Lawrence County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Lawrence County, Ohio had an estimated 55,829 residents on July 1, 2024, down 4.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 58,232, across 453 square miles. County output reached $2.19 bn in 2024, 774 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $23.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lawrence County
How many people live in Lawrence County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202456,819
- Households22,650
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$58,325
- Median age41.9
- Median gross rent$848 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$144,000
- Home value to household income2.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over40,401
- Population under 1812,266
- Share under 1821.6 percent
- Population 65 and over10,854
- Share 65 and over19.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6433,699
- Civilian labor force24,590
- Unemployment rate2.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.2 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties46th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included931st of 3,222
Lawrence County is the 46th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 2.5 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.6 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.
Lawrence County
Is Lawrence County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202455,829
- Census 2020 base population58,232
- Population change since the 2020 census base-4.13 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-309
- Births, 2024475
- Deaths, 2024918
- Natural change, 2024-443
- Net domestic migration, 2024136
- Net international migration, 2024-3
- Total net migration, 2024133
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-529
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2912th of 3,144
The county has lost 4.13 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lawrence County
Where are people moving to Lawrence County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving977
- People arriving, from those returns1,758
- Tax returns filed by households leaving992
- Net household movement-15
- Adjusted gross income arriving$43.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-1.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$44,516
- Average income of a leaving household$45,505
- Largest single originCabell County (232 households)
- Largest single destinationCabell County (164 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabell County | 232 | 407 | $11.7 m |
| Boyd County | 107 | 210 | $4.4 m |
| Wayne County | 80 | 149 | $3.3 m |
| Scioto County | 74 | 145 | $2.6 m |
| Greenup County | 53 | 90 | $2.0 m |
| Gallia County | 34 | 65 | $1.2 m |
| Franklin County | 25 | 38 | $1.4 m |
Households arriving report $989 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Cabell 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.
Lawrence County
What is the Lawrence County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.19 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.38 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-7.7 percent
- GDP change over five years15.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes61st of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1202nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,577
Output grew -7.7 percent in the latest year and 15.7 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.
Lawrence County
Employment by industry in Lawrence County
- Covered employment, annual average13,641
- Establishments reporting1,013
- Average annual pay$47,517
- Average weekly wage$914
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,394
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$48,471
- Retail trade, employment1,683
- Retail trade, average annual pay$29,913
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,171
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,461
- Manufacturing, employment1,126
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,515
- Construction, employment904
- Transportation and warehousing, employment853
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,394 | 160 | $48,471 |
| Retail trade | 1,683 | 141 | $29,913 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,171 | 67 | $19,461 |
| Manufacturing | 1,126 | 43 | $63,515 |
| Construction | 904 | 92 | $69,260 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 853 | 39 | $53,985 |
| Other services, except public administration | 363 | 95 | $48,890 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 222 | 58 | $51,271 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,394 jobs, 24.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lawrence County
How many businesses are in Lawrence County?
- Establishments, all industries774
- Employment at those establishments11,062
- Annual payroll$491.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents13.6
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.
Lawrence County
Building permits in Lawrence County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202418
- Declared construction value permitted$2.9 m
- Single family units authorized15
- Multifamily units authorized3
- Multifamily share of units16.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$160,833
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.8
Single-family homes are 83.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lawrence County
SBA loans in Lawrence County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$23.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,029,848
- Median 7(a) approval$528,000
- 10th percentile approval$38,800
- 90th percentile approval$2,544,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)194
- Jobs per approval8.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals15
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer43.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter13
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals30.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSign Manufacturing (4)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.8 m
- Average 504 approval$607,000
- Median 504 approval$681,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval3.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved5.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$25.5 m
The average approval of $1,029,848 sits well above the median of $528,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 43.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Lawrence County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lawrence County
Do SBA loans in Lawrence County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure11
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
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.
Lawrence County
SBA lending by place in Lawrence County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Ironton, approvals9
- South Point, approvals9
- Kitts Hill, approvals4
- Proctorville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ironton | 9 | $13,967,000 |
| South Point | 9 | $8,274,500 |
| Kitts Hill | 4 | $1,420,000 |
| Proctorville | 1 | $25,000 |
Ironton accounts for 9 approvals against 9 in South Point. 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.
Lawrence County
How large is Lawrence County?
- Land area453 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties41st of 88
- Width, east to west28.6 mi
- Height, north to south30.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land125
- Establishments per square mile1.71
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.
Lawrence County
Flood risk in Lawrence County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lawrence County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390325
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County (community 390325), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lawrence 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. 100.0 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202456,819
- Households22,650
- Average household size2.51
- Median household income$58,325
- Median age41.9
Common questions
Lawrence County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lawrence County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 55,829 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 56,819, in 22,650 households, ranking 46th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lawrence County's population growing?
The population has fallen 4.13 percent since the 2020 census base of 58,232, to 55,829 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 475 births against 918 deaths, with net migration of 133. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lawrence County?
$58,325. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $144,000, which is 2.5 times income, and median gross rent is $848 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lawrence County?
774 establishments, employing 11,062 people with an annual payroll of $491.2 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 Lawrence County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,394 jobs, 24.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 13,641 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,517, or $914 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lawrence County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $23.7 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $528,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lawrence County?
18 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.9 m. Multifamily was 16.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lawrence 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 Lawrence County come from?
The largest single origin is Cabell County, with 232 households. Arriving households report an average income of $44,516 against $45,505 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.
Lawrence County
Cities and places in Lawrence.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lawrence County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironton | city | 10,768 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| South Point | village | 3,099 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Burlington | CDP | 2,807 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coal Grove | village | 2,022 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Chesapeake | village | 1,060 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Proctorville | village | 635 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Miller | CDP | 467 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Athalia | village | 336 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hanging Rock | village | 142 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 23 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lawrence County, the largest being Kitts Hill (4). 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.