City · West Virginia
Parsons, West Virginia
Parsons, city, in Tucker County, West Virginia. Parsons had 1,282 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,327 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,448 (±235). GEOID 5462284.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,282
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,327 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,448 ±235
Median household income
$40,547
±$8,339 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$96,300
±$11,353 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$650
±$285 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Parsons and what county is it in?
Parsons is a city in Tucker County, West Virginia. It covers 1.1 square miles of land, 1,183 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Parsons, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,282 people lived in Parsons on July 1, 2025, down 3.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,327 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,448 (±235).
| Measure | Parsons | Tucker County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,448 ±235 | 6,654 | no clear change |
| Households | 561 ±98 | 2,840 | −135 |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.42 | 2.29 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 693 ±100 | 4,652 | no clear change |
Parsons's population since 2000
From 1,463 in 2000 to 1,282 in 2025: down 12.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Parsons 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 Parsons?
The median resident of Parsons is 43.4 years old; 19.9% are under 18 and 24.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 7.6%.
| Measure | Parsons | Tucker County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 ±5.4 | 51.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.9% ±6.1 pts | 14.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.1% ±5.5 pts | 28.2% | – |
| Male | 49.6% ±5.3 pts | 50.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.2% ±2.4 pts | 96.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.6% ±2.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8% ±2.3 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 26.9% ±6.5 pts | 21.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.6% ±3.2 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.1% ±8.8 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.6% ±4.2 pts | 23.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9% ±2.5 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.3% ±5.8 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±1.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Parsons earn?
Half of Parsons's 561 households earn less than $40,547 a year (±$8,339), against $53,358 in Tucker County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $57,689 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $17,142 after inflation. 23.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Parsons | Tucker County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,547 ±$8,339 | $53,358 | −$17,142 |
| Mean household income | $53,965 ±$9,952 | $75,938 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,787 ±$4,936 | $34,950 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 23.6% ±7.3 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 50.6% ±23.0 pts | 26.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.7% ±8.1 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 83.2% ±7.6 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.5% ±8.2 pts | 81.8% | – |
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 Parsons?
Owners occupy 68.1% of Parsons's occupied homes and renters 31.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,300 by its owner (±$11,353). The median renter pays $650 a month including utilities, and 42.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Parsons | Tucker County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,300 ±$11,353 | $154,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $650 ±$285 | $656 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.6% ±20.2 pts | 44.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $844 ±$79 | $1,183 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.1% ±9.3 pts | 80.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 31.9% ±9.3 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Housing units | 693 ±100 | 4,652 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±9.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±8.5 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.8% ±8.9 pts | 82.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.0% ±5.6 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.9% ±3.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.1% ±5.8 pts | 18.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 18.5% ±6.8 pts | 12.1% | – |
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 Parsons building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Parsons in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.8 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 Parsons work and get to work?
71.2% of Parsons's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 32.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 15.2%.
| Measure | Parsons | Tucker County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.6% ±7.1 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 15.2% ±6.9 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.2% ±10.6 pts | 73.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.4% ±9.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±7.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 5.1% ±4.7 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2% ±8.1 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.0 min ±10.0 | 27.4 min | no clear change |
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 Parsons?
No census tract lies mostly in Parsons; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9654Tucker County | 2,637 | $50,208 |
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 Parsons) · Census block assignment files
How does Parsons compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Parsons is the 9,355th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 85th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
Parsons ranks 114th 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 | 85th | 230 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 34th | 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 69th | 146 |
| Median household income | 114th | 138 |
| Per capita income | 126th | 144 |
| Median home value | 115th | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 104th | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 124th | 135 |
| Median age | 66th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 83rd | 146 |
| Travel time to work | 13th | 145 |
Parsons's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Parsons 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 Parsons?
17 of the 57 figures for Parsons 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 Parsons 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 Parsons.