1st Advantage MortgageAllen County households have a median income of $64,038 and median rent of $922 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Allen County
- What it costs to live in Allen County
- Household income in Allen County
- Jobs and commutes in Allen County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Allen County
- Regional comparison for Allen County
- Who lives in Allen County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Allen County
- Debt-to-income at Allen County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Allen County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Allen County
Allen County is home to about 101,348 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 88 county-level areas in Ohio. Land area is 403 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 252 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Lima, OH metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Lima is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 35,010 people (35% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Allen County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $922 in Allen County versus $1,034 statewide. By the Census definition, 41% of Allen County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $165,300, a typical Allen County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Allen County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $922/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,300 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.3% | 3.4% | n/a |
Household income in Allen County
Allen County households have a median income of $64,038 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 54th of 88 in Ohio.
| Income band | Share in Allen County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -3.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Allen County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.3% of Allen County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Allen County median.
Jobs and commutes in Allen County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 22%. Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 7.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Allen County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.8% | +7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -3.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +0.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Allen County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Allen County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 55,037 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,240 in Lima to $118,583 in Westminster. No Allen County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | city | 35,010 | $46,240 | $903 | 2 mi |
| Delphos | city | 7,143 | $61,037 | $812 | 13 mi |
| Fort Shawnee | CDP | 6,209 | $90,491 | $1,035 | 7 mi |
| Elida | village | 2,163 | $81,083 | $1,125 | 5 mi |
| Spencerville | village | 2,107 | $54,883 | $932 | 14 mi |
| Cairo | village | 581 | $83,125 | $1,023 | 4 mi |
| Westminster | CDP | 526 | $118,583 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Harrod | village | 453 | $72,813 | $1,045 | 11 mi |
| Beaverdam | village | 404 | $86,964 | $1,071 | 8 mi |
| Lafayette | village | 293 | $53,125 | $647 | 8 mi |
| Gomer | CDP | 148 | $70,000 | n/a | 6 mi |
Regional comparison for Allen County
Distances run center to center, from Auglaize County at 16 miles out to Shelby County at 30. Putnam County leads the group on income ($84,928), Hardin County trails ($62,484), and Allen County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | - | $64,038 | $922/mo | 68% |
| Auglaize County, OH | 16 mi | $78,660 | $868/mo | 78% |
| Putnam County, OH | 18 mi | $84,928 | $855/mo | 87% |
| Hardin County, OH | 24 mi | $62,484 | $793/mo | 75% |
| Van Wert County, OH | 26 mi | $67,917 | $782/mo | 82% |
| Hancock County, OH | 28 mi | $73,141 | $979/mo | 71% |
| Shelby County, OH | 30 mi | $73,978 | $922/mo | 74% |
Who lives in Allen County, in numbers
20% of Allen County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Allen County | Ohio | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Allen County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Before borrowing in Allen County
Where the Allen County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Allen County borrower sees (free reports).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Debt-to-income at Allen County's medians
Allen County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,336 gross per month ($64,038 / 12)
- Less median rent of $922, which is 17% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,373 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Allen County
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Ohio state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Allen County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Allen County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Ohio borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Allen County?
$64,038 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 54th of 88 in the state.
How does Allen County rent compare with Ohio?
$922 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 11% below.
I live in a small Allen County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lima, Delphos, Fort Shawnee, Elida, Spencerville and 6 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Allen County or elsewhere in Ohio, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Allen County check a lender's license?
With the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.