City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Hancock, WI

Hancock's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

439
Residents
$48,255
Median income
$147,200
Median home
$1,097
Median rent (state)
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State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Hancock.

Place dossier plate

Sheet WI-HANCOCK-WI · Hancock, WI 439 pop · income 17th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 439
  • INC-MID $48,255
  • COL-BELOW 94.1
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 17th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Belleview
  • HOME-LOW $147,200
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Belleview, FL ( $3 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Hancock

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Hancock on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Hancock on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 439.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $48,255. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Hancock - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hancock places in the 17th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

17th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
29th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hancock, WI

Wisconsin's Hancock is a small town, with 439 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Households in Hancock report a median income of $48,255 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.9%. Home values in Hancock run a median of $147,200, and the median resident age is 44.3 years. Educational attainment runs 5.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 41.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Wisconsin at 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,097 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). The average commute for Hancock workers runs 18.5 minutes, with 60.8% driving alone and 17.5% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 59.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Hancock's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from population change to work and mobility to housing and income to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Hancock, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, annual population history, local building permits. No matched row is reported here for FBI reported-crime rates, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Population change

Is Hancock growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +5 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +1.3% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 1 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

2. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Hancock?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 60.8%. The reported mean trip to work is 18.5 minutes.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 3

How far does income reach against housing in Hancock?

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.1 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 25.9%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 4

Which cities make useful reference points for Hancock?

Within Wisconsin, the closest population matches are Sextonville (435 residents, $61,389 income); Minocqua (446 residents, $42,128 income); Caroline (447 residents, $73,036 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Whitesburg, GA (439 residents); White City, KS (439 residents); Sterling, MI (439 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Population

439 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$48,255 /yr

Low income · poverty 25.9% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

City profile score · Hancock, WI

24/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living B-
94.1 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Household income F
$48,255

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
25.9%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Bachelor's+ share F
5.1%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Hancock profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Household income, Poverty rate, Bachelor's+ share. Cost of livingHousehold incomePoverty rateBachelor's+ share 24 F
Hancock profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 68/100 (B-) · 94.1 index
  • Household income: 18/100 (F) · $48,255
  • Poverty rate: 5/100 (F) · 25.9%
  • Bachelor's+ share: 0/100 (F) · 5.1%

How does Hancock compare to other US cities?

Where Hancock sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 29% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Hancock against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Hancock near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Hancock ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Hancock only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#679 of 753
10th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 761
0th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#516 of 754
31st percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#17 of 761
98th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#728 of 761
4th percentile in Wisconsin
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

17thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

17th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Hancock's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$147,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Hancock $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Hancock's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.1×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#6,952 of 15,516
More affordable than 55% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#5,839 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.1×, Hancock sits in the moderate band: national rank #6,952 of 15,516 and #5,839 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$48,255 Hancock, WI median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Hancock, WI Hancock, WI's median household income ($48,255) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Hancock, WI-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Hancock, WI median $48,255/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hancock, WI median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Hancock, WI.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 41.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
439
Median Income
$48,255
Median Home Value
$147,200
Median Age
44.3
Poverty Rate
25.9%
Labor force participation
41.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.1%

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
392 residents394 residents396 residents398 residents400 residents 202020212022202320242025 394 residents 399 residents ▲ +1.3%
Hancock's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 394 residents
2021 398 residents
2022 398 residents
2023 399 residents
2024 398 residents
2025 399 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 1
2022 1
2023 1
2024 1

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.5 minutes
Drive Alone
60.8%
Carpool
21.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.5%

Based on 143 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Wisconsin statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $225

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Wisconsin at $225 (electricity about $100 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are Wisconsin statewide averages, not a meter reading for Hancock. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Wisconsin's BEA cost-of-living index is 94.1 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Hancock is $1,097/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Wisconsin statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 59.1 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Wisconsin statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Hancock sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Hancock compares to similar-size Wisconsin cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Hancock (this city) 439 $48,255
Sextonville 435 $61,389
Minocqua 446 $42,128
Caroline 447 $73,036
Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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