Population 2,214 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Parsons
Household size in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Parsons run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of West Virginia.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.8 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.3 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.5 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.8 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Parsons skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.7, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Parsons: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Parsons
Renters in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Parsons is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 58.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.0% of the housing in Parsons, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. The picture is much the same across West Virginia.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Parsons run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. The picture is much the same across West Virginia.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $443 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $435 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $550 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $618 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$175 | +$327 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Parsons costs $618 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 34.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Parsons
Bachelor's degrees in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Parsons have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 17.9%, against 35.6% nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.4% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.5% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.0% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Parsons is close to the national rate: 88.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Parsons
| Period | Parsons | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Parsons: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Parsons compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsons | 2.47 | 47.5 | 6.3% | 22.1% | 16.0% | 1975 | $618 | 17.9% | 88.7% | 7.7% |
| Hambleton | 2.26 | 50.6 | 5.4% | 10.3% | 15.8% | 1961 | $666 | 10.3% | 87.1% | 4.5% |
| Red Creek | 2.23 | 50.5 | 5.0% | 2.2% | 28.7% | 1977 | $739 | 24.8% | 76.8% | 2.3% |
| Moore | 2.40 | 51.9 | 4.8% | 25.4% | 10.5% | 1972 | $418 | 22.5% | 91.0% | 5.0% |
| Porterwood | 2.46 | 48.9 | 5.6% | 24.3% | 17.3% | 1973 | $614 | 18.4% | 90.9% | 7.9% |
| St. George | 2.31 | 50.1 | 3.5% | 18.2% | 26.7% | 1990 | $516 | 20.1% | 94.4% | 2.8% |
| Lead Mine | 2.30 | 49.9 | 3.4% | 17.7% | 28.2% | 1992 | $525 | 19.9% | 94.7% | 2.6% |
| Hendricks | 2.16 | 50.9 | 4.7% | 12.0% | 41.5% | 1972 | $948 | 29.2% | 90.7% | 2.4% |
| Pleasure Valley | 2.47 | 53.9 | 9.0% | 9.3% | 8.6% | 1993 | $784 | 20.9% | 95.3% | 8.5% |
| Hannahsville | 2.30 | 49.9 | 3.4% | 17.7% | 28.2% | 1992 | $525 | 19.9% | 94.7% | 2.6% |
| Pleasant Run | 2.39 | 48.8 | 5.8% | 14.8% | 14.2% | 1981 | $659 | 18.7% | 88.3% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mendon, UT · Whitelaw, WI · Wawaka, IN · Wathena, KS · Union Grove, NC · Tustin, MI · Friendship, NY · Fountain, NC · Fancy Farm, KY · Des Allemands, LA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Parsons. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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