COUNTY REPORT WV

Hancock County, West Virginia

5 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Within Hancock County, 5 tracked ZIP codes reveal moderate water quality — national standards are generally met, with some documented exceptions.

How Hancock County Compares

Hancock County61/100
West Virginia avg64/100
National avg68/100

How Hancock County Compares

C
County Grade
61/100
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems

Hancock County scores 3 points below the West Virginia state average (64/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
61
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 26034 (64/100)
Lowest ZIP: 26062 (54/100)
$117K
Median Home Value
$2,580
Avg Remediation (220% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Hancock County, West Virginia

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.9 (asthma 12.1%, diabetes 16.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,652, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.502% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

77.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Hancock County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
1 (1 health)
2022
1 (1 health)
2023
1 (1 health)
2025
3 (3 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 3 violations. Past 5 years: 6 total (6 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 12.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 44% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1955
Median Build Year
77.4%
Pre-1978 Housing
50%
Pipe Failure Probability
100%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,652

Flood $1,520/yr
Energy Code Gap $432/yr
Sea Level Rise $400/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

16,251 housing units in Hancock County

Pre-1940 16%
1940–1959 35%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 14%
2000+ 7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Hancock County

$117K
Median Home Value
$2,580
Est. Remediation Cost
2.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value moderate burden

Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Hancock County residents

Asthma 12.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 44% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Hancock County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Oakland Public Service District 1,659 62
2 Weirton Area Water Board 18,633 52
3 Oakland Public Service District Golden Key Acres 506 52
4 Tomlinson Public Service District 2,079 36
5 Tomlinson Public Service District-newell 4,963 35

9 total water systems serve Hancock County.

All ZIP Codes in Hancock County

5 ZIP codes tracked in Hancock County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 26034 Chester 64 C 9 (1 health) $117K
2 26050 Newell 64 C 3 $83K
3 26056 New Manchester 64 C 1 $76K
4 26047 New Cumberland 58 C 23 (2 health) $146K
5 26062 Weirton 54 D 29 (1 health) $123K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Hancock County

Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.

Overview

Hancock County in West Virginia covers 5 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100).

5 of 5 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to West Virginia water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Hancock County?
Hancock County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Hancock County?
Hancock County is served by 9 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 5 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Hancock County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Hancock County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $2,652 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Hancock County?
The median home build year in Hancock County is 1955. 77.4% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Hancock County compare to West Virginia?
Hancock County has an average water safety score of 61/100, which is below the West Virginia state average of 64/100.

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