1st Advantage MortgageThe median Knox County household earns $73,878, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Knox County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Knox County
- Knox County income bands
- Rent, home values and ownership in Knox County
- Knox County against other Ohio counties
- How Knox County compares with nearby counties
- Knox County communities by population
- Room for a loan payment in Knox County
- Before borrowing in Knox County
- People and households in Knox County
- Checking a lender's license in Ohio
- Checklist for Knox County applicants
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Knox County at a glance
With an estimated 63,142 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Knox County ranks 40th of 88 in Ohio for population. Land area is 525 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 120 per square mile. Metro status: none; Knox County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Mount Vernon is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 17,052 people (27% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Knox County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Knox County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward construction (9% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Knox County averages 2.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). About 74% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Knox County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -1.8 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Knox County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Knox County income bands
Knox County households have a median income of $73,878 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 27th of 88 in Ohio.
| Household income | Knox County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.0% | -3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.6 pts |
On the low end, 20% of Knox County households report under $35,000; at the top, 34% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 11.6% of Knox County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Knox County
Renters in Knox County pay a median of $950 a month, 8% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. Knox County homes are worth $239,400 at the median, a 3.2-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 76%, renters 24%. Median construction year: 1973. Against the median U.S. county, Knox County rent is 8% above.
| Housing | Knox County | Ohio statewide | Knox County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 76% | 67% | +8.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | -3.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 10% | 8% | +1.8 pts |
| Median home value | $239,400 | $214,800 | 11% higher |
| Median gross rent | $950/mo | $1,034/mo | 8% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 46% | -0.3 pts |
With 76% of Knox County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Knox County against other Ohio counties
Out of every Ohio county, Knox County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Knox County sits near the bottom of Ohio at 2.5%, 6th lowest of 88. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Few Ohio counties match Knox County on the uninsured rate: 11.3% here, 6.4% for the state, ranking 6th highest of 88. Hospital payment plans are usually interest-free; compare before a loan.
- Few Ohio counties match Knox County on the share of workers who work from home: 13.7% here, 13.0% for the state, ranking 14th highest of 88. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
How Knox County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Knox County's, from 21 to 31 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Knox County; Licking County is highest at $84,426 and Coshocton County lowest at $55,577.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | - | $73,878 | $950/mo | 76% |
| Morrow County, OH | 21 mi | $75,283 | $937/mo | 81% |
| Licking County, OH | 22 mi | $84,426 | $1,078/mo | 74% |
| Richland County, OH | 26 mi | $59,509 | $824/mo | 68% |
| Coshocton County, OH | 27 mi | $55,577 | $765/mo | 73% |
| Holmes County, OH | 28 mi | $76,140 | $816/mo | 79% |
| Ashland County, OH | 31 mi | $69,860 | $888/mo | 78% |
Knox County communities by population
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of Knox County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,194 in Danville to $100,593 in Apple Valley. Median rent ranges from $545 in Danville to $1,109 in South Mount Vernon. Live in one of these Knox County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | city | 17,052 | $53,845 | $948 | 3 mi |
| Apple Valley | CDP | 5,548 | $100,593 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Fredericktown | village | 2,652 | $65,510 | $831 | 8 mi |
| Gambier | village | 2,126 | $93,365 | $725 | 2 mi |
| Centerburg | village | 1,839 | $76,250 | $834 | 16 mi |
| Danville | village | 615 | $53,194 | $545 | 9 mi |
| South Mount Vernon | CDP | 589 | $59,018 | $1,109 | 4 mi |
| Martinsburg | village | 303 | $55,313 | $896 | 10 mi |
| Bladensburg | CDP | 300 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Howard | CDP | 269 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Gann (Brinkhaven) | village | 137 | $83,507 | $949 | 13 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Knox County
Knox County's $73,878 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $6,156 a month: gross income for a household at the Knox County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($950)
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,513 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Knox County
Based on the Knox County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Car trouble. For Knox County drivers (21% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
People and households in Knox County
25% of Knox County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Knox County | vs Ohio | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.7% | -6.8 pts | +2.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | +4.9 pts | +3.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | -2.3 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | -1.6 pts | -1.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | -1.1 pts | +0.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | +0.8 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 13.7% | +0.7 pts | +5.0 pts |
| Median age | 39.4 | -0.3 yrs | -2.1 yrs |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.1% |
Checking a lender's license in Ohio
Knox County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender.
Checklist for Knox County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Knox County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Knox County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Knox County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Knox County household make?
About $73,878 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% above the Ohio median.
What is the median rent in Knox County, OH?
$950 a month, utilities included, or $11,400 a year.
I live in a small Knox County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Mount Vernon, Apple Valley, Fredericktown, Gambier, Centerburg and 6 more.
Can Knox 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 Knox County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.