HomeWest VirginiaHardy County
Hardy County, West Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Hardy County, West Virginia had an estimated 14,335 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,297, across 582 square miles. County output reached $1.03 bn in 2024, 294 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 7 7(a) approvals worth $1.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Hardy County
How many people live in Hardy County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,243
- Households5,954
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$49,272
- Median age46.7
- Median gross rent$816 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$166,300
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher15.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over10,505
- Population under 182,823
- Share under 1819.8 percent
- Population 65 and over3,303
- Share 65 and over23.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 648,117
- Civilian labor force6,627
- Unemployment rate7.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over58.0 percent
- Rank by population among West Virginia counties37th of 55
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2208th of 3,222
Hardy County is the 37th largest of 55 West Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.2 percent against 19.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Hardy County
Is Hardy County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202414,335
- Census 2020 base population14,297
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.27 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202442
- Births, 2024142
- Deaths, 2024180
- Natural change, 2024-38
- Net domestic migration, 202463
- Net international migration, 202416
- Total net migration, 202479
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024261
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1732nd of 3,144
The county has grown 0.27 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Hardy County
Where are people moving to Hardy County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving333
- People arriving, from those returns644
- Tax returns filed by households leaving265
- Net household movement68
- Adjusted gross income arriving$21.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$9.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$63,931
- Average income of a leaving household$46,253
- Largest single originGrant County (44 households)
- Largest single destinationGrant County (54 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County | 44 | 83 | $1.3 m |
| Hampshire County | 28 | 55 | $993,000 |
Households arriving report $17,678 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Grant County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Hardy County
What is the Hardy County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.03 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.03 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.4 percent
- GDP change over five years60.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the West Virginia areas BEA publishes29th of 55
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1820th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$72,308
Output grew 0.4 percent in the latest year and 60.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Hardy County
Employment by industry in Hardy County
- Covered employment, annual average6,079
- Establishments reporting456
- Average annual pay$48,062
- Average weekly wage$924
- Manufacturing, employment2,540
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$50,550
- Retail trade, employment679
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,852
- Accommodation and food services, employment315
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,630
- Transportation and warehousing, employment203
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$63,778
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment162
- Construction, employment118
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,540 | 14 | $50,550 |
| Retail trade | 679 | 56 | $33,852 |
| Accommodation and food services | 315 | 31 | $18,630 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 203 | 19 | $63,778 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 162 | 9 | $41,156 |
| Construction | 118 | 39 | $47,897 |
| Finance and insurance | 117 | 24 | $93,780 |
| Other services, except public administration | 105 | 28 | $39,630 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,540 jobs, 41.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Hardy County
How many businesses are in Hardy County?
- Establishments, all industries294
- Employment at those establishments6,014
- Annual payroll$263.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Hardy County
Building permits in Hardy County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202474
- Declared construction value permitted$13.5 m
- Single family units authorized74
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$182,035
- Units authorized per 1,000 households12.4
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Hardy County
SBA loans in Hardy County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded7
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$1.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$216,643
- Median 7(a) approval$110,000
- Largest single approval$956,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)165
- Jobs per approval23.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active4
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter7
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals28.6 percent
- Most active lenderPendleton Community Bank Inc (4)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$214,000
- Average 504 approval$214,000
- Median 504 approval$214,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval4.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved18.7
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$1.7 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hardy County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Hardy County
Do SBA loans in Hardy County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure4
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hardy County
SBA lending by place in Hardy County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Moorefield, approvals4
- Wardensville, approvals2
- Rig, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Moorefield | 4 | $1,310,000 |
| Wardensville | 2 | $96,500 |
| Rig | 1 | $110,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Hardy County
How large is Hardy County?
- Land area582 sq mi
- Rank by land area among West Virginia counties11th of 55
- Width, east to west33.7 mi
- Height, north to south32.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land24
- Establishments per square mile0.51
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Hardy County
Flood risk in Hardy County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Hardy County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 540051
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Hardy County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Hardy County (community 540051), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Hardy County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Hardy County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Hardy County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,243
- Households5,954
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$49,272
- Median age46.7
Common questions
Hardy County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Hardy County, West Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 14,335 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 14,243, in 5,954 households, ranking 37th of 55 West Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Hardy County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.27 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,297, to 14,335 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 142 births against 180 deaths, with net migration of 79. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Hardy County?
$49,272. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,300, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $816 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Hardy County?
294 establishments, employing 6,014 people with an annual payroll of $263.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Hardy County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,540 jobs, 41.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,079 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,062, or $924 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Hardy County?
7 7(a) approvals totaling $1.5 m since FY2020, across 4 lenders, with a median approval of $110,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $214,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Hardy County?
74 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $13.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Hardy County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Hardy County come from?
The largest single origin is Grant County, with 44 households. Arriving households report an average income of $63,931 against $46,253 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Hardy County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Hardy County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Hardy County
Cities and places in Hardy.
2 Census places lie wholly or partly in Hardy County. All 2 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moorefield | town | 2,525 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Wardensville | town | 378 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 7 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Hardy County, the largest being Rig (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.