Median household income in Ohio is $71,389 and median rent is $1,034 a month, per Census 2020 to 2024 estimates. Compare at least three written offers on APR and total cost, verify the lender's license with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, and never pay a fee before funding.
On this page
- Ohio by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Ohio borrowers
- Largest places in Ohio
- More Ohio cities and towns
- Counties with the most residents
- How Ohio earns a living
- More context for Ohio budgets
- Checking a lender in Ohio
- Can Ohio residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Ohio
- Frequently asked questions
Ohio by the numbers
Sixteen lines of Census data describe the budget backdrop in Ohio; a rank of 1 means the highest value of any state or DC.
| Indicator | Ohio | United States | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,389 | $80,734 | 40th |
| Home value, median | $214,800 | $332,700 | 44th |
| Homeownership rate | 67% | 65% | 28th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 21% | 28% | 47th |
| Years of median income to buy the median home | 3.0x | 4.1x | 47th |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 11% | 17% | 38th |
| Working from home | 13% | 15% | 30th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31% | 36% | 38th |
| Age, median | 39.7 | 38.9 | 19th |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.467 | 0.483 | 24th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 24% | 21% | 11th |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 35% | 41% | 39th |
| People below the poverty line | 13.3% | 12.5% | 15th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 4.8% | 5.2% | 30th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,034 | $1,413 | 40th |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 46% | 51% | 39th |
What the numbers mean for Ohio borrowers
On commuting, Ohio ranks 38th: 11% of workers need 45 minutes or more to get to work (U.S. 17%). Where commutes are long, a car repair is often the emergency that sends people looking for a loan; see our auto repair guide.
Incomes are spread unevenly: 24% of Ohio households earn under $35,000 (U.S.: 21%), while 35% earn $100,000 or more (U.S.: 41%) and 9% top $200,000. If your household sits under $30,000 a year, start with credit unions, creditor hardship plans and nonprofit counseling before a personal loan.
A middle-of-the-road Ohio household brings in $71,389 a year. That is 12% below the $80,734 national median and good for 40th place. Half of households earn more than this and half earn less, and a lender will look only at where you sit.
Ohio renters pay a median $1,034 a month. 46% of them spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, below the national share of 51%. Rent-burdened households should put a cushion ahead of any loan, even a small one.
Largest places in Ohio
Population, income and housing costs for the 12 largest places in Ohio (ACS 2020 to 2024); linked names open a local guide.
| Community | County | Population | Median household income | Median gross rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | Franklin County, Delaware County | 914,802 | $66,082 | $1,295 | $252,900 |
| Cleveland | Cuyahoga County | 366,097 | $40,801 | $945 | $102,000 |
| Cincinnati | Hamilton County | 311,224 | $52,909 | $1,001 | $230,900 |
| Toledo | Lucas County | 267,463 | $49,724 | $901 | $114,500 |
| Akron | Summit County | 189,247 | $48,076 | $955 | $122,000 |
| Dayton | Montgomery County, Greene County | 136,579 | $45,247 | $918 | $100,600 |
| Parma | Cuyahoga County | 79,870 | $69,295 | $1,087 | $170,100 |
| Canton | Stark County | 69,755 | $43,188 | $850 | $97,800 |
| Lorain | Lorain County | 65,395 | $48,685 | $887 | $139,200 |
| Hamilton | Butler County | 63,468 | $55,166 | $1,007 | $165,200 |
| Youngstown | Mahoning County, Trumbull County | 59,331 | $34,408 | $728 | $63,300 |
| Springfield | Clark County | 58,190 | $47,143 | $851 | $116,800 |
Of the places the Census Bureau tracks in Ohio, 187 have 10,000 or more people and 18 have 50,000 or more. The income gap between towns is wide: among places over 20,000, Hudson has the highest median at $171,427 and Youngstown the lowest at $34,408. Median rent in that group ranges from $728 in Youngstown to $2,344 in Hudson.
More Ohio cities and towns
From Kettering (57,206 residents) down to Findlay (40,287).
| Place | Residents | Median household income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettering | 57,206 | $74,681 | $1,051 |
| Elyria | 53,035 | $54,945 | $906 |
| Middletown | 51,617 | $57,102 | $1,007 |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 50,909 | $72,705 | $1,038 |
| Newark | 50,783 | $61,670 | $973 |
| Lakewood | 50,007 | $68,954 | $1,070 |
| Dublin | 49,294 | $160,296 | $1,686 |
| Euclid | 48,823 | $50,285 | $1,025 |
| Mansfield | 47,663 | $44,540 | $814 |
| Mentor | 47,171 | $88,949 | $1,239 |
| Beavercreek | 47,126 | $110,088 | $1,457 |
| Strongsville | 45,983 | $103,253 | $1,302 |
| Fairfield | 44,828 | $77,937 | $1,242 |
| Delaware | 44,589 | $99,786 | $1,286 |
| Cleveland Heights | 44,497 | $72,826 | $1,216 |
| Huber Heights | 43,455 | $79,131 | $1,258 |
| Grove City | 42,517 | $93,161 | $1,331 |
| Lancaster | 41,249 | $59,133 | $1,083 |
| Reynoldsburg | 41,224 | $72,972 | $1,259 |
| Findlay | 40,287 | $61,423 | $975 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Euclid (24%) and least in Dublin (13%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 88 counties in Ohio, these 16 have the most people.
| County | Residents | Median income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 1,333,048 | $75,176 | $1,302 | $288,400 |
| Cuyahoga County | 1,245,873 | $64,468 | $1,060 | $195,400 |
| Hamilton County | 830,774 | $72,470 | $1,075 | $241,900 |
| Summit County | 537,864 | $71,622 | $1,026 | $208,700 |
| Montgomery County | 536,096 | $66,139 | $1,026 | $180,900 |
| Lucas County | 428,018 | $62,224 | $934 | $163,900 |
| Butler County | 392,876 | $81,590 | $1,135 | $258,500 |
| Stark County | 373,713 | $67,934 | $909 | $186,400 |
| Lorain County | 317,129 | $73,347 | $966 | $223,200 |
| Warren County | 250,008 | $110,132 | $1,361 | $349,400 |
| Lake County | 232,216 | $80,925 | $1,113 | $214,100 |
| Delaware County | 226,834 | $133,540 | $1,492 | $445,500 |
| Mahoning County | 226,491 | $56,942 | $791 | $154,700 |
| Clermont County | 211,181 | $85,510 | $1,107 | $266,200 |
| Trumbull County | 200,929 | $56,435 | $797 | $141,800 |
| Medina County | 183,660 | $94,968 | $1,143 | $287,000 |
The richest county by median income is Delaware County ($133,540); the lowest is Meigs County ($46,873). A statewide average hides that spread, which is why the same loan can be comfortable in one county and a stretch in the next.
How Ohio earns a living
The jobs mix in Ohio: the four largest industries by share of employed residents 16 and older.
| Industry | Share of Ohio workers | U.S. share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 24% | 24% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15% | 10% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 10% | 13% | -2.3 pts |
The industry where Ohio stands out most from the U.S. is manufacturing: 15% of employed residents, versus 10% for the nation. Lenders verify your own income history, so steady deposits matter more than which sector you work in.
More context for Ohio budgets
Poverty affects 13.3% of Ohio residents (U.S. 12.5%), and the five-year average unemployment rate was 4.8%. Five-year estimates smooth out booms and slumps, so they describe the economy's shape more than its current mood.
Homeownership stands at 67% in Ohio and the median owner-occupied home is worth $214,800, which ranks 44th among the 51 jurisdictions. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 21%. Owners can also compare a home-equity line against a personal loan, keeping in mind that equity borrowing puts the house at risk.
The median Ohio resident is 39.7. Four-year degrees: 31% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.467, 24th of 51.
Checking a lender in Ohio
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in Ohio. The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory.
- Report fee-first offers at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
Can Ohio residents use the questionnaire?
Availability of lending partners varies by state. When Ohio is not yet covered, the form tells you on the second step and lets you join an email list, with no calls and nothing else collected.
Local guides in Ohio
Prefer the view from your own city? 8 Ohio places have a full guide:
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a lender in Ohio?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, Ohio's banking agency in the CSBS directory. You can also search a lender on NMLS Consumer Access and file complaints with the CFPB.
What is the median household income in Ohio?
$71,389 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 40th among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
Is rent high in Ohio?
The typical renter pays $1,034; the U.S. median is $1,413. In Ohio, 46% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
How many Ohio residents live below the poverty line?
13.3% in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, compared with 12.5% nationally. Households under strain should look at free options, such as hardship plans and nonprofit counseling, before a loan.