The Town FilesParsons, West Virginia
City in Tucker County · population 1,327 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,300
- Household income
- $40,547
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 43.4
Parsons is a city of 1,327 people in Tucker County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $96,300, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of West Virginia towns, quieter than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 74% of West Virginia towns.
How Parsons ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Parsons is worth $96,300, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $40,547, which is more affordable than 57% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $650 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parsons | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,300 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $650 | $811 |
| Median household income | $40,547 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.9% | — |
Who lives in Parsons
| People | Parsons | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.6% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Parsons
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.3 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parsons since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 8, 1985 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 1985.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Tucker County since 1996
Tucker County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Flood | DR-4932: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2019 | Flood | DR-4455: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Tucker County
Tucker County had 2,837 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,378 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Parsons itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Towns near Parsons
- Thomas, WV10.7 mi · 611 people · home $157,400
- Davis, WV11.9 mi · 600 people · home $177,100
- Belington, WV15.1 mi · 1,805 people · home $104,400
- Elkins, WV15.1 mi · 6,934 people · home $152,700
- Beverly, WV20.2 mi · 622 people · home $118,200
- Philippi, WV20.3 mi · 2,929 people · home $114,500
- Grafton, WV24.8 mi · 4,722 people · home $74,600
- Terra Alta, WV25.2 mi · 1,415 people · home $95,200
Parsons questions
Is Parsons, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parsons scores better for retirees than 74% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 98%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Parsons?
The median owner-occupied home in Parsons is valued at $96,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,547, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $650 a month.
What is the weather like in Parsons?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 55.3 inches of snow.
Does Parsons get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parsons since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 8, 1985. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)