Licking County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Licking County, Ohio had an estimated 184,898 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 178,517, across 683 square miles. County output reached $11.12 bn in 2024, 3,277 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 401 7(a) approvals worth $115.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Licking County
How many people live in Licking County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024181,837
- Households68,620
- Average household size2.65
- Median household income$84,426
- Median age40.3
- Median gross rent$1,078 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$275,200
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over124,267
- Population under 1841,505
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over31,778
- Share 65 and over17.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64108,554
- Civilian labor force91,690
- Unemployment rate3.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.3 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties17th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included378th of 3,222
Licking County is the 17th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 17.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Licking County
Is Licking County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024184,898
- Census 2020 base population178,517
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.57 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,358
- Births, 20241,845
- Deaths, 20241,901
- Natural change, 2024-56
- Net domestic migration, 2024896
- Net international migration, 2024529
- Total net migration, 20241,425
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20245,241
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents763rd of 3,144
The county has grown 3.57 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.
Licking County
Where are people moving to Licking County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,184
- People arriving, from those returns9,552
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,608
- Net household movement576
- Adjusted gross income arriving$345.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$23.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$66,595
- Average income of a leaving household$69,850
- Largest single originFranklin County (2,353 households)
- Largest single destinationFranklin County (1,486 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 2,353 | 4,380 | $159.5 m |
| Fairfield County | 448 | 826 | $30.1 m |
| Muskingum County | 211 | 355 | $11.3 m |
| Knox County | 160 | 283 | $7.7 m |
| Delaware County | 159 | 294 | $14.2 m |
| Perry County | 137 | 265 | $7.4 m |
| Coshocton County | 41 | 73 | $2.3 m |
| Summit County | 31 | 67 | $1.8 m |
Households arriving report $3,255 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. 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.
Licking County
What is the Licking County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$11.12 bn
- County GDP, 2023$10.52 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years44.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes16th of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes407th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$61,169
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 44.7 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.
Licking County
Employment by industry in Licking County
- Covered employment, annual average72,111
- Establishments reporting3,996
- Average annual pay$58,066
- Average weekly wage$1,117
- Manufacturing, employment10,476
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,956
- Transportation and warehousing, employment8,319
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$50,410
- Retail trade, employment7,835
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,091
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,287
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,773
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,854
- Construction, employment5,203
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10,476 | 174 | $63,956 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8,319 | 130 | $50,410 |
| Retail trade | 7,835 | 452 | $38,091 |
| Health care and social assistance | 7,287 | 360 | $56,773 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,854 | 354 | $21,378 |
| Construction | 5,203 | 448 | $85,893 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,405 | 274 | $40,889 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,402 | 294 | $56,378 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 10,476 jobs, 14.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Licking County
How many businesses are in Licking County?
- Establishments, all industries3,277
- Employment at those establishments77,088
- Annual payroll$3.58 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents18.0
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.
Licking County
Building permits in Licking County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024156
- Declared construction value permitted$54.9 m
- Single family units authorized156
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$352,083
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.3
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Licking County
SBA loans in Licking County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded401
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$115.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$287,282
- Median 7(a) approval$79,400
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$638,600
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,001
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active41
- Distinct industries receiving approvals153
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms38
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter354
- Franchise loans27
- Franchise share of approvals6.7 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (225)
- 504 approvals recorded66
- 504 gross approval dollars$25.9 m
- Average 504 approval$392,394
- Median 504 approval$270,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval4.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.2
- Most active CDCOhio Statewide Development Corporation (49)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$141.1 m
The average approval of $287,282 sits well above the median of $79,400, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.5 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.
Licking County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Licking County
Do SBA loans in Licking County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded100
- Paid in full91
- Charged off9
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans9.0 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure256
- Status: Paid in full91
- Status: Charged off9
- Status: Cancelled24
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed21
Of the 100 loans that have reached a final outcome, 9.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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.
Licking County
SBA lending by place in Licking County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending25
- Newark, approvals113
- Pataskala, approvals74
- Granville, approvals39
- Heath, approvals35
- Johnstown, approvals33
- Reynoldsburg, approvals21
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Newark | 113 | $28,680,300 |
| Pataskala | 74 | $24,609,200 |
| Granville | 39 | $8,027,600 |
| Heath | 35 | $9,031,400 |
| Johnstown | 33 | $9,794,100 |
| Reynoldsburg | 21 | $5,218,200 |
| Hebron | 17 | $8,604,600 |
| Etna | 17 | $4,832,200 |
| 17 other borrower cities | 52 | $16,402,400 |
Newark accounts for 113 approvals against 74 in Pataskala. 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.
Licking County
How large is Licking County?
- Land area683 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties3rd of 88
- Width, east to west31.7 mi
- Height, north to south25.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land266
- Establishments per square mile4.80
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.
Licking County
Flood risk in Licking County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Licking County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390328
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book15
- Of those, participating in the NFIP15
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Licking 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 Licking County (community 390328), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Licking 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Licking 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 Licking County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024181,837
- Households68,620
- Average household size2.65
- Median household income$84,426
- Median age40.3
Common questions
Licking County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Licking County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 184,898 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 181,837, in 68,620 households, ranking 17th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Licking County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.57 percent since the 2020 census base of 178,517, to 184,898 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,845 births against 1,901 deaths, with net migration of 1,425. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Licking County?
$84,426. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $275,200, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,078 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Licking County?
3,277 establishments, employing 77,088 people with an annual payroll of $3.58 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Licking County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 10,476 jobs, 14.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 72,111 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,066, or $1,117 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Licking County?
401 7(a) approvals totaling $115.2 m since FY2020, across 41 lenders, with a median approval of $79,400, plus 66 504 approvals worth $25.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Licking County get paid back?
Of the 100 loans that have reached a final outcome, 91 were paid in full and 9 charged off, a charge-off rate of 9.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Licking County?
156 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $54.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Licking 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 Licking County come from?
The largest single origin is Franklin County, with 2,353 households. Arriving households report an average income of $66,595 against $69,850 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Licking 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 Licking 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.
Licking County
Cities and places in Licking.
24 Census places lie wholly or partly in Licking County. All 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | city | 50,783 | 113 | Wholly in this county |
| Reynoldsburg | city | 41,224 | 21 | 28.0 percent here, 64.3 percent Franklin County, 7.7 percent Fairfield County |
| Pataskala | city | 18,223 | 74 | Wholly in this county |
| New Albany | city | 10,896 | 1 | 45.5 percent here, 54.5 percent Franklin County |
| Heath | city | 10,644 | 35 | Wholly in this county |
| Granville | village | 5,999 | 39 | Wholly in this county |
| Johnstown | city | 5,286 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| Beechwood Trails | CDP | 3,133 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Buckeye Lake | village | 2,525 | None recorded | 93.1 percent here, 6.9 percent Fairfield County |
| Hebron | village | 2,508 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Utica | village | 2,248 | 4 | 97.2 percent here, 2.8 percent Knox County |
| Harbor Hills | CDP | 1,555 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Etna | CDP | 1,440 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Hanover | village | 1,180 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Granville South | CDP | 1,146 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kirkersville | village | 547 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Alexandria | village | 539 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Hartford (Croton) | village | 436 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Marne | CDP | 416 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jersey | CDP | 304 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Louisville | village | 278 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Jacksontown | CDP | 276 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Gratiot | village | 264 | 1 | 58.8 percent here, 41.2 percent Muskingum County |
| Brownsville | CDP | 216 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 23 of the county's 401 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Licking County, the largest being Croton (5), Nashport (5), Thornville (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.
Nearby