RANK #711 / 1001 NAT · #44 / 49 OH · POP 163,453
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Fairfield County, Ohio, distinguishes itself with a blend of historic charm and natural beauty, particularly in towns like Lancaster, its county seat. Lancaster, about 30 miles southeast of Columbus, features well-preserved 19th-century architecture and serves as a gateway to the scenic Hocking Hills region. The county boasts over 5,000 acres of parkland and preserves, including parts of the Hocking Hills, offering waterfalls and hiking trails. Commuting to Columbus is feasible, with major routes like US-33 and I-70 nearby. The community offers a mix of rural and suburban living, with a notable number of covered bridges adding to its character.
Life in Fairfield County often appeals to families and those seeking a balance between small-town atmosphere and access to urban amenities. The public schools in the county are generally well-regarded. The economy is experiencing growth, with the county being the fourth fastest-growing in Ohio over the past decade. This growth is partly driven by investments in sectors such as data centers and energy, contributing to a diverse economic landscape that includes manufacturing and agriculture. Residents largely rely on personal vehicles for transportation, with an average commute time of 28 minutes.
Fairfield County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.5% YoY, population +1.3%, wages +5.8%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 18.2x — 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: 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Vantage Data Centers OH2 - Millersport Campus
Vantage Data Centers Management Company, LLC
|
$2,100M | Planned |
|
AlphaStruxure Millersport Natural Gas Plant (to power Vantage Data Center)
AlphaStruxure
|
$2,000M | Planned |
|
Eastern Cottontail Solar Project
Eastern Cottontail Solar LLC (EDF Power Solutions)
|
$220M | Approved |
|
Carnation Solar Project
Carnation Solar LLC (Geronimo Power)
|
$142M | Proposed |
|
U.S. 33 and Pickerington Road Interchange
Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 28/100, Fairfield County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $90,966 combined with job growth of +1.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Fairfield County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $298,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,172/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Fairfield County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.3% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.6% clip. Home values shifted +1.5% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.07% of Fairfield County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.