Parkersburg vs Wheeling
Parkersburg, West Virginia versus Wheeling, West Virginia: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Wheeling edges out Parkersburg on overall objective livability (48 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Parkersburg | Wheeling |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $42k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $46k |
| Home Value | $104k | $132k |
| Monthly Rent | $758 | $748 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $9k | $7k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.75% | 0.69% |
| Income Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.57% | 6.57% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.04% | 11.13% |
| Unemployment | 6.9% | 6.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 30°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2 in | 41.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.3 in | 15.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 228 days | 215 days |
| Summer Humidity | 65°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 71 days | 99 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 26.6 | 60.2 |
| Air Quality | 39 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 41.4 | 73.4 |
| Violent Crime | 2035/100k | 2336/100k |
| Property Crime | 3464/100k | 2412/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 29,685 | 26,900 |
| Median Age | 42.0 | 45.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.12 | 0.18 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.90 |
| Political Leaning | R+43 | R+26 |
| White (%) | 92.5% | 89.8% |
| Black (%) | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Asian (%) | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.2% | 4.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 10.2/20 | 8.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 88 mi | 37 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 81.8% | 81.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 37.73 | 34.20 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Parkersburg or Wheeling more affordable?
- Wheeling has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Parkersburg's $49k and Wheeling's $46k. Median rent is $758 in Parkersburg versus $748 in Wheeling.
- Is Parkersburg or Wheeling safer?
- Parkersburg has the lower violent crime rate. Parkersburg reports 2035/100k and Wheeling reports 2336/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Parkersburg or Wheeling?
- The median home value is $104k in Parkersburg and $132k in Wheeling, so homes are more affordable in Parkersburg.