1st Advantage MortgageScioto County households have a median income of $50,609 and median rent of $742 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Scioto County, OH: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Scioto County
- What Scioto County households earn
- Renting and owning in Scioto County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Scioto County towns compared
- Budget math at the Scioto County median
- More Scioto County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Scioto County
- Checklist for Scioto County applicants
- Ohio rules that apply in Scioto County
- More guides for Scioto County
- Frequently asked questions
Scioto County, OH: the basics
Scioto County is home to about 72,627 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 88 county-level areas in Ohio. It covers 610 square miles of land, or about 119 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Scioto County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Portsmouth is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 17,728 people (24% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Scioto County
By the Census industry count, 32% of employed Scioto County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Education and health care stands out: 32% of workers here, versus 24% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Scioto County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). About 84% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Scioto County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.7% | +7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | -4.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -3.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Scioto County households earn
Scioto County households have a median income of $50,609 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 86th of 88 in Ohio.
| Income band | Share in Scioto County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.0% | +13.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Scioto County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. 21.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.479 here. A household earning below the $50,609 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Scioto County
A typical Scioto County rental runs $742 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Ohio. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. Home values center on $137,900, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1968.
| Housing | Scioto County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $742/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,900 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.7% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Greenup County at 18 miles out to Lawrence County at 30. Greenup County leads the group on income ($60,751), Lewis County trails ($46,838), and Scioto County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scioto County | - | $50,609 | $742/mo | 68% |
| Greenup County, KY | 18 mi | $60,751 | $860/mo | 80% |
| Pike County, OH | 18 mi | $52,736 | $907/mo | 68% |
| Jackson County, OH | 25 mi | $57,106 | $769/mo | 74% |
| Adams County, OH | 26 mi | $50,264 | $732/mo | 72% |
| Lewis County, KY | 28 mi | $46,838 | $751/mo | 79% |
| Lawrence County, OH | 30 mi | $58,325 | $848/mo | 72% |
Scioto County towns compared
15 Census places fall mainly inside Scioto County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 38,315 residents, leaving about 47% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $22,932 in New Boston to $64,044 in Lucasville. Rent is cheapest in New Boston ($616) and steepest in Rosemount ($975). Live in one of these Scioto County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | city | 17,728 | $34,713 | $747 | 5 mi |
| Wheelersburg | CDP | 6,313 | $63,132 | $685 | 10 mi |
| West Portsmouth | CDP | 2,605 | $41,695 | $726 | 4 mi |
| New Boston | village | 2,470 | $22,932 | $616 | 6 mi |
| Rosemount | CDP | 2,199 | $41,742 | $975 | 3 mi |
| Franklin Furnace | CDP | 1,594 | $59,621 | $706 | 15 mi |
| Lucasville | CDP | 1,527 | $64,044 | $912 | 4 mi |
| South Webster | village | 873 | $60,417 | $652 | 14 mi |
| Clarktown | CDP | 802 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Sciotodale | CDP | 794 | $50,507 | $847 | 9 mi |
| McDermott | CDP | 423 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Minford | CDP | 379 | n/a | $632 | 9 mi |
| Friendship | CDP | 353 | $134,259 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Rarden | village | 172 | $32,344 | n/a | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Scioto County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Scioto County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Scioto County: $4,217
- Less median rent of $742, which is 18% of it
- Under a 35% cap, $1,476 total minus rent leaves $734
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,156 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Scioto County figures
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Residents | Scioto County | Ohio | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 11.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Scioto County
Based on the Scioto County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Mobile home upkeep. 15% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 22% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 56% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checklist for Scioto County applicants
A short checklist for Scioto County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Ohio rules that apply in Scioto County
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Scioto County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Scioto County household make?
About $50,609 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Ohio median.
How does Scioto County rent compare with Ohio?
$742 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 28% below.
I live in a small Scioto County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Portsmouth, Wheelersburg, West Portsmouth, New Boston, Rosemount and 10 more.
Will a Scioto 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 regulates personal lenders for Scioto County residents?
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Ohio; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.