RANK #517 / 996 · POP 178,844 · OH
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.7%
Licking County, Ohio, is often recognized for the Newark Earthworks, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by the Hopewell culture between 100 BCE and 400 CE. These ancient geometric earthen enclosures served ceremonial and social purposes. Located directly east of Columbus, the county offers a blend of small-town charm and access to larger city amenities. Commute times to Columbus vary, but towns like Johnstown are within 20 minutes of downtown. The area boasts natural beauty, with outdoor recreation opportunities at places like Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve and Buckeye Lake State Park, offering hiking, biking, boating, and fishing.
Life in Licking County offers a lower cost of living compared to national averages, with diverse communities ranging from the New England-style village of Granville, home to Denison University, to the more commercial hub of Heath. Families are drawn to the area's schools, with districts like Granville Exempted Village and Johnstown-Monroe Local receiving positive ratings. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, and high-tech data centers. This economic activity has contributed to job creation and a focus on workforce development initiatives.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.9x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Microsoft Data Center Campuses (Heath, Hebron, New Albany)
Microsoft
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Harvey Solar Project
Leeward Renewable Energy (formerly Open Road Renewables)
|
$350M | Planned |
|
Flint Grid Battery Energy Storage System
EDP Renewables (formerly Eolian)
|
$200M | Operating |
|
Socrates South Power Generation Project (Natural Gas Plant)
Will-Power OH, LLC (subsidiary of Williams Companies) / Sidecat, LLC (affiliate of Meta Platforms, Inc.)
|
$200M | Planned |
|
PowerConneX New Albany Energy Center (Natural Gas Plant)
EdgeConneX
|
$120M | Under Construction |
|
Union Ridge Solar Project
RWE (acquired from Leeward Renewable Energy)
|
$98M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Licking County has a Boom Town Index score of 48/100, ranking #517 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.9% and a median household income of $78,505, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Licking County is $232,200 with median rent at $960/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3381, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.8% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.9%. Home values changed +2.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.32% of Licking County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.