1st Advantage MortgageIn Morrow County, Ohio, the typical household earns $75,283 a year and the typical rent is $937. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Morrow County by the numbers
- How Morrow County residents earn a living
- Income in Morrow County compared with Ohio
- Rent, home values and ownership in Morrow County
- How Morrow County compares with nearby counties
- Morrow County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Morrow County
- What the numbers mean for Morrow County borrowers
- Morrow County households compared
- Checklist for Morrow County applicants
- Lender oversight for Morrow County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Morrow County by the numbers
Roughly 35,404 residents live in Morrow County, Ohio, 69th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. It covers 406 square miles of land, or about 87 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Columbus, OH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (7 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Mount Gilead, with about 3,331 residents, or 9% of the county.
How Morrow County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Morrow County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward construction (12% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Morrow County averages 2.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home.
| Top industries | Morrow County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 11.7% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -3.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | -0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in Morrow County compared with Ohio
Morrow County households have a median income of $75,283 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 22nd of 88 in Ohio.
| Band | Morrow County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.4% | -5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.5% | +3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -2.5 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.8% of Morrow County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.401 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Morrow 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Morrow County
A typical Morrow County rental runs $937 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Ohio. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,300, about 3.0 times the median household income. 81% of Morrow County households own their home and 19% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Cost | Morrow County | Ohio figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $937/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $222,300 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.9% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Morrow County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Morrow County's, from 20 to 34 miles away. Delaware County leads the group on income ($133,540), Crawford County trails ($58,044), and Morrow County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morrow County | - | $75,283 | $937/mo | 81% |
| Marion County, OH | 20 mi | $59,371 | $864/mo | 67% |
| Delaware County, OH | 20 mi | $133,540 | $1,492/mo | 79% |
| Knox County, OH | 21 mi | $73,878 | $950/mo | 76% |
| Richland County, OH | 22 mi | $59,509 | $824/mo | 68% |
| Crawford County, OH | 23 mi | $58,044 | $794/mo | 73% |
| Union County, OH | 34 mi | $112,322 | $1,247/mo | 79% |
Morrow County towns compared
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 23% of Morrow County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $87,159 at the median in Candlewood Lake, $44,643 in Mount Gilead. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Gilead | village | 3,331 | $44,643 | $799 | 3 mi |
| Cardington | village | 1,928 | $70,260 | $905 | 5 mi |
| Candlewood Lake | CDP | 1,053 | $87,159 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Iberia | CDP | 499 | $80,179 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Fulton | village | 378 | $48,125 | $850 | 5 mi |
| Edison | village | 351 | $58,021 | $808 | 4 mi |
| Marengo | village | 220 | $68,750 | $1,142 | 9 mi |
| Chesterville | village | 184 | $56,375 | $1,083 | 7 mi |
| Sparta | village | 139 | $71,167 | $983 | 10 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Morrow County
Here is the Morrow County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,274 a month: gross income for a household at the Morrow County median
- Median rent: $937, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,321: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,698 total minus rent leaves $1,761
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Morrow County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Morrow County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Morrow County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 27% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Morrow County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Morrow County borrower sees (free reports).
Morrow County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Morrow County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.2% |
Checklist for Morrow County applicants
A short checklist for Morrow County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Morrow County
Morrow County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Ohio state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Morrow County earn?
The median is $75,283; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Morrow County rent compare with Ohio?
$937 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 9% below.
Should Morrow County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Morrow County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Morrow County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Mount Gilead, Cardington, Candlewood Lake, Iberia, Fulton.
Can Morrow 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.