The Town FilesHancock, Maryland
Town in Washington County · population 1,557 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,900
- Household income
- $34,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.8
Hancock is a town of 1,557 people in Washington County, Maryland. The median home is worth $190,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks quieter than 97% of Maryland towns, easier by car than 91% of Maryland towns, better for retirees than 80% of Maryland towns.
How Hancock ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hancock is worth $190,900, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $34,886, which is more affordable than 9% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $924 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hancock | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,900 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $924 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $34,886 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hancock
| People | Hancock | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 94.3% |
Weather in Hancock
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.0 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hancock since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 17, 2004 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4374: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 64,206 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,252 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Hancock itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Hancock
2 public schools with 452 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock Middle Senior High | 6-12 | 255 | 12.1 |
| Hancock Elementary | PK-5 | 197 | 12.3 |
Towns near Hancock
- Bethel, PA5.7 mi · 1,555 people · home $264,200
- Thompson, PA6.2 mi · 1,029 people · home $261,900
- Bath (Berkeley Springs), WV6.5 mi · 753 people · home $185,100
- Union, PA8.5 mi · 747 people · home $264,800
- Belfast, PA12.3 mi · 1,361 people · home $198,700
- Ayr, PA13.3 mi · 2,036 people · home $223,700
- Mann, PA14.0 mi · 507 people · home $183,700
- Montgomery, PA14.8 mi · 5,740 people · home $302,400
Hancock questions
Is Hancock, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hancock scores better for retirees than 80% of Maryland towns and quieter than 97%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Hancock?
The median owner-occupied home in Hancock is valued at $190,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,886, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $924 a month.
What is the weather like in Hancock?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 27.0 inches of snow.
Does Hancock get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hancock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 17, 2004. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)