobs in Parkersburg will help you analyze whether your previous experience, proficiency, and knowledge will be an asset here.

Here are 10 fastest-growing jobs in Parkersburg.

Rank Job Title Average salary Growth %
1 Home health aid $19,070 121.8%
2 Physical therapy assistant $49,450 119.6%
3 Physician assistant $98,080 117.1%
4 Marketing internship $44,530 116.8%
5 Nurse practitioner $90,130 114.1%
6 Medical receptionist $29,670 112.2%
7 Industrial mechanic $43,680 111.0%
8 Digital hygienist $52,290 110.8%
9 Phlebotomist $27,950 106.4%
10 Respiratory therapist $43,100 105.4%

Top career options in Parkersburg, WV

While you look for a job in Parkersburg, the pay slip would be the priority. And having an idea about the best-paying jobs in the city would make things easier. Knowing this, we’ve prepared a list of top career options in Parkersburg.

Here are the highest-paying jobs in Parkersburg

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry Level Salary
1 Chief executives $163,640 $96,920
2 All other managers $124,480 $74,560
3 Pharmacists $121,230 $95,830
4 Industrial production managers $121,110 $77,310
5 Financial managers $98,280 $59,030
6 Nurse practitioners $98,050 $57,410
7 Sales managers $97,990 $49,360
8 Physical therapists $95,450 $67,070
9 Lawyers $95,200 $73,420
10 Speech-language pathologists $92,750 $58,100

Companies to work for if you’re moving to Parkersburg, WV

Knowing the best companies in Parkersburg would help you while filtering them down while searching for a job. The city has many employee-friendly companies and we’ve got a list of the top 10 among them. Go through the best companies that will help you tweak the search list while job hunting.

Here is the company list

  • Woodcraft
  • Simonton Holdings Inc
  • National Center for Electronics Recycling, Inc.
  • Teknetix
  • Miller Communications Inc.
  • Goldsmit-Black Inc.
  • Community Resources
  • Camden Clark Medical Center
  • Westbrook Health
  • SW Resources

What's the average salary & income in Parkersburg, WV?

When you move to Parkersburg, you would be concerned about the jobs and salaries. As Parkersburg has a steady economy, there is no dearth of jobs. The salary here is not bad and as the cost of living is affordable, it won’t be a tough task to have a good life. The average salary in Parkersburg is $42,980 and anything above $41k is good enough to comfortably live.

Here are a few informative points related to the average salary and income in Parkersburg.

  • Parkersburg’s average annual pay for average jobs is $42,980 a year
  • Parkersburg’s average hourly pay for average jobs is $20.40 an hour
  • Parkersburg’s average weekly pay for average jobs is $711 per week
  • Parkersburg’s average monthly pay for average jobs is $3,500 per month
  • Parkersburg’s top earners (90th percentile) make $87,000 annually

Major industries in Parkersburg, WV

Parkersburg has a long industrial history and while it was wooded in the early periods, new businesses flourished in the first part of the 20th century. Currently, construction, shipping, healthcare, and education are major businesses here. As you are on the last leg of moving, it is normal to be curious about the current prominent industries here, and knowing this, we’ve listed them out for you.Now that you are in the last leg of relocating to Morgantown and a job is a priority, you would be keen to know the type of businesses flourishing here. Having an idea about the major industries will be of great help in analyzing whether your professional experience, knowledge, and preferences will work out.

Here is a list of major industries in Parkersburg, WV

  • Healthcare
  • Construction
  • Accommodation & food services
  • Chemicals
  • Education
Housing Market

How is the housing market in Parkersburg, WV?

One of the biggest pluses of relocating to Parkersburg is the pocket-friendly property price. It is easier to buy a home on a minimum budget here. Though home prices have shot up in recent years, you will be able to own one on a reasonable budget than most cities in the state. As per the latest stats, the current average home value is $133,400, much lower than the national average.

We’ve got the latest city housing facts for you.

  • Parkersburg’s median home cost is $133,400.
  • The median age of Parkersburg’s real estate is 62 years old.
  • The city’s home appreciation in the last 10 years has been 51.3%.
  • Renters make up 33.8% of the Parkersburg population.
  • About 2.8% of houses and apartments in Parkersburg are available to rent.

Average rental prices in Parkersburg, WV

Relocating here, you’ll realize that it is not just home prices but even home rentals that are cheaper in Parkersburg. You may rent a normal house here without burning your wallet. We’ve researched the average home rental in the city and the details may help you.

  • Parkersburg’s average rent for a studio apartment is $700
  • Parkersburg’s average rent for a 1-bedroom home or apartment is $754
  • Parkersburg’s average rent for a 2-bedroom home or apartment is $830
  • Parkersburg’s average rent for a 3-bedroom home or apartment is $1,130
  • Parkersburg’s average rent for a 4-bedroom home or apartment is $1,210
Taxes

What are taxes like in Parkersburg, VW?

When you consider packing the bags to Parkersburg, it is natural to be curious about the taxes here as the take-home salary is greatly affected by the cuts.

Knowing this, we thought to point down the major tax factors in Parkersburg. Here are a few tax-related facts in Parkersburg.

  • The sales tax rate for Parkersburg is 6.6%. The US average is 7.3%.
  • The income tax rate for Parkersburg is 6.5%. The US average is 4.6%.
  • The average property tax rate in Parkersburg is 0.55%.
Things To Do

Things to do in Parkersburg, VW?

Parkersburg has many hidden gems and living here is an option to explore them. The city had a rich past, glorious architecture, and amazing outdoor recreation options.

We’ve got a list of the 10 best things to do in Parkersburg.

  • Explore the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
  • Spend time at the Greater Parkersburg Visitor's Center
  • Visit the Fort Boreman Park
  • Enjoy craft beer at the North End Tavern Brewery
  • Step inside the Oil and Gas Museum
  • Listen to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra-Parkersburg
  • Stroll along the Julia-Ann Square Historic District
  • Unwind at the Parkersburg City Park
  • Learn history at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History
  • Watch local events at Point Park
safety

How safe is Parkersburg, West Virginia?

Parkersburg records a crime rate much higher than most neighboring cities. Your chance of being a violent crime here is 1 in 215 and about 33% of the population feels that police response is slower than expected. However, about 58% of the city residents feel the city is safe to live in. The city is safer than 4% of US neighborhoods.

To help you know the crime stats in Parkersburg, we’ve got a few facts.

  • The violent crime rate in Parkersburg is 28.4 while the US average is 22.7.
  • The city’s property crime is 59.6 while the US average is 35.4.
  • Your chance of being a violent crime victim here is 1 in 215.
  • Your chance of being a property crime victim is 1 in 25 in Parkersburg.
  • About 58% of Parkersburg's population feels safe in the city.

Tip:Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

School

What are the top schools in Parkersburg, VW?

The city has no shortage of quality schools and this means if you are moving to Parkersburg with your family; you don’t need to worry about their education.

To help you, we’ve prepared a list of top educational institutions with their rankings.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The city gives its residents a dense suburb feel and most residents own a home here. In addition, the city is an economic center, which means job opportunities are higher here. As more retirees reside here, the city is also conservative in attitude.

One of the best points of moving to Parkersburg is the cost of living. The cost of living is 11% cheaper than the national average which means utilities, groceries, transport, and many factors are more affordable here than anywhere in West Virginia.

Contact Info

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