CountyScore

Paulding County

Ohio · OH

#10 in Ohio
71.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Paulding County, Ohio

Paulding delivers above-median livability

Paulding County scores 71.9, nearly 44% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 72nd percentile nationally. The county provides strong livability relative to most U.S. counties.

Top-tier performer in Ohio

Paulding's 71.9 score exceeds Ohio's state average of 68.8 by 3.1 points, placing it in the state's top quartile. The county ranks among Ohio's strongest-performing areas overall.

Exceptional housing affordability standout

Paulding's Cost Score of 83.1 is the highest in this cohort, reflecting median home values of just $126,800 and rents averaging $750/month. The county delivers outstanding housing value for buyers and renters alike.

Incomes remain below regional norms

The Income Score of 27.9 and median household income of $68,167 lag behind stronger performers like Ottawa County. Safety, health, school, and environmental measures remain unreported, limiting the broader livability picture.

Perfect for homebuyers seeking affordability

Paulding County attracts first-time homebuyers and families seeking the best housing bang for their buck in rural Ohio. The county's exceptional home prices and rental rates make it ideal for those maximizing residential purchasing power.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax71.6Cost83.1SafetyComing SoonHealth69.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.9Risk78.9WaterComing Soon
🏛71.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼27.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡78.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Paulding County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Prairie County
Arkansas
71.8
Median income: $51,094
Brown County
Illinois
71.8
Median income: $72,288
Greene County
Indiana
71.8
Median income: $59,753
Huntington County
Indiana
71.8
Median income: $62,734
Miami County
Indiana
71.8
Median income: $61,130

Deep Dives

Paulding County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Paulding County

via TaxByCounty

Paulding taxes fall slightly below U.S. norm

Paulding County's effective tax rate of 1.090% sits just slightly above the national median of 1.08%, positioning it near the U.S. average. Homeowners pay a median of $1,382 annually—49% less than the national median of $2,690—due to homes valued 55% below the national average of $281,900.

Below Ohio's average rate

Paulding County's rate of 1.090% runs below Ohio's state average of 1.148%, placing it in the lower half of the state's 88 counties. Its median tax of $1,382 is 36% cheaper than Ohio's median of $2,145, offering meaningful relief for property owners.

Competitive taxes in the region

Paulding County's 1.090% rate closely matches Ottawa County's 1.087% and Morrow County's 1.100%, putting it squarely in the regional peer group. All three counties run significantly below Montgomery County's 1.777% outlier rate.

Paulding's modest tax picture

On a median home valued at $126,800, Paulding County residents pay $1,382 annually—roughly $115 per month. With a mortgage, escrow reaches $1,410, while cash buyers typically remit $1,343 to the county.

Every homeowner should verify assessment

Paulding County homeowners should verify their assessments are accurate regardless of the county's moderate-tax status; errors happen everywhere. Filing a free appeal with the county auditor could lower your bill if your property's market value has changed or the assessment contains mistakes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Paulding County

via CostByCounty

Paulding: Ohio's Most Affordable Rental Market

Paulding County renters spend just 13.2% of their income on rent—the lowest ratio among all eight counties and well below the national 15% standard—while earning $68,167 annually. This exceptional affordability reflects Paulding's rural character combined with decent local employment, creating an unusual combination of low costs and moderate income stability.

Paulding Dominates Ohio's Affordability Rankings

At 13.2%, Paulding's rent-to-income ratio crushes Ohio's 15.6% average and ranks among the most affordable in the entire state. The median rent of $750 is the lowest in this eight-county sample, and Paulding's solid $68,167 median income means residents capture maximum affordability while retaining earning capacity.

Unmatched Affordability Among Rural Peers

Paulding's 13.2% rent-to-income ratio and $750 median rent substantially outperform all comparable rural counties: Noble (15.8%, $730), Morgan (15.3%, $713), and Perry (13.5%, $727). Even among better-income counties, only Ottawa (14.4%) approaches Paulding's affordability efficiency, and Ottawa costs more in absolute rent dollars.

Minimal Income Goes to Housing

The $750 monthly rent consumes just 13.2% of Paulding's $68,167 median income, while homeowners dedicate only 13.8% to their $781 monthly cost—both exceptionally efficient ratios. Paulding households retain 86% or more of income for all other expenses, emergency savings, and discretionary spending—a luxury in today's housing market.

Paulding: Unbeatable Housing Value in Ohio

For maximum housing affordability in Ohio, Paulding County is unmatched: 13.2% rent-to-income ratio, $750 median rent, and solid $68,167 median income create an ideal equation. Consider Paulding if you want to minimize housing costs while maintaining reasonable local employment options—it's the rare county where affordability doesn't require sacrificing opportunity.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Paulding County

via IncomeByCounty

Paulding slightly trails national median

Paulding County's median household income of $68,167 falls $6,588 below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it in the moderate range nationally. The county's per capita income of $35,657 nearly matches Ohio's state average of $35,642, indicating balanced individual earning power.

Modest performer within Ohio rankings

At $68,167, Paulding County ranks just slightly above the Ohio state average of $68,101, placing it squarely in the middle of state counties. The county's solid positioning reflects stable agricultural and manufacturing employment.

Middle-tier income among regional peers

Paulding County's $68,167 median income ranks above Montgomery County ($64,403), Muskingum County ($59,203), Morgan County ($55,971), and Noble County ($55,360), but trails Ottawa County ($75,728) and Morrow County ($71,047). The county occupies a comfortable middle position regionally.

Lowest rent burden in the region

Paulding County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.2% is the lowest in the region, offering exceptional housing affordability for renters and homebuyers. Despite the lowest median home value of $126,800, strong incomes make homeownership highly accessible.

Paulding's affordability fuels saving power

With a median household income of $68,167 and the region's lowest housing costs at just 13.2% of income, Paulding County residents have exceptional capacity to save and invest. Capture this advantage by directing housing savings to retirement accounts, educational funds, or wealth diversification strategies.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Paulding County

via HealthByCounty

Paulding Lives Longer Than National Average

Paulding County's 76.9-year life expectancy exceeds the U.S. average of 76.4 years, positioning residents among America's longer-lived populations. However, 21.0% report poor or fair health, indicating that extended lifespan includes significant chronic disease burden.

Above Average Longevity, Modest Uninsured Rate

Paulding's 76.9-year life expectancy beats Ohio's state average of 74.8 years by over two years, ranking among the state's healthiest counties. Its 8.0% uninsured rate exceeds the state average of 7.5%, leaving a small but significant population without coverage.

Strong Longevity Despite Limited Providers

Paulding's 76.9-year life expectancy ranks second-highest in this group, behind only Noble County's exceptional 80.7 years, yet outperforming Muskingum (74.4 years) and Montgomery (73.3 years). With only 21 primary care providers per 100K, Paulding achieves health success without abundant healthcare infrastructure.

Rural County Achieves Health Despite Scarcity

Paulding's 21 primary care and 64 mental health providers per 100,000 residents represent limited capacity, yet the county maintains strong life expectancy and moderate disease burden. Provider scarcity may be offset by community health factors, preventive care emphasis, or population health genetics.

Secure Your Health Coverage

With 8.0% of Paulding residents uninsured, securing health insurance protects you and your family against unexpected costs. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore Medicaid, ACA plans, and employment-based coverage today.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Paulding County

via RiskByCounty

Paulding ranks among nation's safest counties

Paulding County's composite risk score of 21.15 earns a "Very Low" rating and places it well below the U.S. average, ranking among the safest counties in America. Residents enjoy substantially lower exposure to natural disasters compared to most U.S. communities.

One of Ohio's lowest-risk counties

Paulding County's 21.15 score sits well below Ohio's 55.03 state average, placing it firmly in the state's safest tier. The county's exceptionally low wildfire risk (4.42) contributes significantly to this favorable standing.

Among the safest in its region

Paulding County (21.15) is safer than Ottawa County (59.16) and comparable to Morgan County (18.23) and Morrow County (24.40). This positions it among northwestern Ohio's most secure areas overall.

Tornado risk is the primary local concern

Paulding County's tornado risk of 51.24 is its highest hazard score, though it remains below state average and reflects the county's northern Great Plains exposure. All other hazards—earthquake, flood, wildfire, and hurricane—score below 51, creating a manageable and relatively focused risk profile.

Standard insurance covers most risks

Paulding County residents can typically rely on conventional homeowners insurance without specialized flood or windstorm riders given the county's exceptional safety profile. Focus on confirming that your policy includes adequate coverage for tornado-related wind damage, the county's primary hazard concern.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.