1st Advantage MortgageIn Monroe County, Ohio, the typical household earns $60,134 a year and the typical rent is $672. 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
- A quick profile of Monroe County
- Paychecks and income spread in Monroe County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
- How Monroe County residents earn a living
- The counties around Monroe County
- The communities that make up Monroe County
- A Monroe County household budget, worked through
- Monroe County households compared
- Before borrowing in Monroe County
- Steps before you apply in Monroe County
- Who licenses lenders for Monroe County residents
- More guides for Monroe County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Monroe County
Roughly 13,227 residents live in Monroe County, Ohio, 87th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 456 square miles, that works out to roughly 29.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 12 Census places inside Monroe County, Woodsfield leads by population with about 2,404; 10 of the 12 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Monroe County
Monroe County households have a median income of $60,134 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 65th of 88 in Ohio.
| Yearly household income | Monroe County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.3% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.6 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.455 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $60,134 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $672 in Monroe County versus $1,034 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $142,700, about 2.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Measure | Monroe County | Ohio | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $672/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,700 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 21% | n/a |
Because most Monroe County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Monroe County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Monroe County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 1% for Ohio. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 30% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Sector | Monroe County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.1% | +8.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +2.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The counties around Monroe County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Monroe County's, from 19 to 26 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Monroe County; Tyler County is highest at $63,693 and Noble County lowest at $56,098. Some neighbors are in West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Monroe County resident follows Ohio rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $60,134 | $672/mo | 80% |
| Noble County, OH | 19 mi | $56,098 | $707/mo | 84% |
| Belmont County, OH | 21 mi | $57,017 | $793/mo | 74% |
| Tyler County, WV | 21 mi | $63,693 | $748/mo | 84% |
| Marshall County, WV | 24 mi | $59,169 | $837/mo | 78% |
| Pleasants County, WV | 25 mi | $60,932 | $715/mo | 81% |
| Wetzel County, WV | 26 mi | $56,836 | $688/mo | 83% |
The communities that make up Monroe County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Monroe County residents live in one of the 12. Live in one of these Monroe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodsfield | village | 2,404 | $49,390 | $803 | 3 mi |
| Sardis | CDP | 427 | $62,866 | $694 | 12 mi |
| Beallsville | village | 368 | $38,438 | $865 | 9 mi |
| Clarington | village | 330 | $41,667 | $742 | 13 mi |
| Hannibal | CDP | 241 | $77,824 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Lewisville | village | 191 | $83,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Jerusalem | village | 124 | $30,625 | $695 | 9 mi |
| Wilson | village | 94 | $76,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Graysville | village | 71 | $53,750 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Stafford | village | 70 | $53,125 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Antioch | village | 53 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Miltonsburg | village | 46 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
A Monroe County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Monroe County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,011 before taxes
- Median rent: $672, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,132 left for all other debt payments
- $1,483: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Monroe County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Monroe County households compared
12% of Monroe County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.7%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Indicator | Monroe County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.1% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Monroe County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 19.7% |
Before borrowing in Monroe County
Where the Monroe County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 30% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Monroe County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Monroe County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Steps before you apply in Monroe County
Quick steps for Monroe County:
- Price the Monroe County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Monroe County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Monroe County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
More guides for Monroe County
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monroe County a high-income county?
Its $60,134 median ranks 65th of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Monroe County?
$672 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Monroe County?
By population: Woodsfield, Sardis, Beallsville, Clarington, Hannibal. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Will a Monroe County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Monroe County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.