RANK #6 / 996 · POP 102,087 · OH
PROJECTED GROWTH: +5.2%
Allen County, Ohio, is perhaps best known for Lima, its largest city and county seat, which gained pop culture recognition as the setting for the television show "Glee." Located in northwestern Ohio, Lima sits along Interstate 75, roughly 72 miles north of Dayton and 78 miles south of Toledo, making commutes to larger cities accessible. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and small-town charm, with a variety of parks and natural areas like the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and enjoying green spaces.
Life in Allen County offers a balance of affordability and community focus. Public schools in the county are highly rated, with several districts serving the area. The economy is driven by manufacturing, healthcare, and education, with institutions like Ohio State University at Lima and Rhodes State College contributing to the educational landscape. Recent years have seen significant investment in commercial and residential developments, alongside growth in data center and logistics sectors, indicating a forward-looking economic picture for residents.
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 1.7x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Data Center (Project BOSC)
Google
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Downtown Lima Revitalization Projects
Various (public and private)
|
$60M | Completed |
|
Infrastructure Improvements (associated with Google Data Center)
Allen County (funded by Google)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Ohio Logistics Spec Buildings (2 x 100,000 sq ft)
Ohio Logistics
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Allen County has a Boom Town Index score of 100/100, ranking #6 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $58,976, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Allen County is $147,000 with median rent at $844/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4012, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed +6.9% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.43% of Allen County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.