Wheeling and Parkersburg-Vienna receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Wheeling | Parkersburg-Vienna | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 136,920 | 88,460 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,418 | $57,391 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,460 | $34,225 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 145/sq mi | 148/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $156,600 | $156,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $812 | $818 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.4% | 75.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -2.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 23.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 14.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5 | 110 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.0% | -22.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.6" | 44.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 48 mi | 91 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 23.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.2 | 44.1 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Wheeling
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Parkersburg-Vienna
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Wheeling, WV-OH Metro Area · Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology