1st Advantage MortgageGeauga County households have a median income of $107,860 and median rent of $1,083 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Geauga County
- Housing costs in Geauga County
- Income in Geauga County compared with Ohio
- Jobs and commutes in Geauga County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Geauga County towns compared
- Geauga County households compared
- Before borrowing in Geauga County
- Room for a loan payment in Geauga County
- Checking a lender's license in Ohio
- Four steps for Geauga County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Geauga County
With an estimated 95,481 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Geauga County ranks 29th of 88 in Ohio for population. Packed into 400 square miles, that is close to 238 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Cleveland, OH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (5 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Bainbridge, with about 8,623 residents, or 9% of the county.
Housing costs in Geauga County
A typical Geauga County rental runs $1,083 a month including utilities, which is 5% above Ohio. By the Census definition, 43% of Geauga County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $331,100, or 3.1 years of median income. 87% of Geauga County households own their home and 13% rent.
| Measure | Geauga County | Ohio | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,083/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $331,100 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% | 3.4% | n/a |
Because most Geauga 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.
Income in Geauga County compared with Ohio
The median household income in Geauga County is $107,860; statewide it is $71,389, so Geauga County runs 51% above Ohio as a whole. In the state ranking that is 4th of 88.
| Income band | Share in Geauga County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.8% | -11.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.3% | -8.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.6% | +8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.3% | +11.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 54% of Geauga County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.6%, 8 points lower than the state's 13.3%. For a borrower in Geauga 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.
Jobs and commutes in Geauga County
The biggest employer of Geauga County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Construction stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Geauga County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 17% work from home. Only 8.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Geauga County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.0% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.3% | +2.1 pts |
| Construction | 11.0% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Geauga County's, from 19 to 36 miles away. Income ranges from $56,435 in Trumbull County to $80,925 in Lake County; none of these neighbors top Geauga County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geauga County | - | $107,860 | $1,083/mo | 87% |
| Lake County, OH | 19 mi | $80,925 | $1,113/mo | 76% |
| Cuyahoga County, OH | 23 mi | $64,468 | $1,060/mo | 59% |
| Portage County, OH | 23 mi | $75,766 | $1,064/mo | 70% |
| Trumbull County, OH | 25 mi | $56,435 | $797/mo | 71% |
| Summit County, OH | 32 mi | $71,622 | $1,026/mo | 68% |
| Ashtabula County, OH | 36 mi | $57,728 | $828/mo | 76% |
Geauga County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 31% of Geauga County residents live in one of the 9. South Russell has the highest median household income on the list ($171,875) and Middlefield the lowest ($65,319), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $788 in Middlefield to $2,238 in Bainbridge. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bainbridge | CDP | 8,623 | $144,167 | $2,238 | 12 mi |
| Chesterland | CDP | 7,086 | $107,898 | $839 | 10 mi |
| Chardon | city | 5,249 | $86,613 | $1,163 | 6 mi |
| South Russell | village | 3,956 | $171,875 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Middlefield | village | 2,743 | $65,319 | $788 | 6 mi |
| Burton | village | 1,522 | $69,145 | $934 | 2 mi |
| Bass Lake | CDP | 475 | $203,264 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Aquilla | village | 248 | $55,417 | $1,125 | 3 mi |
| Parkman | CDP | 53 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Geauga County households compared
College graduates make up 41% of the adult population. 8.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Geauga County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.9% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Geauga County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Before borrowing in Geauga County
A few patterns in the Geauga County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 45, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 54% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Consolidating cards in Geauga County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Room for a loan payment in Geauga County
How much room does a median Geauga County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $107,860 a year is $8,988 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,083, takes 12% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $2,063 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,962 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Geauga County's.
Checking a lender's license in Ohio
Before sharing details with a lender, a Geauga County resident can confirm its license with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
Four steps for Geauga County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Ohio license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Geauga County a high-income county?
Its $107,860 median ranks 4th of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Geauga County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,083 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Geauga County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Bainbridge, Chesterland, Chardon, South Russell, Middlefield.
Are Geauga 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Geauga 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.