Income and Poverty in the State of Ohio

When compared to other States across the United States, the State of Ohio may be understood as having a medium-low poverty rate amongst the population, with a poverty rate of 10.6 percent of the individuals existing in families with incomes under the poverty level in 1999. The Black or African American race/ethnicity population category, holds the highest rate of poverty with 26.5 percent of the people in 2000 living in poverty. The population that is aged Under 5 years are witness to the most percent living in poverty in Ohio, accounting 17.3 percent of this age cohort living in poverty.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Ohio range, in terms of rate a poverty, from a high of 27.4 percent in Athens County to a low of 3.8 percent in Delaware County.

Top ten counties in terms of poverty rate in the State of Ohio
Total Percent of Population Living Below Poverty

1. Athens County (27.4 percent)
2. Vinton County (20 )
3. Meigs County (19.8 percent)
4. Scioto County (19.3 percent)
5. Lawrence County (18.9 percent)
6. Pike County (18.6 percent)
7. Morgan County (18.4 percent)
8. Gallia County (18.1 percent)
9. Adams County (17.4 percent)
10. Jackson County (16.5 percent)


Black or African American headed households had a median household income that was 35 percent less than the total 2000 reported median, with a their median reported to be $31,144. Hispanic Householders in Ohio, according to the 2000 census, had a median household income of $38,766, which is 19.1 percent less than the median reported for all households in the area. According to the 2000 Census, the Asian headed households in the area have median household incomes of $57,641. This income level is 20.3 percent greater than the reported median for all households in the state. The American Indian and Alaska Native headed households in Ohio reported an income level of $36,249, this was 24.4 percent less than the median for all households. In the State of Ohio, White headed households reported a median household income (2005 Dollars) of $50,117 as reported by the Decennial Census of 2000, which was 4.6 percent greater than the median in the year 2000.

Compared to States across the United States, the State of Ohio had a medium-high household income of $47,919 (2005 Dollars). This median is 2.5 percent lower than the median for the rest of the nation, which is a reported $49,133.

As the median income level saw a decline during the period of 2000 to 2005 in the State of Ohio, the Race/Ethnicity category that saw the sharpest decline in household income was the American Indian and Alaska Native Race/Ethnicity category. This group experienced a decline of 43.7 percent from 2000 to 2005. The White Race/Ethnicity category has been least effected by the income level decline in Ohio, experiencing a 49 percent increase in median income, since the values reporting the 2000 Decennial Census.

The rate of poverty in the State of Ohio has increased by 2.4 percent since the amount published in 2000, moving from 10.6 percent to 13 percent.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Ohio range, in terms of total household income, from a high of $78,692 in Delaware County to a low of $31,926 in Meigs County.

Top ten counties in highest household income in the State of Ohio
Total Annual Household Income (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars)

1. Delaware County ($78,692)
2. Geauga County ($70,434 )
3. Warren County ($67,804)
4. Medina County ($65,299)
5. Union County ($60,539)
6. Clermont County ($57,782)
7. Lake County ($57,053)
8. Greene County ($56,928)
9. Fairfield County ($56,116)
10. Butler County ($56,025)


The median household income has declined from the 2000 values (inflation adjusted). The median income has decreased to $43,493, which amounts to a 9.2 percent decline. The State of Ohio ranks 10 of 46 states when comparing the decline in household income across the nation.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.