1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ohio County household earns $57,798, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Ohio County, KY: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Ohio County
- Paychecks and income spread in Ohio County
- Housing costs in Ohio County
- Towns and communities in Ohio County
- Regional comparison for Ohio County
- Debt-to-income at Ohio County's medians
- Reading the Ohio County data as a borrower
- People and households in Ohio County
- Kentucky rules that apply in Ohio County
- Four steps for Ohio County borrowers
- More guides for Ohio County
- Frequently asked questions
Ohio County, KY: the basics
Roughly 23,735 residents live in Ohio County, Kentucky, 49th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 587 square miles, that works out to roughly 40.4 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (6 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Beaver Dam, with about 3,524 residents, or 15% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Ohio County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 24%. Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 14% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.0% in Ohio County. 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 5.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Ohio County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 24.2% | +9.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -4.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.8% | -2.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Ohio County
At $57,798, the typical Ohio County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 58 Kentucky counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Ohio County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.7% | -0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -4.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Ohio County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 12.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). None of these numbers decides a Ohio County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Ohio County
Renters in Ohio County pay a median of $739 a month, 24% below the Kentucky figure of $967. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,400, about 2.1 times the median household income. 77% of Ohio County households own their home and 23% rent. Median construction year: 1984.
| Measure | Ohio County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $739/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,400 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Ohio County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Towns and communities in Ohio County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Ohio County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 7,691 residents, leaving about 68% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam | city | 3,524 | $53,944 | $696 | 5 mi |
| Hartford | city | 2,649 | $61,445 | $543 | 3 mi |
| Fordsville | city | 453 | $45,000 | $533 | 13 mi |
| McHenry | city | 385 | $40,000 | $665 | 8 mi |
| Centertown | city | 371 | $46,563 | $967 | 9 mi |
| Rockport | city | 233 | $64,000 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Rosine | CDP | 76 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
Regional comparison for Ohio County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 27 miles). Daviess County leads the group on income ($68,214), Grayson County trails ($50,757), and Ohio County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio County | - | $57,798 | $739/mo | 77% |
| Butler County, KY | 21 mi | $56,092 | $679/mo | 74% |
| Daviess County, KY | 22 mi | $68,214 | $918/mo | 68% |
| McLean County, KY | 23 mi | $65,596 | $641/mo | 83% |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | 24 mi | $51,927 | $718/mo | 79% |
| Hancock County, KY | 25 mi | $65,464 | $740/mo | 77% |
| Grayson County, KY | 27 mi | $50,757 | $658/mo | 75% |
Debt-to-income at Ohio County's medians
Here is the Ohio County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,816 a month: gross income for a household at the Ohio County median
- Housing at the median rent of $739 uses 15%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,734 total minus rent leaves $995
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,332 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Ohio County data as a borrower
Where the Ohio County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 24% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
People and households in Ohio County
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Residents | Ohio County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.9% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.9% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Ohio County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
Kentucky rules that apply in Ohio County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Ohio County resident can confirm its license with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Ohio County borrowers
A short checklist for Ohio County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Ohio County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Ohio County earn?
The median is $57,798; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Ohio County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $739 a month; 32% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Ohio County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Beaver Dam, Hartford, Fordsville, McHenry, Centertown.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Ohio County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Ohio County check a lender's license?
With the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.