RANK #460 / 1001 NAT · #34 / 49 OH · POP 181,837
1YR FORECAST: +1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
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.
Licking County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.3% YoY, population +0.8%, wages +5.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 10.8x — 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
Licking County scores 54/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#460). Median household income is $84,426 and job growth is running at +4.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Licking County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $275,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,078/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Licking County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.7% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.3% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.45% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Licking County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.