1st Advantage Mortgage31% of Hampshire County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $63,116 (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Hampshire County at a glance
- Homes and rents, Hampshire County
- Household income in Hampshire County
- Employment and commuting in Hampshire County
- Hampshire County's most unusual numbers
- Towns and communities in Hampshire County
- The counties around Hampshire County
- What a median Hampshire County budget can carry
- Hampshire County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Hampshire County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Hampshire County residents
- A Hampshire County borrower's checklist
- Other West Virginia guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hampshire County at a glance
Roughly 23,465 residents live in Hampshire County, West Virginia, 26th by population among the state's 55 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 36.6 residents per square mile across 640 square miles of land. Metro area: Winchester, VA-WV (OMB, 2023). Romney (1,922 people) heads the county's list of 4 Census places, 2 incorporated and 2 census-designated.
Homes and rents, Hampshire County
Renters in Hampshire County pay a median of $720 a month, 17% below the West Virginia figure of $872. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 27% in Hampshire County, 49% statewide. Median value $219,200; median income $63,116; ratio 3.5. Homeowners 83%, renters 17%. Half the housing stock was built before 1986.
| Housing | Hampshire County | West Virginia statewide | Hampshire County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 49% | -21.8 pts |
| Owners | 83% | 75% | +7.8 pts |
| Median home value | $219,200 | $162,600 | 35% higher |
| Median gross rent | $720/mo | $872/mo | 17% lower |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | +1.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 13.8% | 13.6% | +0.2 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Hampshire County
At $63,116, the typical Hampshire County household income is 4% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 9 West Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Hampshire County | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.2% | +0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | -4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | +4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -0.6 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.1%, 4 points lower than the state's 16.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.456 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Hampshire County
Top Hampshire County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 30%; second, manufacturing, 14%. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward construction (13% against 7%). 9.0% of Hampshire County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are common here: 41% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Hampshire County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +5.9 pts |
| Construction | 13.4% | +6.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.8% | -5.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Hampshire County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Hampshire County numbers that rank furthest from typical in West Virginia, and what each means for a borrower:
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 27% in Hampshire County. Only 1 of 55 West Virginia counties are lower. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Hampshire County sits near the top of West Virginia at 41%, 2nd highest of 55. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Few West Virginia counties match Hampshire County on the housing vacancy rate: 32% here, 15% for the state, ranking 5th highest of 55. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
Towns and communities in Hampshire County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 13% of Hampshire County residents live in one of the 4. No Hampshire County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romney | city | 1,922 | $49,286 | $616 | 8 mi |
| Springfield | CDP | 502 | $62,014 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Capon Bridge | town | 497 | $64,306 | $1,057 | 10 mi |
| Green Spring | CDP | 84 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Hampshire County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 25 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Hampshire County's $63,116 median trails 4 of the six and beats 2; the range runs $49,272 (Hardy County) to $97,606 (Frederick County). Some neighbors are in Maryland and Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hampshire County resident follows West Virginia rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County | - | $63,116 | $720/mo | 83% |
| Mineral County, WV | 19 mi | $69,375 | $809/mo | 81% |
| Frederick County, VA | 20 mi | $97,606 | $1,507/mo | 79% |
| Allegany County, MD | 21 mi | $59,603 | $805/mo | 71% |
| Hardy County, WV | 24 mi | $49,272 | $816/mo | 77% |
| Winchester city, VA | 25 mi | $63,974 | $1,315/mo | 44% |
| Morgan County, WV | 25 mi | $72,179 | $794/mo | 84% |
What a median Hampshire County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hampshire County's medians:
- Start: $5,260 gross per month ($63,116 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $720 uses 14%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,173 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Hampshire County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Hampshire County households compared
In Hampshire County, 18% of adults have at least a four-year degree (24% in West Virginia). About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Hampshire County | Difference from West Virginia | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | +5.8 yrs | +7.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | -5.8 pts | -3.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | +0.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | +0.6 pts | -1.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | -1.4 pts | +1.2 pts |
| Work from home | 9.4% | +0.3 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | -3.6 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | +3.6 pts | +4.6 pts |
| Minutes to work | Hampshire County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.1% |
| 60+ min | 23.5% |
What the numbers mean for Hampshire County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Hampshire County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 41% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hampshire County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 48.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Who licenses lenders for Hampshire County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hampshire County borrowers answers to the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the West Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
A Hampshire County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Hampshire County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Hampshire County credit union about member loans.
Other West Virginia guides
Next step up from Hampshire County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hampshire County earn?
The median is $63,116; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Hampshire County rent compare with West Virginia?
$720 locally versus $872 for the state, 17% below.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Hampshire County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 83% of Hampshire County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
I live near Romney. Which guide is mine?
This one. Romney and the rest of Hampshire County have no separate city guide.
Will a Hampshire County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming West Virginia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.