1st Advantage MortgageIn Pocahontas County, West Virginia, the typical household earns $42,119 a year and the typical rent is $715. 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
- Pocahontas County at a glance
- Housing costs in Pocahontas County
- Income in Pocahontas County compared with West Virginia
- The Pocahontas County job picture
- The counties around Pocahontas County
- Towns and communities in Pocahontas County
- Debt-to-income at Pocahontas County's medians
- Reading the Pocahontas County data as a borrower
- Pocahontas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- West Virginia rules that apply in Pocahontas County
- Checklist for Pocahontas County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pocahontas County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pocahontas County's population at 7,784; only 47 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 940 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.3 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pocahontas County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside Pocahontas County, Marlinton leads by population with about 1,201; 3 of the 9 are incorporated. Because Pocahontas County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Pocahontas County
Renters in Pocahontas County pay a median of $715 a month, 18% below the West Virginia figure of $872. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $152,400, about 3.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 84%.
| Housing | Pocahontas County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $715/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $152,400 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.1% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 53% | 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).
Income in Pocahontas County compared with West Virginia
The median household income in Pocahontas County is $42,119; statewide it is $59,608, so Pocahontas County runs 29% below West Virginia as a whole.
| Band | Pocahontas County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.2% | +7.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.9% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.1% | -10.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.9% | -4.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 13% of Pocahontas County households make $100,000 or more, and 38% make less than $35,000. Census counts 22.5% of Pocahontas County residents in poverty, against 16.7% across West Virginia. None of these numbers decides a Pocahontas County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Pocahontas County job picture
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Pocahontas County residents work in education and health care and 16% in retail trade. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward construction (11% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 11.9% in Pocahontas County. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Pocahontas County workers | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | -5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Construction | 11.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.7% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.2% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Pocahontas County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 38 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Pocahontas County; Highland County is highest at $65,625 and Webster County lowest at $43,839. The list crosses into Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas County | - | $42,119 | $715/mo | 84% |
| Bath County, VA | 24 mi | $56,184 | $736/mo | 71% |
| Highland County, VA | 24 mi | $65,625 | $856/mo | 89% |
| Webster County, WV | 26 mi | $43,839 | $709/mo | 77% |
| Randolph County, WV | 32 mi | $52,757 | $821/mo | 75% |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 37 mi | $48,218 | $868/mo | 73% |
| Alleghany County, VA | 38 mi | $56,188 | $765/mo | 82% |
Towns and communities in Pocahontas County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Pocahontas County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 2,049 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. No Pocahontas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlinton | town | 1,201 | $37,273 | $722 | 9 mi |
| Durbin | town | 220 | $59,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Hillsboro | town | 194 | $51,188 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Frank | CDP | 188 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Huntersville | CDP | 95 | $39,044 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Green Bank | CDP | 84 | $76,635 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bartow | CDP | 47 | $129,688 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Arbovale | CDP | 20 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Cass | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Pocahontas County's medians
Here is the Pocahontas County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,510 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $715, takes 20% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $513 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $864 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Pocahontas County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Pocahontas County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Assistance before credit. With a 23% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Pocahontas County loan.
Pocahontas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. 6.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Pocahontas County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.7% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 11.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Pocahontas County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
West Virginia rules that apply in Pocahontas County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pocahontas County, check the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the West Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Pocahontas County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A West Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The West Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pocahontas County household make?
About $42,119 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the West Virginia median.
What do renters pay in Pocahontas County?
$715 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Should Pocahontas County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 84% of Pocahontas 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 Pocahontas County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Marlinton, Durbin, Hillsboro, Frank, Huntersville.
Does living in Pocahontas 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 Pocahontas County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.