1st Advantage MortgageAbout 72% of Darke County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,486. 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
- A quick profile of Darke County
- Employment and commuting in Darke County
- Paychecks and income spread in Darke County
- Housing costs in Darke County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Darke County
- Darke County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Darke County median
- Darke County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Darke County
- Who licenses lenders for Darke County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Darke County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Darke County
With an estimated 51,594 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Darke County ranks 49th of 88 in Ohio for population. Packed into 598 square miles, that is close to 86 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Darke County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Greenville is the biggest of its 20 Census places, at roughly 12,741 people (25% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Darke County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Darke County residents work in manufacturing and 18% in education and health care. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward manufacturing (25% against 15%). The survey's unemployment rate for Darke County averages 2.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). About 82% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Darke County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.3% | +10.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.4% | -5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -3.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.6% | -0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Darke County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Darke County
The median household income in Darke County is $64,486; statewide it is $71,389, so Darke County runs 10% below Ohio as a whole.
| Band | Darke County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.5 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.0% of Darke County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Darke County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $779 in Darke County versus $1,034 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. Home values center on $173,200, or 2.7 years of median income. 72% of Darke County households own their home and 28% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Darke County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $779/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,200 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Darke County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Darke County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 20 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of Darke County residents live in one of the 20. Incomes vary by place: $70,717 at the median in Versailles, $32,067 in Union City. Rent is cheapest in Union City ($622) and steepest in Gettysburg ($933). Live in one of these Darke County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | city | 12,741 | $47,237 | $765 | 2 mi |
| Arcanum | village | 2,912 | $60,481 | $803 | 10 mi |
| Versailles | village | 2,715 | $70,717 | $751 | 10 mi |
| Bradford | village | 1,674 | $64,139 | $868 | 10 mi |
| Union City | village | 1,519 | $32,067 | $622 | 10 mi |
| Ansonia | village | 1,051 | $61,953 | $710 | 6 mi |
| New Madison | village | 783 | $62,500 | $888 | 12 mi |
| Wayne Lakes | village | 711 | $52,500 | $730 | 8 mi |
| Gettysburg | village | 544 | $63,125 | $933 | 7 mi |
| Pitsburg | village | 370 | $54,931 | $919 | 12 mi |
| Osgood | village | 337 | $100,625 | $1,000 | 16 mi |
| Hollansburg | village | 316 | $58,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Rossburg | village | 261 | $60,000 | $688 | 10 mi |
| Gordon | village | 222 | $71,250 | $736 | 15 mi |
Darke County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 28 miles). Miami County leads the group on income ($76,817), Wayne County trails ($55,692), and Darke County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Darke County resident follows Ohio rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darke County | - | $64,486 | $779/mo | 72% |
| Randolph County, IN | 20 mi | $60,791 | $723/mo | 77% |
| Miami County, OH | 21 mi | $76,817 | $966/mo | 73% |
| Shelby County, OH | 26 mi | $73,978 | $922/mo | 74% |
| Preble County, OH | 27 mi | $69,223 | $794/mo | 80% |
| Wayne County, IN | 28 mi | $55,692 | $815/mo | 69% |
| Mercer County, OH | 28 mi | $76,782 | $804/mo | 80% |
Budget math at the Darke County median
Darke County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,374 gross per month ($64,486 / 12)
- Median rent: $779, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,156: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,532: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Darke County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Darke County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Darke County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Darke County
Based on the Darke County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Darke County borrower sees (free reports).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who licenses lenders for Darke County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Darke County resident can confirm its license with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Ohio guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Ohio license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Darke County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Darke County a high-income county?
Its $64,486 median ranks 52nd of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Darke County rent compare with Ohio?
$779 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 25% below.
I own my home in Darke County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Darke County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Greenville, Arcanum, Versailles, Bradford, Union City and 15 more.
Are Darke County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.