1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Gallia County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $56,830. 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
- Who lives in Gallia County
- Work, industries and travel time in Gallia County
- Income in Gallia County compared with Ohio
- What it costs to live in Gallia County
- Towns and communities in Gallia County
- Gallia County next to its neighbors
- A Gallia County household budget, worked through
- More Gallia County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Gallia County
- Steps before you apply in Gallia County
- Checking a lender's license in Ohio
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Gallia County
With an estimated 29,068 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Gallia County ranks 73rd of 88 in Ohio for population. Land area is 467 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 62 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Gallipolis is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 3,130 people (11% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Gallia County
Education and health care employs 34% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward education and health care (34% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Gallia County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 8.2% of the total (7.5% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Gallia County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.5% | +10.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +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.
Income in Gallia County compared with Ohio
At $56,830, the typical Gallia County household income is 13% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 78th among Ohio's 88 county-level areas.
| Household income | Gallia County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.3% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.3% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -5.1 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 16.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.474 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Gallia County median.
What it costs to live in Gallia County
Renters in Gallia County pay a median of $813 a month, 21% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $155,600, a typical Gallia County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Gallia County households own their home and 25% rent. The median year built is 1981.
| Measure | Gallia County | Ohio | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $813/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $155,600 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 21% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Towns and communities in Gallia County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Gallia County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 5,936 people, so roughly 80% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $24,524 in Rio Grande to $60,417 in Bidwell. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallipolis | village | 3,130 | $45,417 | $855 | 6 mi |
| Bidwell | CDP | 904 | $60,417 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Rio Grande | village | 739 | $24,524 | $473 | 6 mi |
| Crown City | village | 484 | $62,500 | $833 | 16 mi |
| Kanauga | CDP | 270 | n/a | $1,000 | 8 mi |
| Vinton | village | 251 | n/a | $1,139 | 11 mi |
| Cheshire | village | 109 | $55,625 | $781 | 14 mi |
| Centerville (Thurman) | village | 49 | $36,719 | n/a | 10 mi |
Gallia County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 15 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Gallia County; Putnam County is highest at $79,527 and Meigs County lowest at $46,873. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallia County | - | $56,830 | $813/mo | 75% |
| Mason County, WV | 15 mi | $49,761 | $671/mo | 82% |
| Lawrence County, OH | 19 mi | $58,325 | $848/mo | 72% |
| Jackson County, OH | 22 mi | $57,106 | $769/mo | 74% |
| Meigs County, OH | 24 mi | $46,873 | $722/mo | 75% |
| Cabell County, WV | 28 mi | $55,832 | $923/mo | 64% |
| Putnam County, WV | 30 mi | $79,527 | $952/mo | 82% |
A Gallia County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Gallia County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $56,830 a year is $4,736 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $813 uses 17%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $845 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,318 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Gallia County figures
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 8.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Gallia County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.7% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Gallia County
Where the Gallia County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Gallia County borrower sees (free reports).
Steps before you apply in Gallia County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Gallia County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Gallia County-area credit union.
- A Ohio license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Ohio
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Gallia County borrowers answers to the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Ohio guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Gallia County household make?
About $56,830 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Ohio median.
Is Gallia County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $813 against $1,034 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Gallia County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Gallipolis, Bidwell, Rio Grande, Crown City, Kanauga.
Are Gallia 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.
Is there a Gallia County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Ohio it is the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions.