Hancock County, MS Insulation Payback
Hancock County, MS: what topping up your attic actually costs
DOE classifies Hancock County as climate zone 2, hot-humid — summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-49. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-49 costs roughly $2,820 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 3.3 years at an estimated $848/year saved. The math clears comfortably within a normal ownership horizon.
The breakdown behind the number
The estimated savings split roughly $507/year heating, $341/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Hancock County's savings potential beats roughly 6 of them. Within zone 2 specifically, it ranks 118th of 233 counties by estimated savings. Mississippi averages $1,022/year across the counties tracked here; Hancock County comes in 17% lower.
Hancock County's actual weather, not a national average
NOAA's BAY ST LOUIS NASA, MS US station, 7 miles from Hancock County, supplies the 1,911 HDD and 2,140 CDD this estimate runs on. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Hancock County 3076th nationally by total degree days — the 3th percentile. Hancock County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
Already have some insulation?
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $114/year saved — roughly 14.2 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Quotes and materials for this job
Actual quotes will vary by attic access, existing debris, and whether the job needs air sealing first. Treat the $2,820 figure above as a planning number for Hancock County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-49 is the target here specifically.