1st Advantage MortgageJefferson County households have a median income of $59,055 and median rent of $835 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Ohio before sharing details.
On this page
- Jefferson County, OH: the basics
- The Jefferson County job picture
- What Jefferson County households earn
- Renting and owning in Jefferson County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Jefferson County
- Jefferson County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Jefferson County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Jefferson County
- Jefferson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Ohio rules that apply in Jefferson County
- A Jefferson County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jefferson County, OH: the basics
Roughly 64,518 residents live in Jefferson County, Ohio, 39th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 408 square miles, that is close to 158 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metropolitan area. Steubenville is the biggest of its 20 Census places, at roughly 18,124 people (28% of the county total).
The Jefferson County job picture
The biggest employer of Jefferson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Retail trade stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Jefferson County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). About 81% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jefferson County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | -4.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.5% | -0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Jefferson County households earn
At $59,055, the typical Jefferson County household income is 10% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 68 Ohio counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Jefferson County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.2% | +7.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Jefferson County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 16.5%, 3 points higher than the state's 13.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Jefferson 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.
Renting and owning in Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County pay a median of $835 a month, 19% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. By the Census definition, 44% of Jefferson County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $127,800, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1958.
| Home costs | Jefferson County | Ohio | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $835/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $127,800 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.9% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Jefferson County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 20 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Jefferson County residents live in one of the 20. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,914 in Brilliant to $76,768 in Wintersville. Median rent ranges from $496 in Rayland to $944 in Wintersville. Live in one of these Jefferson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steubenville | city | 18,124 | $48,172 | $775 | 6 mi |
| Toronto | city | 5,293 | $55,972 | $748 | 9 mi |
| Wintersville | village | 3,677 | $76,768 | $944 | 3 mi |
| Mingo Junction | village | 3,254 | $53,833 | $879 | 9 mi |
| Tiltonsville | village | 1,311 | $57,250 | $865 | 16 mi |
| Brilliant | CDP | 1,213 | $43,914 | $536 | 11 mi |
| Richmond | village | 640 | $59,375 | $742 | 2 mi |
| Dillonvale | village | 586 | $47,788 | $838 | 14 mi |
| Bergholz | village | 510 | $56,875 | $783 | 11 mi |
| Rayland | village | 507 | $57,188 | $496 | 15 mi |
| New Alexandria | village | 318 | $74,643 | $892 | 9 mi |
| Amsterdam | village | 309 | $47,813 | $661 | 10 mi |
| Mount Pleasant | village | 274 | $51,528 | $910 | 16 mi |
| Irondale | village | 272 | $57,000 | $950 | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Jefferson County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Hancock County at 13 miles out to Columbiana County at 26. Carroll County leads the group on income ($64,835), Brooke County trails ($54,316), and Jefferson County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $59,055 | $835/mo | 71% |
| Hancock County, WV | 13 mi | $61,466 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Brooke County, WV | 13 mi | $54,316 | $645/mo | 75% |
| Harrison County, OH | 19 mi | $54,414 | $785/mo | 76% |
| Carroll County, OH | 21 mi | $64,835 | $863/mo | 79% |
| Ohio County, WV | 22 mi | $57,094 | $821/mo | 66% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 26 mi | $58,180 | $756/mo | 73% |
Debt-to-income at Jefferson County's medians
Jefferson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,921 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $835, takes 17% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $937 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,281 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $835, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Jefferson County
Where the Jefferson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Jefferson County borrower sees (free reports).
- 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).
Jefferson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Jefferson County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.5% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jefferson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Ohio rules that apply in Jefferson County
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
A Jefferson County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jefferson County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Jefferson County earn?
The median is $59,055; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Jefferson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $835 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Steubenville?
Yes, along with the other 19 Census places in Jefferson County, such as Toronto, Wintersville, Mingo Junction.
Is the fit check different in Jefferson County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Jefferson County check a lender's license?
With the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.