1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Highland County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,785. 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
- Highland County at a glance
- Highland County housing compared with Ohio
- What Highland County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Highland County
- Places inside Highland County
- How Highland County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Highland County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Highland County
- Who lives in Highland County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Ohio
- A Highland County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Highland County
- Frequently asked questions
Highland County at a glance
With an estimated 43,517 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Highland County ranks 56th of 88 in Ohio for population. Packed into 553 square miles, that is close to 79 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Highland County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Hillsboro is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 6,527 people (15% of the county total).
Highland County housing compared with Ohio
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $780 in Highland County versus $1,034 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. Home values center on $168,900, or 2.6 years of median income. 74% of Highland County households own their home and 26% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Measure | Highland County | Ohio | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $780/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,900 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Highland 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.
What Highland County households earn
At $65,785, the typical Highland County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Highland County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -5.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Highland County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 14.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). None of these numbers decides a Highland County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Highland County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Highland County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward manufacturing (19% against 15%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.8% of the total (7.5% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Highland County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.7% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -4.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Highland County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Highland County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Highland County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 16,275 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $77,102 at the median in Leesburg, $36,250 in Rocky Fork Point. Rent is cheapest in Greenfield ($702) and steepest in Lynchburg ($889). Live in one of these Highland County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | city | 6,527 | $55,521 | $770 | 2 mi |
| Greenfield | village | 3,966 | $46,875 | $702 | 16 mi |
| Lynchburg | village | 1,493 | $70,956 | $889 | 11 mi |
| Leesburg | village | 1,098 | $77,102 | $780 | 11 mi |
| Highland Holiday | CDP | 976 | $61,950 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Rocky Fork Point | CDP | 818 | $36,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Mowrystown | village | 510 | $72,813 | $858 | 13 mi |
| Buford | CDP | 455 | $86,414 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Sinking Spring | village | 319 | $108,090 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Highland | village | 113 | $40,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
How Highland County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Clinton County at 19 miles out to Ross County at 31. Income ranges from $50,264 in Adams County to $71,270 in Brown County; 2 of these neighbors top Highland County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland County | - | $65,785 | $780/mo | 74% |
| Clinton County, OH | 19 mi | $70,407 | $910/mo | 72% |
| Brown County, OH | 23 mi | $71,270 | $817/mo | 77% |
| Adams County, OH | 25 mi | $50,264 | $732/mo | 72% |
| Fayette County, OH | 27 mi | $63,275 | $822/mo | 65% |
| Pike County, OH | 30 mi | $52,736 | $907/mo | 68% |
| Ross County, OH | 31 mi | $61,303 | $906/mo | 70% |
Debt-to-income at Highland County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Highland County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Highland County: $5,482
- Less median rent of $780, which is 14% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,194 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $780, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Highland County
Where the Highland County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Consolidating cards in Highland County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Who lives in Highland County, in numbers
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 7.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Highland County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.4% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Highland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.0% |
Checking a lender's license in Ohio
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Ohio state guide for the statewide picture.
A Highland County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Highland County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Highland County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Highland County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Highland County?
$65,785 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 49th of 88 in the state.
How does Highland County rent compare with Ohio?
$780 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 25% below.
I own my home in Highland County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Highland County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Hillsboro, Greenfield, Lynchburg, Leesburg, Highland Holiday.
Will a Highland County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.