1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Mason County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $49,761. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's West Virginia license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Mason County
- The Mason County job picture
- Household income in Mason County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Mason County
- Towns and communities in Mason County
- Counties near Mason County
- Mason County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Mason County borrowers
- A Mason County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
- A Mason County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mason County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Mason County's population at 25,043; only 22 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. It covers 431 square miles of land, or about 58 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Mason County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Point Pleasant is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 3,961 people (16% of the county total).
The Mason County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 8% for West Virginia. The survey's unemployment rate for Mason County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Mason County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.6% | -5.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.5% | +3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Mason County
Half of Mason County households take in less than $49,761 a year and half take in more, 17% below the West Virginia median of $59,608. That places it 41st among West Virginia's 55 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Mason County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.7% | +6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -2.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Mason County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. 19.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.7%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.471 here. None of these numbers decides a Mason County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Mason County
Renters in Mason County pay a median of $671 a month, 23% below the West Virginia figure of $872. 32% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $120,300, about 2.4 times the median household income. 82% of Mason County households own their home and 18% rent. Median construction year: 1978.
| Home costs | Mason County | West Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $671/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,300 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.3% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Mason 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.
Towns and communities in Mason County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Mason County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 8,368 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,563 in Point Pleasant to $55,938 in New Haven. Median rent ranges from $575 in New Haven to $983 in Mason. Live in one of these Mason County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point Pleasant | city | 3,961 | $37,563 | $624 | 8 mi |
| New Haven | town | 1,493 | $55,938 | $575 | 15 mi |
| Mason | town | 787 | $45,893 | $983 | 17 mi |
| Gallipolis Ferry | CDP | 731 | $43,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Hartford City | town | 557 | $51,635 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Leon | town | 252 | $33,750 | $914 | 4 mi |
| Clifton | CDP | 211 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Apple Grove | CDP | 202 | $78,262 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Henderson | town | 174 | $34,479 | $857 | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Mason County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Mason County's, from 15 to 29 miles away. Income ranges from $46,873 in Meigs County to $79,527 in Putnam County; 5 of these neighbors top Mason County's median. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County | - | $49,761 | $671/mo | 82% |
| Gallia County, OH | 15 mi | $56,830 | $813/mo | 75% |
| Putnam County, WV | 19 mi | $79,527 | $952/mo | 82% |
| Jackson County, WV | 19 mi | $58,845 | $716/mo | 79% |
| Meigs County, OH | 22 mi | $46,873 | $722/mo | 75% |
| Cabell County, WV | 27 mi | $55,832 | $923/mo | 64% |
| Lawrence County, OH | 29 mi | $58,325 | $848/mo | 72% |
Mason County households compared
16% of Mason County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Mason County | West Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Mason County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
What the numbers mean for Mason County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Mason County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Mason County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Mason County borrower sees (free reports).
A Mason County household budget, worked through
Mason County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,147 before taxes
- Median rent: $671, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $780 left for all other debt payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,195 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $671, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
Mason County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
A Mason County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mason County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the West Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Mason County?
$49,761 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $59,608 for West Virginia. It ranks 41st of 55 in the state.
Is Mason County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $671 against $872 statewide, and 32% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Mason County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Point Pleasant, New Haven, Mason, Gallipolis Ferry, Hartford City and 4 more.
Does living in Mason 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 Mason County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Mason County residents?
The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in West Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.