1st Advantage MortgageIn Brooke County, West Virginia, the typical household earns $54,316 a year and the typical rent is $645. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's West Virginia license first.
On this page
- Brooke County by the numbers
- How much Brooke County households make
- The Brooke County job picture
- Brooke County housing compared with West Virginia
- Brooke County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Brooke County
- What a median Brooke County budget can carry
- More Brooke County figures
- Reading the Brooke County data as a borrower
- Four steps for Brooke County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Brooke County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Brooke County's population at 21,805; only 27 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 89 square miles, that is close to 244 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Brooke County, Follansbee leads by population with about 2,757; 5 of the 7 are incorporated.
How much Brooke County households make
Half of Brooke County households take in less than $54,316 a year and half take in more, 9% below the West Virginia median of $59,608. In the state ranking that is 31st of 55.
| Income band | Share in Brooke County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.9% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.9% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -0.1 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.1% of Brooke County residents in poverty, against 16.7% across West Virginia. For a borrower in Brooke County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Brooke County job picture
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Brooke County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Brooke County averages 6.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 7.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Brooke County workers | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Other services | 5.9% | +1.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Brooke County housing compared with West Virginia
Renters in Brooke County pay a median of $645 a month, 26% below the West Virginia figure of $872. By the Census definition, 38% of Brooke County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $141,500, a typical Brooke County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Brooke County households own their home and 25% rent. Median construction year: 1966.
| Cost | Brooke County | West Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $645/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $141,500 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.7% | 13.6% | n/a |
Because most Brooke County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Brooke County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Ohio County at 12 miles out to Harrison County at 27. Washington County leads the group on income ($78,958), Harrison County trails ($54,414), and Brooke County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Ohio, Pennsylvania, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooke County | - | $54,316 | $645/mo | 75% |
| Ohio County, WV | 12 mi | $57,094 | $821/mo | 66% |
| Jefferson County, OH | 13 mi | $59,055 | $835/mo | 71% |
| Hancock County, WV | 17 mi | $61,466 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Washington County, PA | 18 mi | $78,958 | $949/mo | 76% |
| Belmont County, OH | 27 mi | $57,017 | $793/mo | 74% |
| Harrison County, OH | 27 mi | $54,414 | $785/mo | 76% |
Places inside Brooke County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Brooke County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 9,140 people, so roughly 58% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $60,781 at the median in Hooverson Heights, $42,868 in Wellsburg. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follansbee | city | 2,757 | $58,371 | $642 | 5 mi |
| Wellsburg | city | 2,203 | $42,868 | $624 | 2 mi |
| Hooverson Heights | CDP | 2,090 | $60,781 | $734 | 3 mi |
| Bethany | town | 1,039 | $60,313 | $639 | 5 mi |
| Windsor Heights | village | 491 | $42,270 | $888 | 7 mi |
| Beech Bottom | village | 443 | $33,125 | $791 | 5 mi |
| Colliers | CDP | 117 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
What a median Brooke County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Brooke County's medians:
- $54,316 a year is $4,526 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $645, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,301: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Brooke County figures
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 6.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Brooke County | West Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Brooke County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Reading the Brooke County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Brooke County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Older households. A 46.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Consolidating cards in Brooke County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Four steps for Brooke County borrowers
Quick steps for Brooke County:
- Price the Brooke County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for West Virginia borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
Consumer lenders serving Brooke County are licensed by the state, not the county; in West Virginia that is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Brooke County?
$54,316 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $59,608 for West Virginia. It ranks 31st of 55 in the state.
Is Brooke County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $645 against $872 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Brooke County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Brooke County?
By population: Follansbee, Wellsburg, Hooverson Heights, Bethany, Windsor Heights. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Brooke County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.