Hancock County, West Virginia
5 ZIP codes · Avg score 33/100 · Grade F · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Hancock County: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
In recent EPA cycles, Hancock County's 5 ZIP codes show a persistent below-average water quality pattern - documented violations span multiple areas, have appeared consistently across recent reporting periods, and the compliance shortfalls are spread across the county rather than isolated to a single geographic pocket or utility district, suggesting a broader structural issue rather than a localized anomaly.
How Hancock County Compares
How Hancock County Compares
Hancock County scores 38 points below the West Virginia state average (71/100) and 40 points below the national average (73/100).
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:
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.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 16.9 (asthma 12.1%, diabetes 16.6%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,952, driven primarily by flood
77.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Hancock County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
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
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,952
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
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
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
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Hancock County
8 community water systems serving Hancock County.
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Show all 8 water systems
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Systems with the most violations in Hancock County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
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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 | 33 | F | 58 (1 health) | $117K |
| 2 | 26062 | Weirton | 33 | F | 107 (4 health) | $123K |
| 3 | 26047 | New Cumberland | — | — | 127 (8 health) | $146K |
| 4 | 26050 | Newell | — | — | 4 (1 health) | $83K |
| 5 | 26056 | New Manchester | — | — | 32 | $76K |
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.
- Best Water Filters for PFAS — PFAS detected in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 77.4% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Hancock County, West Virginia
Overview
Hancock County in West Virginia covers 5 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of F (33/100) across 2 scored records.
5 of 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
← Back to West Virginia Home Safety Profile
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
- Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
What You Can Do
Hancock County has a grade of F. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
77.4% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.