| Index | Parkersburg | West Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 82 | 85 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Housing | 55 | 62 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 90 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 92 | 91 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Parkersburg allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Parkersburg stands at 82, marking it 18% lower than the national average.
Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Parkersburg are 45.3% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.
Is Parkersburg an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Parkersburg, the median home price is 51.4% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 31% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Parkersburg come in at $56,987, which is 29.9% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Parkersburg, the transportation index stands at 8.5% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Parkersburg, the utilities index stands at 7.1% lower than the national average.
The Parkersburg cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Utilities index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $70,355 | $5,863 | $1,642 | $2,111 |
| Renters | $37,154 | $3,096 | $867 | $1,115 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| West Virginia | 6% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| West Virginia | 3% | 6.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Waverly, WV | 711 | 93 | 6.8% |
| Little Hocking, OH | 786 | 78 | 21.7% |
| Elizabeth, WV | 920 | 78 | 21.7% |
| Hockingport, OH | 149 | 81 | 19.3% |
| Vincent, OH | 282 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Parkersburg, WV | 30,536 | 82 | 18.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Chicago Heights, IL | 30,540 | 92 | 8.4% |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 30,529 | 213 | 113.4% |
| Suisun City, CA | 30,544 | 145 | 45.1% |
| Walnut, CA | 30,544 | 197 | 96.6% |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,564 | 146 | 46.3% |
| Parkersburg, WV | 30,536 | 82 | 18.3% |
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