1st Advantage MortgageIn Hancock County, Ohio, the typical household earns $73,141 a year and the typical rent is $979. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Hancock County, OH: the basics
- How Hancock County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Hancock County
- Renting and owning in Hancock County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hancock County
- The counties around Hancock County
- A Hancock County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Hancock County borrowers
- More Hancock County figures
- Four steps for Hancock County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Hancock County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hancock County, OH: the basics
Roughly 74,866 residents live in Hancock County, Ohio, 33rd by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 531 square miles, that is close to 141 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Hancock County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Findlay is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 40,287 people (54% of the county total).
How Hancock County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 15% for Ohio. The survey's unemployment rate for Hancock County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Hancock County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.2% | +8.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.8% | -4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +1.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Paychecks and income spread in Hancock County
Hancock County households have a median income of $73,141 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 30th of 88 in Ohio.
| Income band | Share in Hancock County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.4% | -2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | +0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -1.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Hancock County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. 9.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.424 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Hancock County median.
Renting and owning in Hancock County
A typical Hancock County rental runs $979 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Ohio. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. With a median value of $204,700, a typical Hancock County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Hancock County | Ohio figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $979/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $204,700 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.6% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 8% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hancock County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Hancock County residents live in one of the 12. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $56,875 in Rawson to $91,385 in Arcadia. Median rent ranges from $823 in Bluffton to $1,214 in Arcadia. No Hancock County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Findlay | city | 40,287 | $61,423 | $975 | 4 mi |
| Bluffton | village | 3,859 | $75,694 | $823 | 14 mi |
| Arlington | village | 1,675 | $77,450 | $1,063 | 7 mi |
| McComb | village | 1,297 | $64,112 | $829 | 10 mi |
| Arcadia | village | 807 | $91,385 | $1,214 | 11 mi |
| Rawson | village | 642 | $56,875 | $1,167 | 7 mi |
| Van Buren | village | 583 | $87,216 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Mount Blanchard | village | 500 | $72,438 | $875 | 9 mi |
| Mount Cory | village | 387 | $71,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Benton Ridge | village | 370 | $75,938 | $625 | 7 mi |
| Jenera | village | 254 | $55,323 | $800 | 8 mi |
| Vanlue | village | 254 | $81,875 | $731 | 10 mi |
The counties around Hancock County
Wyandot County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Seneca County, is 29 miles off. Putnam County leads the group on income ($84,928), Hardin County trails ($62,484), and Hancock County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $73,141 | $979/mo | 71% |
| Wyandot County, OH | 21 mi | $69,768 | $827/mo | 74% |
| Hardin County, OH | 23 mi | $62,484 | $793/mo | 75% |
| Putnam County, OH | 24 mi | $84,928 | $855/mo | 87% |
| Wood County, OH | 25 mi | $74,216 | $972/mo | 64% |
| Allen County, OH | 28 mi | $64,038 | $922/mo | 68% |
| Seneca County, OH | 29 mi | $66,025 | $856/mo | 73% |
A Hancock County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Hancock County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $73,141 a year is $6,095 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $979, which is 16% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,215 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Hancock County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Hancock County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Hancock County borrowers.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
More Hancock County figures
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Hancock County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.3% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Four steps for Hancock County borrowers
Steps that save money for Hancock County residents:
- Price the Hancock County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Hancock County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Ohio.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Hancock County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Hancock County resident can confirm its license with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hancock County household make?
About $73,141 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% above the Ohio median.
What do renters pay in Hancock County?
$979 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Should Hancock County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Hancock County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Hancock County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Findlay, Bluffton, Arlington, McComb, Arcadia and 7 more.
Does living in Hancock 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 Hancock County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.