1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County households have a median income of $46,205 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
- Lincoln County, WV: the basics
- Income in Lincoln County compared with West Virginia
- Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
- Renting and owning in Lincoln County
- Places inside Lincoln County
- Lincoln County next to its neighbors
- What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
- Who lives in Lincoln County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
- Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
- Four steps for Lincoln County borrowers
- More guides for Lincoln County
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County, WV: the basics
With an estimated 19,902 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lincoln County ranks 31st of 55 in West Virginia for population. Land area is 437 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 46 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lincoln County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (2 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Alum Creek, with about 1,749 residents, or 9% of the county.
Income in Lincoln County compared with West Virginia
At $46,205, the typical Lincoln County household income is 30% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 47th among West Virginia's 55 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Lincoln County | +/- vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.2% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -3.1 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 18% have six-figure incomes. 23.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.7%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.476 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Lincoln County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The survey's unemployment rate for Lincoln County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 10.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lincoln County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | -1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 8.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.8 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.
Renting and owning in Lincoln County
Renters in Lincoln County pay a median of $771 a month, 12% below the West Virginia figure of $872. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,300, about 2.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 74% of homes.
| Cost | Lincoln County | West Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $771/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,300 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.5% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 15% | 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).
Places inside Lincoln County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Lincoln County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 4,131 residents, leaving about 79% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $74,231 at the median in Alum Creek, $17,500 in West Hamlin. Rent is cheapest in West Hamlin ($546) and steepest in Alum Creek ($859). No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alum Creek | CDP | 1,749 | $74,231 | $859 | 15 mi |
| Hamlin | town | 1,068 | $61,429 | $679 | 7 mi |
| Harts | CDP | 747 | $40,938 | n/a | 9 mi |
| West Hamlin | town | 567 | $17,500 | $546 | 10 mi |
Lincoln County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Wayne County at 19 miles out to Mingo County at 31. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Lincoln County; Putnam County is highest at $79,527 and Mingo County lowest at $38,119.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $46,205 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Wayne County, WV | 19 mi | $58,878 | $915/mo | 79% |
| Cabell County, WV | 19 mi | $55,832 | $923/mo | 64% |
| Boone County, WV | 22 mi | $57,093 | $837/mo | 81% |
| Logan County, WV | 25 mi | $49,723 | $710/mo | 77% |
| Putnam County, WV | 25 mi | $79,527 | $952/mo | 82% |
| Mingo County, WV | 31 mi | $38,119 | $647/mo | 73% |
What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lincoln County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,850 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $771 uses 20%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $615 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $885: what a 43% 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.
Who lives in Lincoln County, in numbers
Degree holders: 8% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Indicator | Lincoln County | All of West Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 8.1% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.0% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.3% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 21.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
Where the Lincoln County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 31% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 30% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 23% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
Consumer lenders serving Lincoln County are licensed by the state, not the county; in West Virginia that is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
Four steps for Lincoln County borrowers
Steps that save money for Lincoln County residents:
- Price the Lincoln County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in West Virginia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Lincoln County
The West Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lincoln County earn?
The median is $46,205; 18% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Lincoln County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $771 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Lincoln County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Lincoln County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Lincoln County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Alum Creek, Hamlin, Harts, West Hamlin.
Are Lincoln County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.