RANK #889 / 1001 NAT · #47 / 49 OH · POP 86,411
1YR FORECAST: +1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
Muskingum County, Ohio, is perhaps best known for Zanesville's distinctive Y-Bridge, an iconic structure spanning the confluence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers. Located in east-central Ohio, Zanesville, the county seat, sits about an hour east of Columbus. The community offers a blend of rural and suburban living, with rolling hills and natural scenery. Outdoor recreation is a notable draw, with opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and boating at places like Dillon State Park and along the Muskingum River. The Muskingum Valley Park District maintains over 560 acres of parks and trails.
Life in Muskingum County offers a generally stable community with a mix of families and long-term residents. Public schools in the county are considered above average. Commute times are generally manageable, and public transportation, including fixed-route bus services, is available through South East Area Transit (SEAT). The economy, historically tied to natural resources and pottery manufacturing, has diversified to include manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. Recent efforts have focused on attracting further investment in these sectors and improving infrastructure to support business growth and development.
Muskingum County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.1% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.1x — 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: 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 Muskingum County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AMG Vanadium Plant Expansion
AMG Vanadium
|
$350M | Operating |
|
New Muskingum County Jail Facility
Muskingum County
|
$88M | Planned |
|
I-70 Reconstruction in Downtown Zanesville
Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Grupo Bimbo Production Facility
Grupo Bimbo
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Rural Broadband Expansion
Spectrum (Charter Communications)
|
$31M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Muskingum County scores just 10/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #889 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +0.9% and median household income of $60,780 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Muskingum County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $182,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $833/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Muskingum County are both close to flat — population +0.0% YoY and jobs +0.9%. Home values shifted +2.1% 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 Muskingum County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.