Springfield
RANK #29 / 996 NAT · #5 / 49 OH · POP 135,877
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +42%
Clark County, Ohio, is often recognized for its historical significance, particularly as the birthplace of 4-H in 1902. Located in west-central Ohio, with Springfield as its county seat, the area is roughly 25 miles north of Dayton and 45 miles west of Columbus. This positioning offers residents access to larger urban centers, while maintaining a distinct community feel. The county features rolling hills and is home to Buck Creek State Park, which offers boating, fishing, hiking, and camping around the 2,120-acre C.J. Brown Reservoir. Additionally, the Mad River provides opportunities for canoeing. Life in Clark County blends suburban and rural characteristics, with many residents owning their homes. Public school districts like Clark-Shawnee Local, Northeastern Local, and Tecumseh Local serve the area. The local economy, historically rooted in agriculture and manufacturing, is seeing new investments. Recent economic developments include growth in sectors such as data centers and energy, alongside ongoing efforts to expand housing options to support the workforce.
Below national median (4.7x)
Contracting economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
5C Data Center / Vultr Data Center
5C Group / Vultr
|
$1,300M | Under Construction |
|
Mosey Battery Storage
Unknown
|
$537M | Planned |
|
Midas Energy Storage
Unknown
|
$518M | Planned |
|
Crusoe Energy AI Data Center
Crusoe Energy Systems
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Sloopy Solar Energy Center
Invenergy
|
$180M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Clark County ranks #29 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 97/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.8% year-over-year). Median household income here is $58,954.
By national standards, Clark County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $144,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $820/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Clark County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.8%. Home values shifted +4.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.04% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Clark County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.