Stark County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Stark County, Ohio had an estimated 374,091 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 374,879, across 575 square miles. County output reached $23.16 bn in 2024, 8,181 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 857 7(a) approvals worth $223.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Stark County
How many people live in Stark County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024373,713
- Households155,955
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$67,934
- Median age41.8
- Median gross rent$909 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$186,400
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher25.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over262,599
- Population under 1880,525
- Share under 1821.5 percent
- Population 65 and over76,627
- Share 65 and over20.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64216,561
- Civilian labor force186,713
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.7 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties8th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included200th of 3,222
Stark County is the 8th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.5 percent against 20.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Stark County
Is Stark County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024374,091
- Census 2020 base population374,879
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.21 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,039
- Births, 20243,899
- Deaths, 20244,382
- Natural change, 2024-483
- Net domestic migration, 2024978
- Net international migration, 2024556
- Total net migration, 20241,534
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,207
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1915th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.21 percent of its population 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.
Stark County
Where are people moving to Stark County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving6,740
- People arriving, from those returns11,382
- Tax returns filed by households leaving6,725
- Net household movement15
- Adjusted gross income arriving$396.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$21.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$58,867
- Average income of a leaving household$55,837
- Largest single originSummit County (1,662 households)
- Largest single destinationSummit County (1,565 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | 1,662 | 2,784 | $106.8 m |
| Tuscarawas County | 441 | 779 | $19.8 m |
| Portage County | 319 | 531 | $18.5 m |
| Wayne County | 294 | 500 | $14.4 m |
| Cuyahoga County | 267 | 404 | $14.6 m |
| Mahoning County | 220 | 348 | $8.1 m |
| Carroll County | 214 | 361 | $9.6 m |
| Columbiana County | 192 | 348 | $8.0 m |
Households arriving report $3,030 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 Summit 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.
Stark County
What is the Stark County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$23.16 bn
- County GDP, 2023$22.55 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.7 percent
- GDP change over five years36.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes8th of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes237th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$61,962
Output grew 2.7 percent in the latest year and 36.6 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.
Stark County
Employment by industry in Stark County
- Covered employment, annual average158,502
- Establishments reporting9,494
- Average annual pay$54,631
- Average weekly wage$1,051
- Health care and social assistance, employment27,075
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$54,170
- Manufacturing, employment24,085
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$70,909
- Retail trade, employment19,138
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,841
- Accommodation and food services, employment16,263
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,265
- Construction, employment8,031
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment7,059
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 27,075 | 1,042 | $54,170 |
| Manufacturing | 24,085 | 550 | $70,909 |
| Retail trade | 19,138 | 1,156 | $33,841 |
| Accommodation and food services | 16,263 | 838 | $22,265 |
| Construction | 8,031 | 869 | $78,841 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 7,059 | 632 | $48,863 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6,621 | 273 | $55,630 |
| Wholesale trade | 6,012 | 538 | $71,911 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 27,075 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Stark County
How many businesses are in Stark County?
- Establishments, all industries8,181
- Employment at those establishments139,706
- Annual payroll$7.10 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.9
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.
Stark County
Building permits in Stark County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024528
- Declared construction value permitted$167.8 m
- Single family units authorized371
- Multifamily units authorized157
- Multifamily share of units29.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$317,789
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.4
Single-family homes are 70.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Stark County
SBA loans in Stark County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded857
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$223.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$260,685
- Median 7(a) approval$65,600
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$510,400
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)6,803
- Jobs per approval7.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active55
- Distinct industries receiving approvals231
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer7.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms68
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter757
- Franchise loans56
- Franchise share of approvals6.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (35)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (564)
- 504 approvals recorded91
- 504 gross approval dollars$53.8 m
- Average 504 approval$590,978
- Median 504 approval$352,000
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval10.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved18.3
- Most active CDCCascade Capital Corporation (31)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$277.2 m
The average approval of $260,685 sits well above the median of $65,600, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 7.9 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.
Stark County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Stark County
Do SBA loans in Stark County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded184
- Paid in full176
- Charged off8
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans4.3 percent
- Status: Paid in full176
- Status: Cancelled85
- Status: Exempt from disclosure553
- Status: Charged off8
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed35
Of the 184 loans that have reached a final outcome, 4.3 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.
Stark County
SBA lending by place in Stark County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending36
- Canton, approvals279
- Massillon, approvals139
- North Canton, approvals126
- Alliance, approvals63
- Louisville, approvals38
- Uniontown, approvals38
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Canton | 279 | $77,102,300 |
| Massillon | 139 | $23,330,900 |
| North Canton | 126 | $36,516,700 |
| Alliance | 63 | $25,372,700 |
| Louisville | 38 | $15,512,400 |
| Uniontown | 38 | $4,700,000 |
| Hartville | 32 | $6,170,100 |
| Canal Fulton | 23 | $4,630,500 |
| 28 other borrower cities | 119 | $30,071,100 |
Canton accounts for 279 approvals against 139 in Massillon. 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.
Stark County
How large is Stark County?
- Land area575 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties11th of 88
- Width, east to west29.5 mi
- Height, north to south24.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land650
- Establishments per square mile14.23
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.
Stark County
Flood risk in Stark County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Stark County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390780
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book16
- Of those, participating in the NFIP15
- NFIP participation rate93.8 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Stark 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 Stark County (community 390780), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Stark 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. 93.8 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 Stark 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 Stark County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024373,713
- Households155,955
- Average household size2.40
- Median household income$67,934
- Median age41.8
Common questions
Stark County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Stark County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 374,091 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 373,713, in 155,955 households, ranking 8th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Stark County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.21 percent since the 2020 census base of 374,879, to 374,091 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,899 births against 4,382 deaths, with net migration of 1,534. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Stark County?
$67,934. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $186,400, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $909 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Stark County?
8,181 establishments, employing 139,706 people with an annual payroll of $7.10 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 Stark County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 27,075 jobs, 17.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 158,502 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,631, or $1,051 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Stark County?
857 7(a) approvals totaling $223.4 m since FY2020, across 55 lenders, with a median approval of $65,600, plus 91 504 approvals worth $53.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Stark County get paid back?
Of the 184 loans that have reached a final outcome, 176 were paid in full and 8 charged off, a charge-off rate of 4.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Stark County?
528 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $167.8 m. Multifamily was 29.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Stark 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 Stark County come from?
The largest single origin is Summit County, with 1,662 households. Arriving households report an average income of $58,867 against $55,837 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Stark 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 Stark 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.
Stark County
Cities and places in Stark.
31 Census places lie wholly or partly in Stark County. All 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | city | 69,755 | 279 | Wholly in this county |
| Massillon | city | 32,338 | 139 | Wholly in this county |
| Alliance | city | 21,478 | 63 | Wholly in this county |
| North Canton | city | 17,727 | 126 | Wholly in this county |
| Louisville | city | 9,602 | 38 | Wholly in this county |
| Perry Heights | CDP | 8,756 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Uniontown | CDP | 7,920 | 38 | Wholly in this county |
| Canal Fulton | city | 5,337 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Reedurban | CDP | 4,900 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hartville | village | 3,377 | 32 | Wholly in this county |
| Minerva | village | 3,196 | 19 | 51.4 percent here, 44.5 percent Carroll County, 4.0 percent Columbiana County |
| Richville | CDP | 3,145 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Greentown | CDP | 2,993 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Middlebranch | CDP | 2,361 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brewster | village | 2,105 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Navarre | village | 2,047 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| North Industry | CDP | 1,767 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Canton | village | 1,427 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Magnolia | village | 1,061 | 3 | 71.0 percent here, 29.0 percent Carroll County |
| Waynesburg | village | 1,035 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| East Sparta | village | 890 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Meyers Lake | village | 842 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beach City | village | 738 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Bolton | CDP | 649 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Robertsville | CDP | 386 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hills and Dales | village | 259 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Harrisburg | CDP | 253 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wilmot | village | 237 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Marlboro | CDP | 230 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Lawrence | CDP | 165 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Limaville | CDP | 110 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 31 of the county's 857 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Stark County, the largest being Mogadore (6), Clinton (3), N Canton (2). 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.