City · West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg, city, in Wood County, West Virginia. Parkersburg had 28,593 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 29,738 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 29,240 (±33). GEOID 5462140.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
28,593
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 29,738 · ACS 2020-2024: 29,240 ±33
Median household income
$49,025
±$2,505 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$121,600
±$6,840 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$785
±$57 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Parkersburg and what county is it in?
Parkersburg is a city in Wood County, West Virginia. It covers 11.8 square miles of land, 2,524 residents per square mile in 2020.
Parkersburg is in the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Parkersburg, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 28,593 people lived in Parkersburg on July 1, 2025, down 3.7% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 29,738 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 29,240 (±33).
| Measure | Parkersburg | Wood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 29,240 ±33 | 83,407 | −781 |
| Households | 13,313 ±438 | 35,836 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.07 | 2.30 | −0.10 |
| Housing units | 15,236 ±356 | 40,283 | no clear change |
Parkersburg's population since 2000
From 33,099 in 2000 to 28,593 in 2025: down 13.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Parkersburg as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Parkersburg?
The median resident of Parkersburg is 42.2 years old; 20.2% are under 18 and 21.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.0%. 1.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Parkersburg | Wood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 ±1.7 | 43.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.2% ±1.3 pts | 20.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.6% ±1.5 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Male | 49.5% ±1.4 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.8% ±0.5 pts | 1.5% | +0.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.4% ±1.1 pts | 93.6% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.1% | −1.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2% ±0.4 pts | 1.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.7% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.1% ±1.7 pts | 8.3% | – |
| With a disability | 19.3% ±2.1 pts | 17.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6% ±1.6 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.1% ±2.1 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.0% ±1.8 pts | 24.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9% ±1.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.4% ±2.3 pts | 90.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Parkersburg earn?
Half of Parkersburg's 13,313 households earn less than $49,025 a year (±$2,505), against $57,810 in Wood County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $44,032 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,993 after inflation. 22.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Parkersburg | Wood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,025 ±$2,505 | $57,810 | +$4,993 |
| Mean household income | $66,002 ±$3,369 | $79,213 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,355 ±$1,739 | $34,707 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.5% ±3.0 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 34.2% ±8.2 pts | 18.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 24.0% ±2.3 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.9% ±1.6 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.0% ±2.1 pts | 86.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Parkersburg?
Owners occupy 65.0% of Parkersburg's occupied homes and renters 35.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,600 by its owner (±$6,840). The median renter pays $785 a month including utilities, and 38.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Parkersburg | Wood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $121,600 ±$6,840 | $158,500 | +$9,484 |
| Median gross rent | $785 ±$57 | $822 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.3% ±5.5 pts | 38.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $969 ±$46 | $1,148 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.0% ±2.9 pts | 75.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.0% ±2.9 pts | 24.9% | – |
| Housing units | 15,236 ±356 | 40,283 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.2% ±1.6 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.1% ±2.7 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.2% ±2.6 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.8% ±0.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 24.0% ±3.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.0% ±2.2 pts | 7.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Parkersburg building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in Parkersburg in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.2 per 1,000 residents against 2.2 across West Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Parkersburg work and get to work?
72.1% of Parkersburg's workers drive alone and 9.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.9%.
| Measure | Parkersburg | Wood County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.4% ±2.6 pts | 56.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% ±1.9 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.1% ±3.2 pts | 78.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2% ±2.5 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 3.8% ±1.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.9% ±2.2 pts | 9.9% | +7.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.2 min ±1.7 | 20.8 min | +2.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Parkersburg?
12 census tracts lie mostly in Parkersburg, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $30,577 (Tract 8.02) to $59,610 (Tract 1).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5Wood County | 3,999 | $47,824 |
| Tract 9.03Wood County | 3,927 | $51,686 |
| Tract 110Wood County | 2,873 | $49,007 |
| Tract 3Wood County | 2,741 | $47,560 |
| Tract 7.01Wood County | 2,712 | $35,743 |
| Tract 8.02Wood County | 3,177 | $30,577 |
| Tract 1Wood County | 3,178 | $59,610 |
| Tract 4Wood County | 2,194 | $49,357 |
| Tract 7.02Wood County | 1,555 | $51,250 |
| Tract 9.01Wood County | 1,455 | $49,075 |
| Tract 9.02Wood County | 1,606 | $47,976 |
| Tract 8.01Wood County | 1,217 | $44,836 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Parkersburg) · Census block assignment files
How does Parkersburg compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Parkersburg is the 1,406th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 4th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
Parkersburg ranks 89th of 138 places in West Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 4th | 230 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 38th | 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 17th | 146 |
| Median household income | 89th | 138 |
| Per capita income | 79th | 144 |
| Median home value | 87th | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 79th | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 50th | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75th | 135 |
| Median age | 80th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 93rd | 146 |
| Work from home | 34th | 53 |
| Travel time to work | 114th | 145 |
Parkersburg's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Parkersburg with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Parkersburg?
4 of the 57 figures for Parkersburg on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Parkersburg are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Parkersburg.