Hancock County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.5 | 28,145 people · 16th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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Hancock County, WV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.5 — 921st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within West Virginia, it ranks 16th of 55 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hancock County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 71.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 71.7
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 87
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 63
Structural Poverty 58.0
Unemployment Rate 85
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 72
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Housing Cost Burden 53.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 49
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 3
Homeownership Rate 49
Economic Vitality 41.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 35
Legal Distress 39.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Hancock County, WV 60.5 Elevated —
Jefferson County, OH 63.7 Elevated +3.2
Columbiana County, OH 59.7 Elevated -0.7
Brooke County, WV 58.1 Elevated -2.3
Beaver County, PA 46.5 Normal -13.9
Washington County, PA 36.2 Normal -24.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Prentiss County, MS 60.5 Elevated 0.0
Harrison County, KY 60.5 Elevated -0.0
Lamar County, AL 60.5 Elevated +0.0
Wyoming County, WV 60.5 Elevated +0.0
Montgomery County, KS 60.5 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Hancock County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Hancock County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hancock County.

CHANGE, INC
Weirton
304-797-7733 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in West Virginia →

Find an Attorney

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 304-558-2456

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Hancock County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of West Virginia 1-866-255-4370
Mountain State Justice, Inc. 304-344-3144

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in West Virginia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Hancock County, West Virginia?

    Hancock County has a County Distress Index score of 60.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 921st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hancock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hancock County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 71.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Hancock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hancock County (60.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, OH (63.7); Columbiana County, OH (59.7); Brooke County, WV (58.1).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Hancock County's score of 60.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Hancock County's CDI score?

    Hancock County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Hancock County?

    Hancock County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 28,145 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.