1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Williams County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,048. 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
- Williams County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Williams County
- Household income in Williams County
- Work, industries and travel time in Williams County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Williams County
- Counties near Williams County
- Budget math at the Williams County median
- People and households in Williams County
- Reading the Williams County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Ohio rules that apply in Williams County
- More guides for Williams County
- Frequently asked questions
Williams County at a glance
Williams County is home to about 36,719 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 88 county-level areas in Ohio. Packed into 421 square miles, that is close to 87 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Williams County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (9 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Bryan, with about 8,631 residents, or 24% of the county.
Renting and owning in Williams County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $791 in Williams County versus $1,034 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $150,000, a typical Williams County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes. The median home was built in 1966, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Williams County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $791/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $150,000 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Williams 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.
Household income in Williams County
Williams County households have a median income of $61,048 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 63rd of 88 in Ohio.
| Income band | Share in Williams County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -5.9 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.7% of Williams County residents in poverty, against 13.3% across Ohio. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Williams County
Manufacturing employs 34% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward manufacturing (34% against 15%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Williams County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 33.6% | +19.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -5.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.5% | -4.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.0% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Williams County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Williams County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 20,707 residents, leaving about 44% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,269 in Montpelier to $86,202 in Lake Seneca. Rent is cheapest in Pioneer ($743) and steepest in Edon ($983). None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan | city | 8,631 | $52,865 | $806 | 7 mi |
| Montpelier | village | 3,905 | $41,269 | $768 | 1 mi |
| Edgerton | village | 2,049 | $45,216 | $753 | 12 mi |
| West Unity | village | 1,812 | $66,759 | $914 | 8 mi |
| Stryker | village | 1,155 | $72,569 | $850 | 10 mi |
| Pioneer | village | 1,024 | $44,671 | $743 | 8 mi |
| Edon | village | 773 | $74,219 | $983 | 10 mi |
| Lake Seneca | CDP | 532 | $86,202 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Kunkle | CDP | 244 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Alvordton | CDP | 190 | n/a | $1,058 | 10 mi |
| Nettle Lake | CDP | 180 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Pulaski | CDP | 87 | $33,750 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Blakeslee | village | 73 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Holiday City | village | 52 | $82,500 | n/a | 5 mi |
Counties near Williams County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 31 miles). Income ranges from $64,242 in Hillsdale County to $74,911 in Steuben County; all six of these neighbors top Williams County's median. Some neighbors are in Indiana and Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Williams County resident follows Ohio rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams County | - | $61,048 | $791/mo | 76% |
| Defiance County, OH | 18 mi | $73,064 | $846/mo | 79% |
| Steuben County, IN | 22 mi | $74,911 | $933/mo | 79% |
| Fulton County, OH | 24 mi | $72,864 | $863/mo | 80% |
| DeKalb County, IN | 25 mi | $74,331 | $861/mo | 82% |
| Hillsdale County, MI | 25 mi | $64,242 | $832/mo | 82% |
| Paulding County, OH | 31 mi | $67,731 | $812/mo | 80% |
Budget math at the Williams County median
Here is the Williams County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $61,048 a year is $5,087 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $791, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,040 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Williams County
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.8%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Measure | Williams County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.7% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Williams County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Reading the Williams County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Williams County borrowers.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Consolidating cards in Williams County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Williams County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Ohio rules that apply in Williams County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Williams County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
More guides for Williams County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Williams County?
$61,048 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 63rd of 88 in the state.
Is Williams County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $791 against $1,034 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Bryan?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Williams County, such as Montpelier, Edgerton, West Unity.
Are Williams 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Williams 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.