1st Advantage MortgageIn Fayette County, Ohio, the typical household earns $63,275 a year and the typical rent is $822. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Ohio license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Fayette County
- Employment and commuting in Fayette County
- Paychecks and income spread in Fayette County
- What it costs to live in Fayette County
- The communities that make up Fayette County
- How Fayette County compares with nearby counties
- A Fayette County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Fayette County
- People and households in Fayette County
- Lender oversight for Fayette County
- Steps before you apply in Fayette County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Fayette County
Fayette County is home to about 28,876 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 74th most populous of 88 county-level areas in Ohio. It covers 406 square miles of land, or about 71 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Fayette County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Washington Court House is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 14,439 people (50% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Fayette County
The biggest employer of Fayette County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward manufacturing (19% against 15%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.7% in Fayette County. 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (7.5% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Fayette County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.3% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +4.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Fayette County
The median household income in Fayette County is $63,275; statewide it is $71,389, so Fayette County runs 11% below Ohio as a whole.
| Households earning | Fayette County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -2.2 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. 15.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). None of these numbers decides a Fayette County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Fayette County
A typical Fayette County rental runs $822 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Ohio. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,700, about 2.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 65% of homes. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Fayette County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $822/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $170,700 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
The communities that make up Fayette County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Fayette County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 18,132 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,750 in Jeffersonville to $76,429 in Bloomingburg. Median rent ranges from $771 in Washington Court House to $844 in Jeffersonville. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Court House | city | 14,439 | $55,998 | $771 | 2 mi |
| Jeffersonville | village | 1,240 | $45,750 | $844 | 8 mi |
| Bloomingburg | village | 1,019 | $76,429 | $830 | 5 mi |
| New Holland | village | 955 | $47,159 | $833 | 11 mi |
| Good Hope | CDP | 279 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Milledgeville | village | 115 | $55,417 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Octa | village | 63 | $27,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Pancoastburg | CDP | 22 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
How Fayette County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 27 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Fayette County; Greene County is highest at $87,309 and Ross County lowest at $61,303.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | - | $63,275 | $822/mo | 65% |
| Clinton County, OH | 21 mi | $70,407 | $910/mo | 72% |
| Pickaway County, OH | 23 mi | $74,040 | $1,020/mo | 74% |
| Madison County, OH | 24 mi | $87,045 | $943/mo | 78% |
| Greene County, OH | 25 mi | $87,309 | $1,135/mo | 68% |
| Highland County, OH | 27 mi | $65,785 | $780/mo | 74% |
| Ross County, OH | 27 mi | $61,303 | $906/mo | 70% |
A Fayette County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Fayette County's medians:
- Start: $5,273 gross per month ($63,275 / 12)
- Less median rent of $822, which is 16% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,024 left for all other debt payments
- $1,551: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $822, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Fayette County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Fayette County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Fayette County budgets.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
People and households in Fayette County
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Indicator | Fayette County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.4% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
Lender oversight for Fayette County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Fayette 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. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Fayette County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fayette County.
- 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Fayette County earn?
The median is $63,275; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Fayette County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $822 a month; 36% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Fayette County?
By population: Washington Court House, Jeffersonville, Bloomingburg, New Holland, Good Hope. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Does living in Fayette County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Fayette County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Fayette County residents?
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Ohio; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.