by Kristen Carney
Updated: June 20, 2024
The richest county in Ohio is Delaware County with an average household income of $154,569 as of 2022 and 231,636 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Delaware County | 231,636 | $154,569 | $123,995 |
2 | Warren County | 252,148 | $135,002 | $103,128 |
3 | Geauga County | 95,407 | $131,432 | $97,162 |
4 | Union County | 69,637 | $129,983 | $104,496 |
5 | Medina County | 184,042 | $112,612 | $89,968 |
6 | Greene County | 169,691 | $105,348 | $81,243 |
7 | Licking County | 183,201 | $102,910 | $78,505 |
8 | Clermont County | 211,972 | $102,783 | $79,573 |
9 | Fairfield County | 165,360 | $102,535 | $82,969 |
10 | Hamilton County | 827,058 | $99,653 | $68,249 |
11 | Butler County | 393,043 | $98,820 | $77,062 |
12 | Franklin County | 1,326,063 | $98,356 | $71,070 |
13 | Ottawa County | 39,803 | $97,910 | $69,515 |
14 | Wood County | 132,650 | $95,809 | $70,537 |
15 | Lake County | 231,640 | $95,217 | $76,835 |
16 | Holmes County | 44,386 | $95,098 | $72,987 |
17 | Putnam County | 34,199 | $94,801 | $79,453 |
18 | Summit County | 535,733 | $94,626 | $68,360 |
19 | Portage County | 162,665 | $92,344 | $69,796 |
20 | Madison County | 44,602 | $91,671 | $77,062 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
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United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
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