CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Hancock County

West Virginia · 29,095 residents · 82.6 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Weirton metro area
Compare
The short version

Hancock County is home to 29,095 people in West Virginia. At a median age of 46.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Median home value sits at $94,600. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 72% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 46.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
29,095
−11%since 2000
from 32,667 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
46.9
+12%since 2000
from 41.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
82.6 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
28K30K32K34K36K19902000201020202024Hancock County
202428K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.4%(1,286)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(1,473)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.6%(1,615)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.6%(1,623)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(1,441)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(3,166)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.2%(3,250)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413%(3,793)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.7%(4,567)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.9%(4,052)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.6%(1,931)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.1%(898)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,140
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,759 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,261
+54%since 2000
from $17,724 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
27.8%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.9%
US avg: 10%
Information12.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing2.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,600
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$679
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $451 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
72.1%
−5.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.1% in 2000
27.9% rent
Persons per household
2.28 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.21 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.0
−9%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(31,307)
Black2.3%(747)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(243)
Asian0.3%(111)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic91%(26,484)
Black2.4%(695)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(424)
Asian0.4%(110)
Other2.2%(651)
Segregation Score
20
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.6%(171)
Spaniard0.3%(92)
Colombian0.3%(77)
Cuban0.1%(33)
Puerto Rican0.1%(25)
Salvadoran0.1%(25)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(41)
Asian Indian0.1%(37)
Chinese0.1%(31)
Filipino0.1%(22)
Thai0%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(5)
Ancestry
German19.7%(5,740)
Irish19.5%(5,678)
English15.2%(4,413)
Italian11.3%(3,279)
Polish6.8%(1,969)
American6%(1,743)
Scotch-Irish2.8%(802)
Welsh2%(571)
French1.8%(516)
Dutch1.7%(508)
Slovak1.7%(484)
Croatian1.5%(426)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish1.3%(382)
Hungarian1.1%(315)
Russian0.8%(242)
Serbian0.8%(232)
Greek0.7%(201)
Czech0.6%(181)
Finnish0.3%(97)
Ukrainian0.3%(97)
Swedish0.2%(55)
Austrian0.1%(30)
Lebanese0.1%(27)
British0.1%(26)
Slovene0.1%(25)
Norwegian0.1%(20)
Belgian0%(14)
Danish0%(7)
Swiss0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+63%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.4%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
30.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
51.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2013
from 13.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
87.1%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
87.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married29.2%(3,404)
Married52%(6,065)
Widowed4%(467)
Divorced14.8%(1,726)
Women 15+
Never married22%(2,752)
Married47.6%(5,959)
Widowed14.9%(1,873)
Divorced15.5%(1,946)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
7.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2013
from 13.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
52.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
15.3%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
24.8%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
24.1%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
64.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
47.1%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)10.4%(265)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)16.6%(424)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era36.3%(930)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.7%(145)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II6.6%(169)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 2,560 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Hancock County

Bradford County
Pop 28,307
Hardee County
Pop 25,932
Hart County
Pop 28,639
Grady County
Pop 26,590
Places similar to Hancock County
Head to head

Compare Hancock County to nearby counties

HANCOCK COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$59,055+23%
Home value$127,800+35%
Population63,597+129%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HANCOCK COUNTY VS
Beaver County
Income$71,089+48%
Home value$190,900+102%
Population166,032+499%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HANCOCK COUNTY VS
Brooke County
Income$54,316+13%
Home value$141,500+50%
Population21,142−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HANCOCK COUNTY VS
Columbiana County
Income$58,180+21%
Home value$151,600+60%
Population99,377+258%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hancock County, West Virginia?

Hancock County, West Virginia has about 29,095 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hancock County, West Virginia?

The typical household in Hancock County, West Virginia earns about $48,140 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hancock County, West Virginia expensive?

In Hancock County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $94,600, and the typical rent is about $679 a month.

How educated are people in Hancock County, West Virginia?

About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in Hancock County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hancock County, West Virginia?

About 14.0% of people in Hancock County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hancock County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Hancock County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,138 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →