1st Advantage MortgageStark County households have a median income of $67,934 and median rent of $909 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Stark County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Stark County at a glance
- Stark County at the extremes
- How much Stark County households make
- Renting and owning in Stark County
- How Stark County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Stark County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Stark County
- Before borrowing in Stark County
- Debt-to-income, Stark County edition
- Ohio lender licensing
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Stark County at a glance
Roughly 373,713 residents live in Stark County, Ohio, 8th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 575 square miles, that is close to 650 residents for every square mile of land. Stark County counts toward the Canton-Massillon, OH metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Canton-Massillon, OH include it. Of the 30 Census places inside Stark County, Canton leads by population with about 69,755; 17 of the 30 are incorporated.
Stark County at the extremes
Out of every Ohio county, Stark County is most unusual on these measures.
- Stark County ranks 8th highest of 88 Ohio counties for population: 373,713, against 11,810,293 statewide. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
- On the share of mobile homes, Stark County sits near the bottom of Ohio at 2.2%, 16th lowest of 88. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- Few Ohio counties match Stark County on homeownership: 69% here, 67% for the state, ranking 18th lowest of 88. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
How much Stark County households make
At $67,934, the typical Stark County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 42nd of 88.
| Household income | Stark County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -2.9 pts |
On the low end, 24% of Stark County households report under $35,000; at the top, 30% report $100,000-plus. Poverty rate, Stark County: 12.5%; Ohio: 13.3%. Gini index for Stark County: 0.437. A household earning below the $67,934 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Stark County
A typical Stark County rental runs $909 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Ohio. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. Stark County homes are worth $186,400 at the median, a 2.7-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 69%, renters 31%. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Stark County | Ohio | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 46% | -3.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 21% | -2.2 pts |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | +2.0 pts |
| Median home value | $186,400 | $214,800 | 13% lower |
| Median gross rent | $909/mo | $1,034/mo | 12% lower |
How Stark County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Stark County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Relative to Ohio (15%), manufacturing is 2 points bigger in Stark County (17%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 10,438 Stark County households, 6.7%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Stark County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | +0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 31 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Stark County; Portage County is highest at $75,766 and Columbiana County lowest at $58,180.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stark County | - | $67,934 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Carroll County, OH | 22 mi | $64,835 | $863/mo | 79% |
| Summit County, OH | 23 mi | $71,622 | $1,026/mo | 68% |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | 26 mi | $65,044 | $908/mo | 69% |
| Portage County, OH | 26 mi | $75,766 | $1,064/mo | 70% |
| Wayne County, OH | 27 mi | $73,574 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 31 mi | $58,180 | $756/mo | 73% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Stark County
203,890 of Stark County's 373,713 residents live in its 30 Census places (55%); the 14 largest are listed. Greentown has the highest median household income on the list ($114,355) and Canton the lowest ($43,188), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Stark County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | city | 69,755 | $43,188 | $850 | 0 mi |
| Massillon | city | 32,338 | $56,446 | $862 | 9 mi |
| Alliance | city | 21,478 | $56,106 | $836 | 14 mi |
| North Canton | city | 17,727 | $72,544 | $1,029 | 4 mi |
| Louisville | city | 9,602 | $64,375 | $910 | 6 mi |
| Perry Heights | CDP | 8,756 | $61,601 | $930 | 6 mi |
| Uniontown | CDP | 7,920 | $93,393 | $1,014 | 10 mi |
| Canal Fulton | city | 5,337 | $62,044 | $885 | 13 mi |
| Reedurban | CDP | 4,900 | $57,000 | $1,258 | 4 mi |
| Hartville | village | 3,377 | $69,648 | $1,011 | 10 mi |
| Richville | CDP | 3,145 | $74,375 | $954 | 7 mi |
| Greentown | CDP | 2,993 | $114,355 | $909 | 8 mi |
| Middlebranch | CDP | 2,361 | $99,959 | $925 | 6 mi |
| Brewster | village | 2,105 | $57,192 | $949 | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Age, degrees and coverage in Stark County
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Stark County | vs Ohio | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.9% | -5.6 pts | +3.8 pts |
| Median age | 41.8 | +2.1 yrs | +0.3 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | -1.4 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 11.8% | -1.2 pts | +3.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | -0.9 pts | -0.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | -0.9 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | -0.8 pts | -0.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | -0.8 pts | +1.3 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Before borrowing in Stark County
What the Stark County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income, Stark County edition
Stark County's $67,934 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $5,661 a month: gross income for a household at the Stark County median
- Rent at the median, $909, takes 16% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,129 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
A household below the $67,934 median has less room than this, often none.
Ohio lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Stark County borrowers answers to the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. If a Stark County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Stark County borrowers is in the Ohio guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Stark County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Ohio license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Ohio guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Stark County?
$67,934 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 42nd of 88 in the state.
What is the median rent in Stark County, OH?
$909 a month, utilities included, or $10,908 a year.
I live near Canton. Which guide is mine?
This one. Canton and the rest of Stark County have no separate city guide.
Does living in Stark County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Stark County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Stark County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.