Highland County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Highland County, Ohio had an estimated 43,785 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,316, across 553 square miles. County output reached $1.89 bn in 2024, 733 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 25 7(a) approvals worth $9.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Highland County
How many people live in Highland County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,517
- Households16,938
- Average household size2.57
- Median household income$65,785
- Median age41.0
- Median gross rent$780 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$168,900
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over29,841
- Population under 1810,401
- Share under 1823.9 percent
- Population 65 and over8,333
- Share 65 and over19.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6424,783
- Civilian labor force20,685
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.5 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties56th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1138th of 3,222
Highland County is the 56th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.9 percent against 19.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Highland County
Is Highland County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202443,785
- Census 2020 base population43,316
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.08 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024197
- Births, 2024540
- Deaths, 2024544
- Natural change, 2024-4
- Net domestic migration, 2024187
- Net international migration, 202417
- Total net migration, 2024204
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024647
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1453rd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.08 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Highland County
Where are people moving to Highland County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,011
- People arriving, from those returns1,912
- Tax returns filed by households leaving967
- Net household movement44
- Adjusted gross income arriving$47.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$5,000
- Average income of an arriving household$46,988
- Average income of a leaving household$49,121
- Largest single originClinton County (137 households)
- Largest single destinationClinton County (158 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 137 | 263 | $6.3 m |
| Ross County | 94 | 194 | $3.5 m |
| Fayette County | 87 | 172 | $4.0 m |
| Clermont County | 78 | 142 | $4.0 m |
| Brown County | 67 | 124 | $2.9 m |
| Adams County | 64 | 112 | $2.5 m |
| Warren County | 39 | 69 | $1.9 m |
| Hamilton County | 38 | 81 | $3.2 m |
Households arriving report $2,133 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Clinton County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Highland County
What is the Highland County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.89 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.77 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.8 percent
- GDP change over five years30.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes64th of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1335th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$43,360
Output grew 6.8 percent in the latest year and 30.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Highland County
Employment by industry in Highland County
- Covered employment, annual average11,108
- Establishments reporting853
- Average annual pay$44,831
- Average weekly wage$862
- Manufacturing, employment1,980
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$54,463
- Retail trade, employment1,666
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,423
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,261
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,534
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,037
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$16,749
- Construction, employment723
- Finance and insurance, employment371
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,980 | 30 | $54,463 |
| Retail trade | 1,666 | 142 | $30,423 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,261 | 97 | $47,534 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,037 | 67 | $16,749 |
| Construction | 723 | 90 | $68,119 |
| Finance and insurance | 371 | 38 | $63,176 |
| Wholesale trade | 345 | 31 | $47,650 |
| Other services, except public administration | 314 | 77 | $32,219 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,980 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Highland County
How many businesses are in Highland County?
- Establishments, all industries733
- Employment at those establishments9,284
- Annual payroll$402.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Highland County
Building permits in Highland County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024121
- Declared construction value permitted$35.0 m
- Single family units authorized96
- Multifamily units authorized25
- Multifamily share of units20.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$289,010
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.1
Single-family homes are 79.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Highland County
SBA loans in Highland County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded25
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$9.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$368,188
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$21,600
- 90th percentile approval$541,980
- Largest single approval$4,298,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)185
- Jobs per approval7.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals18
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer8.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter21
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals8.0 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (5)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$89,000
- Average 504 approval$89,000
- Median 504 approval$89,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval2.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved22.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$9.3 m
The average approval of $368,188 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 8.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Highland County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Highland County
Do SBA loans in Highland County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Paid in full2
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Highland County
SBA lending by place in Highland County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Hillsboro, approvals18
- Greenfield, approvals4
- Sardinia, approvals1
- Mount Orab, approvals1
- Leesburg, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | 18 | $8,256,300 |
| Greenfield | 4 | $523,400 |
| Sardinia | 1 | $350,000 |
| Mount Orab | 1 | $50,000 |
| Leesburg | 1 | $25,000 |
Hillsboro accounts for 18 approvals against 4 in Greenfield. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Highland County
How large is Highland County?
- Land area553 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties15th of 88
- Width, east to west27.8 mi
- Height, north to south24.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land79
- Establishments per square mile1.33
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Highland County
Flood risk in Highland County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Highland County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 390769
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate71.4 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Highland County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Highland County (community 390769), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Highland County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 71.4 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Highland County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Highland County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,517
- Households16,938
- Average household size2.57
- Median household income$65,785
- Median age41.0
Common questions
Highland County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Highland County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 43,785 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,517, in 16,938 households, ranking 56th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Highland County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.08 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,316, to 43,785 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 540 births against 544 deaths, with net migration of 204. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Highland County?
$65,785. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,900, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $780 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Highland County?
733 establishments, employing 9,284 people with an annual payroll of $402.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Highland County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,980 jobs, 17.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 11,108 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,831, or $862 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Highland County?
25 7(a) approvals totaling $9.2 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $89,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Highland County?
121 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $35.0 m. Multifamily was 20.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Highland County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Highland County come from?
The largest single origin is Clinton County, with 137 households. Arriving households report an average income of $46,988 against $49,121 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Highland County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Highland County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Highland County
Cities and places in Highland.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Highland County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | city | 6,527 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Greenfield | village | 3,966 | 4 | 93.6 percent here, 6.4 percent Ross County |
| Lynchburg | village | 1,493 | None recorded | 89.3 percent here, 10.7 percent Clinton County |
| Leesburg | village | 1,098 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Highland Holiday | CDP | 976 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rocky Fork Point | CDP | 818 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mowrystown | village | 510 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Buford | CDP | 455 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sinking Spring | village | 319 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Highland | village | 113 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 25 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Highland County, the largest being Sardinia (1), Mount Orab (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby