RANK #747 / 1001 NAT · #41 / 49 OH · POP 226,834
1YR FORECAST: +1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
Historic Downtown Delaware, with its classic Strand Theatre, one of the nation's longest-operating movie theaters, offers a specific charm that locals often highlight first. Located just north of Columbus, Delaware County provides a blend of small-town atmosphere with convenient access to a major city. Commuting to Columbus is feasible, with options including public transit and private bus services, though most residents drive. The county is characterized by its parks and trails, including Alum Creek State Park and Preservation Parks, offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, boating, and disc golf amidst woodlands and meadows.
Life in Delaware County often appeals to families, drawn by highly-rated public school districts such as Olentangy Local Schools and Delaware City Schools. The local economy is diverse, with growth in professional and business services, and a notable presence in information technology. Recent economic developments include investments in commercial and residential properties, as well as expansions in technology infrastructure, including data centers. The county maintains a low unemployment rate and a high rate of homeownership.
Delaware County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.9% runs above the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 13.2x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Delaware County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Web Services Data Center Campus
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$2,000M | Planned |
|
Woodland Lake Mixed-Use Development
Wilcox Communities, Cody Coughlin company, Ltd.
|
$104M | Planned |
|
Redwood Powell - Home Road (Phases II & III)
Redwood USA LLC
|
$52M | Under Construction |
|
Delaware Southeast Focus Area Plan Housing Development
Various Developers
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Vertiv Customer Experience Center Microgrid
Vertiv
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Improved Interchange at I-71/U.S. 36/SR 37 and Proposed Sunbury Pkwy
Delaware County Engineer
|
$32M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 25/100, Delaware County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $133,540 combined with job growth of +2.7% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Delaware County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $445,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,492/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Delaware County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.7% clip. Home values shifted +0.9% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 5.0% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Delaware County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.