1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Hardin County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,484. 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
- Getting oriented in Hardin County
- The Hardin County job picture
- Income in Hardin County compared with Ohio
- Renting and owning in Hardin County
- Hardin County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Hardin County
- What a median Hardin County budget can carry
- Reading the Hardin County data as a borrower
- Hardin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Lender oversight for Hardin County
- Checklist for Hardin County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Hardin County
With an estimated 30,475 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hardin County ranks 72nd of 88 in Ohio for population. Packed into 470 square miles, that is close to 65 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Hardin County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Hardin County, Kenton leads by population with about 7,663; 9 of the 10 are incorporated.
The Hardin County job picture
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Hardin County residents work in manufacturing and 22% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.6% in Hardin County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Hardin County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.4% | +11.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Construction | 5.8% | -0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hardin County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Hardin County compared with Ohio
At $62,484, the typical Hardin County household income is 5% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Hardin County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | -1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.4% | +6.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -4.2 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.3%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.3%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Hardin County median.
Renting and owning in Hardin County
Renters in Hardin County pay a median of $793 a month, 23% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. By the Census definition, 35% of Hardin County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $151,200, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Housing | Hardin County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $793/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $151,200 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.0% | 3.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hardin 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.
Hardin County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Logan County at 20 miles out to Union County at 30. Income ranges from $59,371 in Marion County to $112,322 in Union County; 5 of these neighbors top Hardin County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County | - | $62,484 | $793/mo | 75% |
| Logan County, OH | 20 mi | $71,551 | $845/mo | 78% |
| Wyandot County, OH | 22 mi | $69,768 | $827/mo | 74% |
| Hancock County, OH | 23 mi | $73,141 | $979/mo | 71% |
| Allen County, OH | 24 mi | $64,038 | $922/mo | 68% |
| Marion County, OH | 26 mi | $59,371 | $864/mo | 67% |
| Union County, OH | 30 mi | $112,322 | $1,247/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Hardin County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Hardin County residents live in one of the 10. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,333 in Alger to $61,649 in Ada. Rent is cheapest in Kenton ($625) and steepest in Mount Victory ($942). Live in one of these Hardin County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenton | city | 7,663 | $56,033 | $625 | 3 mi |
| Ada | village | 4,797 | $61,649 | $884 | 11 mi |
| Forest | village | 1,286 | $55,938 | $820 | 13 mi |
| Dunkirk | village | 839 | $49,286 | $814 | 9 mi |
| Alger | village | 718 | $38,333 | $644 | 10 mi |
| Mount Victory | village | 577 | $56,875 | $942 | 12 mi |
| McGuffey | village | 384 | $51,250 | $775 | 7 mi |
| Ridgeway | village | 224 | $56,964 | $1,083 | 11 mi |
| Patterson | village | 149 | $46,917 | $682 | 11 mi |
| Dola | CDP | 126 | $27,292 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Hardin County budget can carry
Hardin County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,207 a month: gross income for a household at the Hardin County median
- Rent at the median, $793, takes 15% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,875 total minus rent leaves $1,082
If your rent is above $793, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Hardin County data as a borrower
Where the Hardin County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 11% of Hardin County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Hardin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
20% of Hardin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Hardin County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Hardin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Lender oversight for Hardin County
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Hardin County applicants
A short checklist for Hardin County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Hardin County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hardin County household make?
About $62,484 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 12% below the Ohio median.
Is Hardin County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $793 against $1,034 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Hardin County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Kenton, Ada, Forest, Dunkirk, Alger.
Can Hardin County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Ohio county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Hardin County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.