by Kristen Carney
Updated: December 17, 2024
The richest county in Ohio is Delaware County with an average household income of $161,060 as of 2023 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 | $161,060 | $130,088 |
2 | Warren County | 252,148 | $142,625 | $107,843 |
3 | Geauga County | 95,407 | $135,616 | $100,783 |
4 | Union County | 69,637 | $134,832 | $109,506 |
5 | Medina County | 184,042 | $116,764 | $92,660 |
6 | Greene County | 169,691 | $108,932 | $85,218 |
7 | Licking County | 183,201 | $107,464 | $81,033 |
8 | Clermont County | 211,972 | $107,049 | $83,178 |
9 | Fairfield County | 165,360 | $106,689 | $87,069 |
10 | Ottawa County | 39,803 | $104,516 | $75,728 |
11 | Butler County | 393,043 | $103,524 | $81,194 |
12 | Hamilton County | 827,058 | $103,444 | $70,816 |
13 | Franklin County | 1,326,063 | $102,386 | $73,795 |
14 | Wood County | 132,650 | $100,535 | $73,124 |
15 | Putnam County | 34,199 | $99,572 | $82,785 |
16 | Madison County | 44,602 | $99,213 | $83,229 |
17 | Holmes County | 44,386 | $99,080 | $74,774 |
18 | Lake County | 231,640 | $98,936 | $77,952 |
19 | Summit County | 535,733 | $98,907 | $71,016 |
20 | Henry County | 27,520 | $98,578 | $79,267 |
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, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
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