Hancock County, West Virginia Demographics 2026
Hancock County, West Virginia has a population of 28,431, the 19th most populous county in West Virginia. The median household income is $61,466 and the median home value is $130,800. The poverty rate is 14.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Hancock County Quick Facts
How Hancock County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,658 | 28,431 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $61,017 | $61,466 | +0.7% |
| Median home value | $119,600 | $130,800 | +9.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 19 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Hancock County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weirton | 18,647 | $59,575 | 12.6% | $133,500 |
| Chester | 2,179 | $56,607 | 15.6% | $112,000 |
| Newell | 1,246 | $60,278 | 25.8% | $88,100 |
| New Cumberland | 943 | $32,292 | 31.3% | $92,700 |
Explore West Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Hancock County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 28,431. It is the 19th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Hancock County is 47.0 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Hancock County is $61,466. This is 3% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 55% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $130,800. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Hancock County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Hancock County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.8%.
Education
19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Hancock County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against West Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Hancock County, West Virginia?
Hancock County has a population of 28,431, making it the 19th most populous county in West Virginia.
What is the median income in Hancock County?
The median household income in Hancock County is $61,466 with a poverty rate of 14.5%.
How many cities are in Hancock County, West Virginia?
Hancock County contains 4 Census-designated places.