1st Advantage MortgageBelmont County households have a median income of $57,017 and median rent of $793 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Ohio before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Belmont County
- Employment and commuting in Belmont County
- Household income in Belmont County
- Renting and owning in Belmont County
- Counties near Belmont County
- Towns and communities in Belmont County
- People and households in Belmont County
- What the numbers mean for Belmont County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Belmont County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Belmont County
- Ohio rules that apply in Belmont County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Belmont County
With an estimated 65,473 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Belmont County ranks 37th of 88 in Ohio for population. Packed into 532 square miles, that is close to 123 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 22 Census places inside Belmont County, Martins Ferry leads by population with about 6,140; 14 of the 22 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Belmont County
The biggest employer of Belmont County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (16%). Retail trade stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Belmont County. About 84% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 7.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Belmont County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.5% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -6.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Belmont County
Half of Belmont County households take in less than $57,017 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Ohio median of $71,389. That places it 76th among Ohio's 88 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Belmont County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.2% | +6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.7% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -4.5 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 15.8%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.3%. For a borrower in Belmont County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Belmont County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $793 in Belmont County versus $1,034 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Belmont County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,900, about 2.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Median construction year: 1965.
| Belmont County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $793/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $154,900 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.3% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Belmont County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Belmont County
Ohio County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Guernsey County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $54,316 in Brooke County to $60,134 in Monroe County; 4 of these neighbors top Belmont County's median. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont County | - | $57,017 | $793/mo | 74% |
| Ohio County, WV | 19 mi | $57,094 | $821/mo | 66% |
| Marshall County, WV | 19 mi | $59,169 | $837/mo | 78% |
| Harrison County, OH | 20 mi | $54,414 | $785/mo | 76% |
| Monroe County, OH | 21 mi | $60,134 | $672/mo | 80% |
| Brooke County, WV | 27 mi | $54,316 | $645/mo | 75% |
| Guernsey County, OH | 28 mi | $58,478 | $864/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Belmont County
The table lists the 14 largest of 22 Census places in Belmont County, by population. Together all 22 hold about 33,882 people, so roughly 48% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $76,480 at the median in St. Clairsville, $28,833 in Wolfhurst. Median rent ranges from $271 in Wolfhurst to $1,036 in Flushing. None of the 22 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martins Ferry | city | 6,140 | $37,467 | $800 | 14 mi |
| St. Clairsville | city | 5,003 | $76,480 | $927 | 6 mi |
| Barnesville | village | 3,945 | $42,443 | $767 | 11 mi |
| Bellaire | village | 3,800 | $38,205 | $759 | 12 mi |
| Shadyside | village | 3,387 | $54,153 | $815 | 12 mi |
| Bridgeport | village | 1,453 | $54,125 | $689 | 12 mi |
| Powhatan Point | village | 1,420 | $48,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Bethesda | village | 1,239 | $35,900 | $696 | 6 mi |
| Flushing | village | 1,149 | $66,850 | $1,036 | 10 mi |
| Wolfhurst | CDP | 1,058 | $28,833 | $271 | 11 mi |
| Neffs | CDP | 921 | $31,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Yorkville | village | 908 | $49,231 | $682 | 17 mi |
| Brookside | village | 610 | $72,917 | $817 | 12 mi |
| Lansing | CDP | 523 | $44,219 | n/a | 10 mi |
People and households in Belmont County
19% of Belmont County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.5%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| People and households | Belmont County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
What the numbers mean for Belmont County borrowers
What the Belmont County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Consolidating cards in Belmont County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Debt-to-income at Belmont County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Belmont County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $57,017 a year is $4,751 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $793, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,250: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Belmont County
Quick steps for Belmont County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Ohio license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Ohio rules that apply in Belmont County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Belmont County borrowers answers to the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Belmont County household make?
About $57,017 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Ohio median.
How does Belmont County rent compare with Ohio?
$793 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 23% below.
What are the biggest places in Belmont County?
By population: Martins Ferry, St. Clairsville, Barnesville, Bellaire, Shadyside. The county has 22 Census places in all.
Will a Belmont County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Belmont 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.