All Countries
Reagan King
living
Life in Parkersburg as a young professional
OK so The unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is about average.
0 upvotes
23 Replies
Bennett Lopez
underrated comment
38 upvotes
Evelyn Ortiz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem underrated.
I've been here 1 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
I've been here 1 years and it's exactly what I was looking for. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the community vibe is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The The Heights side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
37 upvotes
Riley Lee
not my experience at all
36 upvotes
Nova Scott
I've been living here for 14 years and I'd say it's exactly what I was looking for. The healthcare is decent compared to other places I've lived. Overall Happy to answer more specific questions..
35 upvotes
Charlotte Lewis
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is walkability. the quality of life is solid. Worth doing your research before committing.
33 upvotes
Victoria Wright
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much stable but now it's excellent.
31 upvotes
Leonardo Reed
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from New York about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited public transit options
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is tough.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
I'm a lawyer who relocated here from New York about 7 years ago. The main reasons were quality of life and my partner's job.
Pros I've experienced:
- Growing food and restaurant scene
- Strong job market in several industries
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Limited public transit options
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is tough.
Socially, I have mixed feelings honestly. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
31 upvotes
Aaliyah R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem surprisingly good.
I've been here 6 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
I've been here 6 years and I have mixed feelings honestly. The thing nobody mentions is public transit. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the public transit is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
30 upvotes
Roman Kelly
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 32, moved here 5 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Eastside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a teacher, 32, moved here 5 years ago from Boston. I've lived in Eastside and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Strong job market in several industries
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The pet-friendliness situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for couples. improving vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Boston, everything felt better than expected. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
29 upvotes
Paul C.
We moved here with our family and it's exactly what I was looking for. Schools in Pine Hills area are tough. Kids love it here.
29 upvotes
Samantha R.
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it exceeded my expectations. Compared to Phoenix it's challenging.
24 upvotes
Maya Davis
Public transit is pretty good here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
19 upvotes
Axel Peterson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Portland and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Oak Park. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Oak Park. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in healthcare. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Gianna Taylor
thanks for sharing
15 upvotes
Emmett King
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want job market, then yeah this place is great. But if housing market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Asher Jackson
thanks for sharing
12 upvotes
alice_heart
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value weather, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely hit or miss and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Lakewood) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from LA, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
11 upvotes
Emma M.
Came here for quality of life and stayed because I love the pace of life here. The pet-friendliness is honestly tough and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
11 upvotes
Jack P.
hard disagree but ok
9 upvotes
Eliana B.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is public transit. it's exactly what I was looking for. Worth doing your research before committing.
9 upvotes
Luna Ruiz
I work in retail here and it's been a really good experience overall. The job market for my field is underrated. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
6 upvotes
Julian Kelly
hard disagree but ok
5 upvotes
Lillian White
Can confirm, been here 7 years.
3 upvotes