26104 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
26101
26104
Opportunity
23 · Bottom 4%
vs29 · Bottom 8%
Growth
15 · Bottom 5%
vs15 · Bottom 5%
Climate
70 · Bottom 48%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Physical resilience
35 · Bottom 27%
vs35 · Bottom 27%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 18%
vs98 · Top 15%
Schools
73 · Top 23%
vs74 · Top 21%
Access
48 · Bottom 3%
vs46 · Bottom 3%
Economic stability
27 · Bottom 6%
vs36 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | 26101 | 26104 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,005 | 16,805 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $48,710 | $54,331 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,749 | $35,752 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 909/sq mi | 454/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $117,500 | $170,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $794 | $828 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.2% | 70.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.8% | -2.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 28.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 15.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3 | 3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -62.5% | -62.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.2" | 44.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 82 mi | 86 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.2 | 46.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.46 | 12.18 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 39.4% | 38.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.6% | 49.6% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
26101
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
26104
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: 26101 — Parkersburg, WV · 26104 — Parkersburg, WV · How this is calculated: methodology