Hansford, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 77, Hansford's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Hansford is a small community located in West Virginia, within Kanawha County. The total population is 77. It ranks as the 402nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hansford is 71.6 years. This is 68% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. 26.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hansford is $18,938. This is 68% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 77% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.9%. This is 79% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Hansford, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $108,000. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.7x. 44.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hansford is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 23.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (23.4% vs 3.1%).

Education

49.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Hansford in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 105% higher 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 74.0%. Notably, 15.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hansford, West Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.