Is Southwood safe?
Parkersburg, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Southwood as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Southwood
“Go. Southwood is a quiet, family-oriented residential community surrounding a major municipal park in South Parkersburg. While standard precautions against petty theft and car prowling are advised, it is significantly calmer and safer than the urban core along the Ohio River.”
About the area
Southwood is anchored by its expansive namesake park and consists of mid-century single-family homes, modest subdivisions, and suburban commercial strips. It serves as a peaceful residential neighborhood for local working families and retirees in Wood County.
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Southwood
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 34/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse on surrounding roads, but Southwood Park offers paved multi-use loops for recreational cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to central and downtown Parkersburg
- High concentration of owner-occupied single-family homes
- Direct access to Southwood Park's expansive community and athletic amenities
- Quiet neighborhood streets with minimal through-traffic outside main corridors
Cons
- Occasional property crime and opportunistic vehicle break-ins along commercial corridors
- Car dependency with limited pedestrian-friendly sidewalks on secondary roads
- Suburban sprawl requires driving into downtown or Vienna for diverse dining and entertainment
- Economic challenges regional to the Mid-Ohio Valley reflecting moderate household income
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Southwood, as services and encampments are primarily concentrated north across the Little Kanawha River in downtown Parkersburg.
What Southwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with locals jogging through Southwood Park and school bus traffic along residential roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active around the park and shopping plazas with routine suburban foot and vehicle traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and dim; residential streets quiet down quickly while main commercial arteries maintain light activity.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet with low foot traffic; situational awareness is prudent around 24-hour retail lots and gas stations.
Transit, parking and getting around
Easy Rider (Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority) operates localized bus routes serving South Parkersburg, connecting the neighborhood to downtown Parkersburg and transit hubs. There is no passenger rail or BRT service in the region.
Parking is abundant and entirely free throughout the neighborhood, with ample lot spaces at Southwood Park and wide, unrestricted residential curbs.
Things to do in Southwood
- Swim, play pickleball, or walk around the community pond at Southwood Park
- Browse local vintage goods and collectibles at nearby South Side antique centers
- Enjoy casual family dining along the Blizzard Drive and Pike Street commercial corridors
Local favorites
- Pizza Place · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (460)A beloved local chain known for its signature Sicilian-style thick crust square slices.
- DaVinci's · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)Nearby classic Italian-American dining institution famed for its garlic rolls and pasta.
- Rubi's Salad & Sandwich Grill · American Restaurant · 4.7★ (180)Cozy lunch spot serving made-to-order deli sandwiches, fresh salads, and soups.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.