RANK #98 / 996 · POP 97,666 · OH
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.9%
Ashtabula County, Ohio, stands out for its nineteen covered bridges, including both the longest and shortest in the United States. Located in the northeastern corner of Ohio, it is roughly an hour's drive from both Cleveland and Erie, Pennsylvania. The community offers a blend of rural landscapes and Lake Erie shoreline, with Geneva-on-the-Lake providing a resort-town feel with its attractions and Geneva State Park offering beaches and trails. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for hiking, biking on the Western Reserve Greenway Trail, fishing in Lake Erie and Pymatuning Reservoir, and exploring four wild and scenic rivers. Life in Ashtabula County offers an affordable cost of living. The county provides various educational opportunities, including public school districts like Jefferson Area Local and Geneva Area City, as well as Kent State University at Ashtabula and the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus. The local economy has a history in manufacturing and has seen recent growth, particularly in sectors such as composites, chemicals, and energy. The Ashtabula County Port Authority actively promotes economic development and job creation.
Below national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Nodular Pig Iron Plant
Petmin
|
$474M | Operating |
|
Ashtabula Windfarm (Proposed)
SGR Site Associates LLC
|
$105M | Proposed |
|
Risberg Natural Gas Pipeline
RH energytrans
|
$86M | Operating |
|
Plastpro Manufacturing Facility Expansion
Plastpro
|
$53M | Planned |
|
Ashtabula County Broadband Infrastructure Upgrades (Connect Ashtabula)
Ashtabula County Commissioners / Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Ashtabula County has a Boom Town Index score of 90/100, ranking #98 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.4% and a median household income of $53,663, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Ashtabula County is $139,000 with median rent at $811/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3861, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.4%. Home values changed +5.0% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.07% of Ashtabula County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.