1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Hertford County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $45,537. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Hertford County at a glance
- Income in Hertford County compared with North Carolina
- What it costs to live in Hertford County
- How Hertford County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Hertford County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Hertford County
- Hertford County households compared
- Reading the Hertford County data as a borrower
- Steps before you apply in Hertford County
- Lender oversight for Hertford County
- More guides for Hertford County
- Frequently asked questions
Hertford County at a glance
Hertford County is home to about 19,908 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 80th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. It covers 353 square miles of land, or about 56 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hertford County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Ahoskie, with about 4,764 residents, or 24% of the county.
Income in Hertford County compared with North Carolina
The median household income in Hertford County is $45,537; statewide it is $72,388, so Hertford County runs 37% below North Carolina as a whole. That places it 94th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Band | Hertford County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.1% | +15.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -9.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -5.7 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. 22.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.495 here. None of these numbers decides a Hertford County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Hertford County
A typical Hertford County rental runs $844 a month including utilities, which is 31% below North Carolina. 63% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. Home values center on $119,200, or 2.6 years of median income. 67% of Hertford County households own their home and 33% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Cost | Hertford County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $844/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $119,200 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 63% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.7% | 11.0% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How Hertford County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Hertford County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 23% for North Carolina. The survey's unemployment rate for Hertford County averages 6.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. 7.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Hertford County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.6% | +7.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -6.0 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | +2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hertford County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Hertford County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Hertford County residents live in one of the 6. Winton has the highest median household income on the list ($48,036) and Murfreesboro the lowest ($39,914), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Ahoskie ($809) and steepest in Murfreesboro ($1,079). Live in one of these Hertford County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahoskie | town | 4,764 | $40,987 | $809 | 6 mi |
| Murfreesboro | town | 3,170 | $39,914 | $1,079 | 8 mi |
| Winton | town | 593 | $48,036 | $843 | 3 mi |
| Cofield | village | 300 | $41,250 | $825 | 4 mi |
| Harrellsville | town | 196 | $70,089 | $1,275 | 11 mi |
| Como | town | 123 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Gates County at 16 miles out to Chowan County at 27. Southampton County leads the group on income ($70,795), Bertie County trails ($48,750), and Hertford County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hertford County resident follows North Carolina rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertford County | - | $45,537 | $844/mo | 67% |
| Gates County, NC | 16 mi | $66,333 | $1,143/mo | 81% |
| Bertie County, NC | 21 mi | $48,750 | $839/mo | 73% |
| Franklin city, VA | 22 mi | $63,245 | $988/mo | 54% |
| Northampton County, NC | 24 mi | $50,086 | $758/mo | 75% |
| Southampton County, VA | 26 mi | $70,795 | $930/mo | 76% |
| Chowan County, NC | 27 mi | $53,864 | $681/mo | 71% |
Room for a loan payment in Hertford County
Hertford County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $45,537 a year is $3,795 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $844, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- $522: what a 36% 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.
Hertford County households compared
17% of Hertford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Hertford County | All of North Carolina | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.9% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.9% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
Reading the Hertford County data as a borrower
Where the Hertford County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hertford County budgets.
- 23% 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. 23% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 63% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Steps before you apply in Hertford County
Quick steps for Hertford County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hertford County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the North Carolina license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Hertford County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Hertford County resident can confirm its license with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Hertford County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hertford County earn?
The median is $45,537; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Hertford County rent compare with North Carolina?
$844 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 31% below.
Which towns does the Hertford County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Ahoskie, Murfreesboro, Winton, Cofield, Harrellsville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Hertford County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.
Is there a Hertford County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.