Very AffordableVery SafeAplington-Parkersburg Comm School District
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Parkersburg is a small town of 1,738 in Iowa, with a median household income of $69,038
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Parkersburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Parkersburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Parkersburg city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.9
Parkersburg's overall cost of living index is 89.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Parkersburg costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Parkersburg, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$190,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$638
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$69,038
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Parkersburg's violent crime rate is 20.8 per 100,000 residents
— 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
20.8 /100k
Property Crime
103.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Parkersburg is served primarily by Aplington-Parkersburg Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Parkersburg, IA
National Avg
School District
Aplington-Parkersburg Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Parkersburg sees average highs of 25.0°F in January
and 82.7°F in July,
with 36.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.6 inches of snow per year.
Parkersburg's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Parkersburg roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $190,600 and median rent is $638/month.
Parkersburg's violent crime rate is 20.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 103.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Parkersburg are operated by Aplington-Parkersburg Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Parkersburg, IA has a population of 1,738, a median household income of $69,038, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Parkersburg averages 25.0°F in January and 82.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.9 inches
with about 31.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Parkersburg, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50665.
The population of Parkersburg, Iowa is 1,738 with a median age of 47.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Parkersburg: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $190,600, median household income $69,038, crime index 5 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Parkersburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
