1st Advantage MortgageHancock County households have a median income of $34,960 and median rent of $622 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Tennessee before sharing details.
On this page
- Hancock County, TN: the basics
- Renting and owning in Hancock County
- Paychecks and income spread in Hancock County
- Employment and commuting in Hancock County
- Places inside Hancock County
- Counties near Hancock County
- Budget math at the Hancock County median
- Who lives in Hancock County, in numbers
- Reading the Hancock County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Hancock County
- More guides for Hancock County
- Frequently asked questions
Hancock County, TN: the basics
Roughly 6,852 residents live in Hancock County, Tennessee, 91st by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 222 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Sneedville, with about 1,364 residents, or 20% of the county. Because Hancock County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Hancock County
Renters in Hancock County pay a median of $622 a month, 48% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. 58% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 39% spend half or more. Home values center on $134,500, or 3.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%. The median year built is 1982.
| Measure | Hancock County | Tennessee | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $622/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $134,500 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
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). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Hancock County
The median household income in Hancock County is $34,960; statewide it is $69,595, so Hancock County runs 50% below Tennessee as a whole.
| Household income | Hancock County | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 50.1% | +26.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.0% | -7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.4% | -11.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.6% | -7.4 pts |
About 50% of households earn under $35,000, while 15% clear $100,000. Census counts 32.2% of Hancock County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Hancock County median.
Employment and commuting in Hancock County
Education and health care employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward education and health care (36% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Hancock County. About 88% drive to work alone and 32% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 11.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Hancock County share | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 35.6% | +13.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.8% | +4.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.6% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 5.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.5% | -6.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Places inside Hancock County
Just one Census place, Sneedville, lies mainly within Hancock County; it holds about 1,364 people. Live in one of these Hancock County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sneedville | town | 1,364 | $24,500 | $622 | 1 mi |
Counties near Hancock County
Distances run center to center, from Lee County at 14 miles out to Claiborne County at 24. Income ranges from $41,693 in Harlan County to $56,936 in Hawkins County; all six of these neighbors top Hancock County's median. The list crosses into Kentucky, Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $34,960 | $622/mo | 75% |
| Lee County, VA | 14 mi | $41,827 | $738/mo | 73% |
| Hawkins County, TN | 17 mi | $56,936 | $785/mo | 80% |
| Hamblen County, TN | 21 mi | $55,454 | $857/mo | 70% |
| Grainger County, TN | 23 mi | $50,538 | $746/mo | 77% |
| Harlan County, KY | 23 mi | $41,693 | $678/mo | 72% |
| Claiborne County, TN | 24 mi | $49,379 | $745/mo | 72% |
Budget math at the Hancock County median
Hancock County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $2,913 gross per month ($34,960 / 12)
- Less median rent of $622, which is 21% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $1,253 total minus rent leaves $631
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Hancock County, in numbers
College graduates make up 11% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Hancock County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.8% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.4% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Hancock County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.7% |
| 60+ min | 16.6% |
Reading the Hancock County data as a borrower
What the Hancock County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Hancock County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 32% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hancock County budgets.
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Free help first. 32% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Hancock County
Consumer lenders serving Hancock County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Tennessee that is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
More guides for Hancock County
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hancock County a high-income county?
Its $34,960 median ranks 94th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Hancock County?
$622 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
I own my home in Hancock 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.
I live in a small Hancock County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sneedville.
Will a Hancock County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.