RANK #156 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 49 OH · POP 51,594
1YR FORECAST: +3.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
Darke County, Ohio, is perhaps best known as the birthplace of legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley, whose legacy is celebrated annually with a festival in Greenville, the county seat. Located in west-central Ohio along the Indiana border, Darke County offers a rural setting within an hour's drive of Dayton and less than two hours from Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis. The flat terrain is suitable for outdoor activities like cycling and running, with over 14 miles of bike trails and numerous parks, including Shawnee Prairie Preserve. Greenville Creek also provides opportunities for kayaking and canoeing.
Life in Darke County offers a small-town atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Many residents own their homes, and the public schools are above average, with Versailles High School ranking among the top. The local economy is rooted in agriculture, with the county being a leader in corn, soybean, and egg production. Manufacturing also plays a role, with companies like Whirlpool Corporation, which produces KitchenAid stand mixers in Greenville, and Midmark Corporation, headquartered in Versailles, contributing to the economic landscape.
Darke County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +7.2% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.1x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
BASF Coatings Greenville Site Investment
BASF Coatings
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Darke County ranks #156 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 84/100, placing it in the top tier nationally. Median household income is $64,486 and the underlying growth metrics (housing, migration, income) hold up against peer counties.
By national standards, Darke County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $173,200, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $779/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Darke County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.4%. Home values shifted +7.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.91% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Darke County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +7.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Darke County is now valued at $173,200. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.