Knox County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Knox County, Ohio had an estimated 63,848 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 62,709, across 525 square miles. County output reached $3.09 bn in 2024, 1,121 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 44 7(a) approvals worth $18.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Knox County
How many people live in Knox County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202463,142
- Households23,491
- Average household size2.69
- Median household income$73,878
- Median age39.4
- Median gross rent$950 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$239,400
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over41,724
- Population under 1814,386
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over12,126
- Share 65 and over19.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6436,630
- Civilian labor force30,172
- Unemployment rate2.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.9 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties40th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included864th of 3,222
Knox County is the 40th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 19.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Knox County
Is Knox County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202463,848
- Census 2020 base population62,709
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.82 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024504
- Births, 2024702
- Deaths, 2024709
- Natural change, 2024-7
- Net domestic migration, 2024365
- Net international migration, 2024148
- Total net migration, 2024513
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024845
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1232nd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.82 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.
Knox County
Where are people moving to Knox County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,356
- People arriving, from those returns2,368
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,302
- Net household movement54
- Adjusted gross income arriving$88.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$18.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$65,014
- Average income of a leaving household$53,835
- Largest single originFranklin County (282 households)
- Largest single destinationFranklin County (185 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 282 | 465 | $19.5 m |
| Licking County | 225 | 423 | $13.1 m |
| Delaware County | 100 | 179 | $8.5 m |
| Richland County | 90 | 157 | $3.9 m |
| Morrow County | 61 | 110 | $3.6 m |
| Coshocton County | 30 | 59 | $1.5 m |
| Fairfield County | 25 | 52 | $2.2 m |
| Ashland County | 22 | 43 | $960,000 |
Households arriving report $11,179 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Franklin 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.
Knox County
What is the Knox County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.09 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.99 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.3 percent
- GDP change over five years43.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes49th of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes959th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$48,861
Output grew 3.3 percent in the latest year and 43.3 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.
Knox County
Employment by industry in Knox County
- Covered employment, annual average20,571
- Establishments reporting1,339
- Average annual pay$55,637
- Average weekly wage$1,070
- Manufacturing, employment4,336
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$81,400
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,143
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$54,268
- Retail trade, employment2,371
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,814
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,812
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,817
- Educational services, employment1,280
- Construction, employment1,166
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,336 | 82 | $81,400 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,143 | 140 | $54,268 |
| Retail trade | 2,371 | 162 | $30,814 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,812 | 108 | $20,817 |
| Educational services | 1,280 | 11 | $58,704 |
| Construction | 1,166 | 138 | $81,045 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 753 | 69 | $40,165 |
| Other services, except public administration | 564 | 98 | $38,005 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 4,336 jobs, 21.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Knox County
How many businesses are in Knox County?
- Establishments, all industries1,121
- Employment at those establishments17,629
- Annual payroll$876.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.8
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.
Knox County
Building permits in Knox County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024194
- Declared construction value permitted$65.2 m
- Single family units authorized184
- Multifamily units authorized10
- Multifamily share of units5.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$335,897
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.3
Single-family homes are 94.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Knox County
SBA loans in Knox County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded44
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$418,330
- Median 7(a) approval$134,350
- 10th percentile approval$21,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,457,200
- Largest single approval$4,200,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)263
- Jobs per approval6.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active17
- Distinct industries receiving approvals30
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter33
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals6.8 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (19)
- 504 approvals recorded15
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.6 m
- Average 504 approval$507,133
- Median 504 approval$356,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval4.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.9
- Most active CDCOhio Statewide Development Corporation (10)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$26.0 m
The average approval of $418,330 sits well above the median of $134,350, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.9 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.
Knox County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Knox County
Do SBA loans in Knox County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full8
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure28
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 8 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.
Knox County
SBA lending by place in Knox County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Mount Vernon, approvals25
- Centerburg, approvals5
- Howard, approvals4
- Gambier, approvals3
- Glenmont, approvals2
- Fredericktown, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | 25 | $10,664,700 |
| Centerburg | 5 | $1,470,600 |
| Howard | 4 | $426,800 |
| Gambier | 3 | $265,000 |
| Glenmont | 2 | $3,374,000 |
| Fredericktown | 2 | $1,830,000 |
| Utica | 2 | $38,400 |
| Frazeysburg | 1 | $337,000 |
Mount Vernon accounts for 25 approvals against 5 in Centerburg. 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.
Knox County
How large is Knox County?
- Land area525 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties21st of 88
- Width, east to west30.1 mi
- Height, north to south23.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land120
- Establishments per square mile2.14
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.
Knox County
Flood risk in Knox County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Knox County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390306
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate85.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Knox County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Knox County (community 390306), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Knox County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 85.7 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 Knox 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 Knox County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202463,142
- Households23,491
- Average household size2.69
- Median household income$73,878
- Median age39.4
Common questions
Knox County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Knox County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 63,848 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 63,142, in 23,491 households, ranking 40th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Knox County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.82 percent since the 2020 census base of 62,709, to 63,848 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 702 births against 709 deaths, with net migration of 513. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Knox County?
$73,878. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $239,400, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $950 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Knox County?
1,121 establishments, employing 17,629 people with an annual payroll of $876.9 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 Knox County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 4,336 jobs, 21.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 20,571 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,637, or $1,070 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Knox County?
44 7(a) approvals totaling $18.4 m since FY2020, across 17 lenders, with a median approval of $134,350, plus 15 504 approvals worth $7.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Knox County?
194 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $65.2 m. Multifamily was 5.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Knox County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 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 Knox County come from?
The largest single origin is Franklin County, with 282 households. Arriving households report an average income of $65,014 against $53,835 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Knox 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 Knox 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.
Knox County
Cities and places in Knox.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Knox County. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | city | 17,052 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| Apple Valley | CDP | 5,548 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fredericktown | village | 2,652 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Utica | village | 2,248 | 2 | 2.8 percent here, 97.2 percent Licking County |
| Gambier | village | 2,126 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Centerburg | village | 1,839 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Danville | village | 615 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| South Mount Vernon | CDP | 589 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Martinsburg | village | 303 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bladensburg | CDP | 300 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Howard | CDP | 269 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Gann (Brinkhaven) | village | 137 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 44 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Knox County, the largest being Glenmont (2), Frazeysburg (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.