Parkersburg
RANK #468 / 996 NAT · #8 / 11 WV · POP 84,272
1YR FORECAST: +1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
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.
Below national median
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.2x — home prices are low 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Wood County scores 53/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#468). Median household income is $54,350 and job growth is running at +0.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Wood County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $140,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $780/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Wood County are both close to flat — population -0.5% YoY and jobs +0.7%. Home values shifted +0.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.55% 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.