1st Advantage MortgageMahoning County (226,491 residents) has a $56,942 median household income and $791 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Mahoning County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- First look: Mahoning County, OH
- The Mahoning County housing market in figures
- Jobs and commutes in Mahoning County
- Mahoning County's most unusual numbers
- Household income in Mahoning County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mahoning County
- How Mahoning County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income, Mahoning County edition
- Mahoning County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Mahoning County
- Lender oversight for Mahoning County
- Checklist for Mahoning County applicants
- Other Ohio guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Mahoning County, OH
Roughly 226,491 residents live in Mahoning County, Ohio, 13th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Its 411 square miles average 550 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Youngstown-Warren, OH metropolitan area. Youngstown (59,331 people) heads the county's list of 22 Census places, 12 incorporated and 10 census-designated.
The Mahoning County housing market in figures
Renters in Mahoning County pay a median of $791 a month, 24% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 50% in Mahoning County, 46% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,700, about 2.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 70%. The median home was built in 1963, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Nationally, Mahoning County's $791 rent is 10% below the middle county.
| Home costs | Mahoning County | Ohio | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | +4.2 pts |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | +3.1 pts |
| Median home value | $154,700 | $214,800 | 28% lower |
| Median gross rent | $791/mo | $1,034/mo | 24% lower |
| Mobile homes | 1.6% | 3.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | +1.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | -0.6 pts |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Jobs and commutes in Mahoning County
Education and health care (28%), manufacturing (12%) and retail trade (12%) lead Mahoning County's job mix. Mahoning County over-indexes on education and health care: 28% versus 24% in Ohio. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. No car: 8.4% of Mahoning County households.
| Industry | Share of Mahoning County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.1% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | +0.4 pts |
Self-employed in Mahoning County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Mahoning County's most unusual numbers
Out of every Ohio county, Mahoning County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Mahoning County sits near the top of Ohio at 6.4%, 6th highest of 88. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- Mahoning County ranks 7th highest of 88 Ohio counties for the poverty rate: 18.9%, against 13.3% statewide. Free help, such as utility and rent assistance, should come before any loan.
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Mahoning County sits near the top of Ohio at 50%, 6th highest of 88. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
Household income in Mahoning County
Median household income in Mahoning County: $56,942 (20% below Ohio, $71,389).
| Households earning | Mahoning County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.3% | +7.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.1% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.4 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. Mahoning County counts about 42,810 residents below the poverty line, 18.9% of the population. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Mahoning County median.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mahoning County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 22 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Mahoning County residents live in one of the 22. Lake Milton ($109,688) and Youngstown ($34,408) mark the top and bottom of Mahoning County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $635 in Lowellville to $1,335 in Woodworth. Live in one of these Mahoning County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown | city | 59,331 | $34,408 | $728 | 9 mi |
| Austintown | CDP | 30,164 | $52,978 | $788 | 6 mi |
| Salem | city | 11,758 | $47,073 | $763 | 8 mi |
| Struthers | city | 9,923 | $53,447 | $850 | 10 mi |
| Campbell | city | 7,784 | $42,909 | $688 | 10 mi |
| Canfield | city | 7,649 | $97,439 | $788 | 1 mi |
| Sebring | village | 4,146 | $49,541 | $1,233 | 15 mi |
| Mineral Ridge | CDP | 3,657 | $59,161 | $734 | 9 mi |
| Poland | village | 2,357 | $92,417 | $953 | 8 mi |
| Woodworth | CDP | 1,824 | $60,417 | $1,335 | 6 mi |
| New Middletown | village | 1,550 | $50,375 | $715 | 11 mi |
| North Lima | CDP | 1,208 | $102,759 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Craig Beach | village | 1,161 | $72,361 | $957 | 13 mi |
| Lowellville | village | 1,088 | $50,313 | $635 | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Mahoning County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Mahoning County's, from 17 to 34 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Mahoning County; Portage County is highest at $75,766 and Trumbull County lowest at $56,435. Some neighbors are in Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mahoning County resident follows Ohio rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahoning County | - | $56,942 | $791/mo | 70% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 17 mi | $58,180 | $756/mo | 73% |
| Trumbull County, OH | 20 mi | $56,435 | $797/mo | 71% |
| Lawrence County, PA | 23 mi | $61,931 | $831/mo | 76% |
| Portage County, OH | 25 mi | $75,766 | $1,064/mo | 70% |
| Beaver County, PA | 31 mi | $71,089 | $890/mo | 75% |
| Mercer County, PA | 34 mi | $59,976 | $843/mo | 72% |
Debt-to-income, Mahoning County edition
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Mahoning County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,745 gross per month ($56,942 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $791, takes 17% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $917 a month
Homeowners in Mahoning County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Mahoning County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Mahoning County: 4.9%; Ohio: 6.4%.
| Measure | Mahoning County | Gap to Ohio | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | +5.6 pts | +5.7 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | -4.5 pts | +4.8 pts |
| Median age | 43.2 | +3.5 yrs | +1.7 yrs |
| Work from home | 9.8% | -3.2 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | +1.6 pts | +2.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | -1.5 pts | -2.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.4% | +1.0 pts | +3.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 0.0 pts | n/a |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Mahoning County
What the Mahoning County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Lender oversight for Mahoning County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Mahoning County borrowers answers to the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. If a Mahoning County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The Ohio page has statewide figures to set beside Mahoning County's.
Checklist for Mahoning County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mahoning County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Mahoning County-area credit union.
- A Ohio license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Other Ohio guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Mahoning County rank on income in Ohio?
77th of 88, with a median of $56,942. The state median is $71,389.
Is Mahoning County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $791 against $1,034 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
How many towns are in Mahoning County?
The Census Bureau counts 22 places mainly in the county, led by Youngstown, Austintown, Salem, Struthers, Campbell.
Can Mahoning 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.
Is there a Mahoning County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Ohio it is the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions.