RANK #120 / 1001 NAT · #4 / 11 WV · POP 83,407
1YR FORECAST: +2.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
Wood County, West Virginia, is defined by its position along the Ohio River, with the city of Parkersburg serving as its county seat at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers. This location, roughly equidistant from the northern and southern borders of the county, historically made it a hub for trade and transportation. The community offers access to outdoor recreation, including boating and water sports on the Ohio River, as well as hiking and biking trails at places like Mountwood Park and Fort Boreman Park. The county maintains a small-town feel, with residents often citing tight-knit communities and a lack of significant traffic.
Life in Wood County is characterized by a lower-than-average cost of living and shorter commute times. The public school system, Wood County Schools, serves over 11,000 students and is considered above average. Recent economic developments include the establishment of a new Amazon facility in Davisville, which began shipping packages in November 2025 and employs approximately 400 individuals. Additionally, the Wood County Development Authority received funding in 2025 to prepare sites at the Athey Property and Polymer Alliance Zone Industrial Park for manufacturing or industrial businesses.
Wood County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.6% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Wood County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Wood County ranks #120 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 88/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 1.1% year-over-year). Median household income here is $57,810.
By national standards, Wood County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $158,500, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $822/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Wood County's job market is contracting (-1.1% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.5% change). Home values are +1.6% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
Not particularly — 1.56% of Wood County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.