1st Advantage MortgageHancock County households have a median income of $61,466 and median rent of $771 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Hancock County
- Work, industries and travel time in Hancock County
- Household income in Hancock County
- What it costs to live in Hancock County
- Towns and communities in Hancock County
- The counties around Hancock County
- Debt-to-income at Hancock County's medians
- Who lives in Hancock County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Hancock County borrowers
- West Virginia rules that apply in Hancock County
- Checklist for Hancock County applicants
- More guides for Hancock County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Hancock County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hancock County's population at 28,431; only 18 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 83 square miles, that is close to 344 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 4 Census places inside Hancock County, Weirton leads by population with about 18,647; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Hancock County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Hancock County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 13% locally and 8% for West Virginia. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 7.4% of the total (8.0% statewide).
| Sector | Hancock County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.7% | +4.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hancock County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Hancock County
Half of Hancock County households take in less than $61,466 a year and half take in more, 3% above the West Virginia median of $59,608. In the state ranking that is 13th of 55.
| Yearly household income | Hancock County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.5% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -0.9 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 16.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.466 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Hancock County
Renters in Hancock County pay a median of $771 a month, 12% below the West Virginia figure of $872. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $130,800, a typical Hancock County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes. The median home was built in 1959, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Hancock County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $771/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,800 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Hancock 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.
Towns and communities in Hancock 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 81% of Hancock County residents live in one of the 4. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,292 in New Cumberland to $60,278 in Newell. Rent is cheapest in New Cumberland ($636) and steepest in Newell ($915). None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weirton | city | 18,647 | $59,575 | $746 | 8 mi |
| Chester | city | 2,179 | $56,607 | $647 | 7 mi |
| Newell | CDP | 1,246 | $60,278 | $915 | 7 mi |
| New Cumberland | city | 943 | $32,292 | $636 | 3 mi |
The counties around Hancock County
Distances run center to center, from Jefferson County at 13 miles out to Carroll County at 28. Washington County leads the group on income ($78,958), Brooke County trails ($54,316), and Hancock County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hancock County resident follows West Virginia rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $61,466 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Jefferson County, OH | 13 mi | $59,055 | $835/mo | 71% |
| Beaver County, PA | 16 mi | $71,089 | $890/mo | 75% |
| Brooke County, WV | 17 mi | $54,316 | $645/mo | 75% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 21 mi | $58,180 | $756/mo | 73% |
| Washington County, PA | 28 mi | $78,958 | $949/mo | 76% |
| Carroll County, OH | 28 mi | $64,835 | $863/mo | 79% |
Debt-to-income at Hancock County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Hancock County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $61,466 a year is $5,122 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $771, which is 15% of it
- $1,022: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,534: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $771, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Hancock County, in numbers
20% of Hancock County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Hancock County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Hancock County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
What the numbers mean for Hancock County borrowers
Based on the Hancock County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Hancock County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
West Virginia rules that apply in Hancock County
Hancock County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: West Virginia guide.
Checklist for Hancock County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Hancock County
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hancock County a high-income county?
Its $61,466 median ranks 13th of 55 West Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Hancock County?
$771 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Hancock County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Hancock County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Hancock County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Weirton, Chester, Newell, New Cumberland.
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.