1st Advantage MortgageIn Summit County, Ohio, the typical household earns $71,622 a year and the typical rent is $1,026. 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
- Who lives in Summit County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Summit County
- Paychecks and income spread in Summit County
- Employment and commuting in Summit County
- Places inside Summit County
- The counties around Summit County
- Room for a loan payment in Summit County
- People and households in Summit County
- Reading the Summit County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Summit County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Summit County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Summit County's population at 537,864; only 3 of Ohio's 88 county-level areas are larger. It covers 413 square miles of land, or about 1,303 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Akron, OH metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 27 places in the county (22 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Akron, with about 189,247 residents, or 35% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Summit County
Renters in Summit County pay a median of $1,026 a month, in line with Ohio's $1,034. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $208,700, a typical Summit County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 68% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1966.
| Housing | Summit County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,026/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $208,700 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 8% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Summit County
Summit County households have a median income of $71,622 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 35th of 88 in Ohio.
| Band | Summit County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | 0.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | +0.3 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.8% of Summit County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.477 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Summit County
The biggest employer of Summit County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. Only 7.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Summit County share | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.5% | -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.
Places inside Summit County
27 Census places fall mainly inside Summit County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 477,736 residents, leaving about 11% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,076 in Akron to $180,250 in Montrose-Ghent. Median rent ranges from $738 in Clinton to $2,679 in Montrose-Ghent. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Summit County community.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | city | 189,247 | $48,076 | $955 | 3 mi |
| Cuyahoga Falls | city | 50,909 | $72,705 | $1,038 | 4 mi |
| Stow | city | 34,240 | $93,727 | $1,212 | 6 mi |
| Green | city | 27,393 | $95,047 | $1,228 | 12 mi |
| Barberton | city | 24,844 | $52,267 | $848 | 9 mi |
| Hudson | city | 23,039 | $171,427 | $2,344 | 9 mi |
| Twinsburg | city | 19,410 | $99,144 | $1,356 | 15 mi |
| Tallmadge | city | 18,335 | $89,410 | $1,067 | 6 mi |
| New Franklin | city | 13,843 | $90,244 | $1,132 | 12 mi |
| Macedonia | city | 12,152 | $101,285 | $2,190 | 13 mi |
| Norton | city | 11,524 | $90,464 | $1,059 | 9 mi |
| Fairlawn | city | 7,711 | $97,055 | $1,239 | 5 mi |
| Portage Lakes | CDP | 5,913 | $64,375 | $1,162 | 8 mi |
| Montrose-Ghent | CDP | 5,903 | $180,250 | $2,679 | 6 mi |
The counties around Summit County
Distances run center to center, from Portage County at 18 miles out to Geauga County at 32. Geauga County leads the group on income ($107,860), Cuyahoga County trails ($64,468), and Summit County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | - | $71,622 | $1,026/mo | 68% |
| Portage County, OH | 18 mi | $75,766 | $1,064/mo | 70% |
| Medina County, OH | 19 mi | $94,968 | $1,143/mo | 80% |
| Stark County, OH | 23 mi | $67,934 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Wayne County, OH | 27 mi | $73,574 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Cuyahoga County, OH | 30 mi | $64,468 | $1,060/mo | 59% |
| Geauga County, OH | 32 mi | $107,860 | $1,083/mo | 87% |
Room for a loan payment in Summit County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Summit County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Summit County: $5,968
- Less median rent of $1,026, which is 17% of it
- $1,540: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Summit County
36% of Summit County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Summit County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.8% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Summit County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Reading the Summit County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Summit County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Summit County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Before you sign
Quick steps for Summit County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Summit County
The Ohio Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Ohio license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Ohio state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
City guides inside Summit County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Summit County?
$71,622 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 35th of 88 in the state.
Is Summit County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,026 against $1,034 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Akron?
Yes, along with the other 26 Census places in Summit County, such as Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Green.
Are Summit County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Summit County check a lender's license?
With the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.