Median Income
$45,729
household / year
Median Home Value
$88,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$807
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100

Is Parsons, WV a Good Place to Live?

Parsons is a small town of 1,524 in West Virginia, with a median household income of $45,729 and a 13.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Parsons stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Parsons is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Parsons 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: 89.5

Parsons's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Parsons costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric Parsons, WV National Avg
Median Home Value $88,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $807 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 69.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $45,729 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Parsons is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Parsons is served primarily by Tucker County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Parsons, WV National Avg
School District Tucker County Schools
Elementary Schools 2
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 10.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 87.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Parsons sees average highs of 39.4°F in January and 83.0°F in July, with 55.0 inches of annual precipitation and 55.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricParsons, WV
Average High — January39.4°F
Average High — July83.0°F
Annual Precipitation55.0"
Annual Snowfall55.3"

Demographics

MetricParsons, WVNational Avg
Population1,524
Median Age43.538.9
Unemployment Rate13.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time34.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.4%59.3%
Black or African American0.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.9%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1819.3%22.2%
65 and over20.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Parsons

Parsons, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Parsons vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Parsons's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Parsons roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $88,600 and median rent is $807/month.
Crime data for Parsons is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Parsons are operated by Tucker County Schools. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1. 13.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Parsons, WV has a population of 1,524, a median household income of $45,729, and an unemployment rate of 13.8%. 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.
Parsons averages 39.4°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.0 inches with about 55.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Parsons, WV is covered by 1 ZIP code: 26287.
The population of Parsons, West Virginia is 1,524 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Parsons: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $88,600, median household income $45,729, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Parsons side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.