Example household · Parkersburg, WV · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

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Parkersburg vs Columbus

Parkersburg and Columbus

Photo: Paul Wasneski / Wikimedia, Public domain

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Columbus are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Parkersburg to Columbus

In 2022-2023, 41 households filed a move from Parkersburg to Columbus (about 56 people, average adjusted gross income $43,220). Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $744 in Parkersburg and $1,176 in Columbus. Parkersburg has a state tax on wages. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Columbus is 97% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Parkersburg.

Columbus averages 179 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 21°F. Parkersburg is 185 sunny days, 87°F in July, 30°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Columbus and 21 in Parkersburg.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 41 households moved Parkersburg → Columbus (about 56 people, average AGI $43,220). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Parkersburg and Columbus changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 111 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,650–$3,050
Container or pod
$1,100–$2,050
Rent a truck
$400–$750

Movers in Columbus and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Columbus cheaper than Parkersburg after tax and rent?

No. Columbus leaves about $347 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $744 in Parkersburg and $1,176 in Columbus.

Does Columbus have state income tax?

Columbus is in Ohio, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.50%.

Did people actually move from Parkersburg to Columbus?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.