1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Van Wert County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $67,917. 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
- Van Wert County by the numbers
- Van Wert County housing compared with Ohio
- What Van Wert County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Van Wert County
- Regional comparison for Van Wert County
- Van Wert County towns compared
- Budget math at the Van Wert County median
- Van Wert County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Van Wert County
- Four steps for Van Wert County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Ohio
- More guides for Van Wert County
- Frequently asked questions
Van Wert County by the numbers
With an estimated 28,826 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Van Wert County ranks 75th of 88 in Ohio for population. It covers 409 square miles of land, or about 70 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Van Wert County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (8 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Van Wert, with about 10,790 residents, or 37% of the county.
Van Wert County housing compared with Ohio
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $782 in Van Wert County versus $1,034 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. Home values center on $152,000, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median home was built in 1960, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Van Wert County | Ohio | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $782/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $152,000 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 21% | n/a |
Because most Van Wert County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Van Wert County households earn
Half of Van Wert County households take in less than $67,917 a year and half take in more, 5% below the Ohio median of $71,389. That places it 43rd among Ohio's 88 county-level areas.
| Household income | Van Wert County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.1% | -3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.5% | +9.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Van Wert County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. 9.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.383 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Van Wert County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Van Wert County residents work in manufacturing and 24% in education and health care. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward manufacturing (29% against 15%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Van Wert County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Van Wert County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 29.3% | +14.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 4.6% | -5.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Van Wert County
Paulding County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Auglaize County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $64,038 in Allen County to $84,928 in Putnam County; 3 of these neighbors top Van Wert County's median. The list crosses into Indiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Wert County | - | $67,917 | $782/mo | 82% |
| Paulding County, OH | 18 mi | $67,731 | $812/mo | 80% |
| Adams County, IN | 20 mi | $65,289 | $833/mo | 83% |
| Mercer County, OH | 22 mi | $76,782 | $804/mo | 80% |
| Allen County, OH | 26 mi | $64,038 | $922/mo | 68% |
| Putnam County, OH | 27 mi | $84,928 | $855/mo | 87% |
| Auglaize County, OH | 28 mi | $78,660 | $868/mo | 78% |
Van Wert County towns compared
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Van Wert County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 13,984 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $61,094 at the median in Convoy, $55,113 in Van Wert. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Wert | city | 10,790 | $55,113 | $765 | 1 mi |
| Convoy | village | 1,040 | $61,094 | $818 | 8 mi |
| Ohio City | village | 741 | $60,260 | $800 | 6 mi |
| Middle Point | village | 592 | $55,337 | $710 | 7 mi |
| Willshire | village | 391 | $47,500 | $867 | 13 mi |
| Wren | village | 206 | $50,625 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Venedocia | village | 143 | $55,385 | $935 | 8 mi |
| Elgin | village | 81 | $90,972 | n/a | 10 mi |
Budget math at the Van Wert County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Van Wert County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,660 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $782, takes 14% of that
- $1,256: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Van Wert County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Van Wert County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of Van Wert County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Van Wert County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.1% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Van Wert County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Before borrowing in Van Wert County
What the Van Wert County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Van Wert County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Van Wert County borrower sees (free reports).
Four steps for Van Wert County borrowers
Quick steps for Van Wert County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Van Wert County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Ohio borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Ohio
Before sharing details with a lender, a Van Wert County resident can confirm its license with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
More guides for Van Wert County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Van Wert County household make?
About $67,917 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% below the Ohio median.
How much is rent in Van Wert County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $782 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Van Wert County?
By population: Van Wert, Convoy, Ohio City, Middle Point, Willshire. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Are Van Wert 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 Van Wert 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.