1st Advantage MortgageIn Hancock County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $65,464 a year and the typical rent is $740. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kentucky license first.
On this page
- Hancock County by the numbers
- Income in Hancock County compared with Kentucky
- Employment and commuting in Hancock County
- Hancock County housing compared with Kentucky
- The communities that make up Hancock County
- Regional comparison for Hancock County
- A Hancock County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Hancock County
- More Hancock County figures
- Who licenses lenders for Hancock County residents
- Four steps for Hancock County borrowers
- More guides for Hancock County
- Frequently asked questions
Hancock County by the numbers
Hancock County is home to about 9,034 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 102nd most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 188 square miles of land, or about 48 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Hancock County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lewisport, with about 2,057 residents, or 23% of the county. Because Hancock County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Income in Hancock County compared with Kentucky
Half of Hancock County households take in less than $65,464 a year and half take in more, 3% above the Kentucky median of $63,726. That places it 27th among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Hancock County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.7% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.9% | +3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -5.1 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.2%, the same as the state's 16.1%. 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 Hancock County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Hancock County residents work in manufacturing and 27% in education and health care. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward manufacturing (30% against 14%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. 4.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Hancock County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 29.5% | +15.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.6% | -2.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 4.0% | -3.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Hancock County housing compared with Kentucky
Renters in Hancock County pay a median of $740 a month, 23% below the Kentucky figure of $967. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $141,200, a typical Hancock County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median year built is 1981.
| Hancock County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $740/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $141,200 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hancock County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Hancock County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 36% of Hancock County residents live in one of the 2. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewisport | city | 2,057 | $55,873 | $824 | 9 mi |
| Hawesville | city | 1,188 | $50,000 | $680 | 4 mi |
Regional comparison for Hancock County
Distances run center to center, from Spencer County at 17 miles out to Warrick County at 31. Warrick County leads the group on income ($89,844), Breckinridge County trails ($55,843), and Hancock County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hancock County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $65,464 | $740/mo | 77% |
| Spencer County, IN | 17 mi | $74,506 | $751/mo | 81% |
| Daviess County, KY | 18 mi | $68,214 | $918/mo | 68% |
| Perry County, IN | 19 mi | $61,151 | $682/mo | 75% |
| Breckinridge County, KY | 20 mi | $55,843 | $733/mo | 81% |
| Ohio County, KY | 25 mi | $57,798 | $739/mo | 77% |
| Warrick County, IN | 31 mi | $89,844 | $1,061/mo | 82% |
A Hancock County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Hancock County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,455 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $740, takes 14% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,606 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Hancock County
What the Hancock County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Consolidating cards in Hancock County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Hancock County figures
17% of Hancock County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Hancock County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hancock County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Who licenses lenders for Hancock County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Hancock County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Hancock County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hancock County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Hancock County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hancock County household make?
About $65,464 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% above the Kentucky median.
What do renters pay in Hancock County?
$740 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Hancock County?
By population: Lewisport, Hawesville. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Does living in Hancock County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Hancock County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Hancock County?
Start with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.