RANK #449 / 1001 NAT · #33 / 49 OH · POP 132,064
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Wood County, Ohio's economy is anchored by a diverse mix of industries, including educational, health and social services (24%), manufacturing (21.1%), and retail (10.9%). Bowling Green State University is a significant employer, alongside major companies like First Solar and Abbott Laboratories. First Solar is investing $270 million in a 1.5 million-square-foot research and development facility in Perrysburg Township, solidifying Ohio's role in advanced thin-film photovoltaics. Abbott Laboratories is constructing a $500 million plant in Bowling Green, projected to create 450 jobs and be fully operational by 2027. IMCO Carbide Tool also has a $39 million expansion underway, adding 92 jobs.
The real estate market reflects a balanced environment, with the median home sale price at $274,000, up 2.9% year-over-year as of February 2026. Median rent stands at $1,457, a 1.1% month-over-month increase and 3.1% year-over-year increase as of February 2026. The county's population grew by 0.2% between 2023 and 2024, primarily driven by immigration. While the county benefits from ongoing private sector investments, including nearly $1 billion in 2022, a demographic shift towards an older population (16.6% aged 65 and older in 2022) presents a long-term workforce consideration.
Wood County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.8% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.9x 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Data Center (Bowling Green Data Center)
Meta
|
$800M | Under Construction |
|
Apollo Power Generation Facility (Natural Gas Plant & Battery Storage)
Will-Power OH, LLC (subsidiary of The Williams Companies)
|
$350M | Approved |
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center (Fremont Pike)
Amazon
|
$75M | Under Construction |
|
Juliet Solar Project
Lightsource BP
|
$62M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Warehouse (Oregon Road)
Amazon
|
$30M | Under Construction |
|
FedEx Ground Distribution Center (Bowling Green)
FedEx Ground
|
$30M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Wood County scores 55/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#449). Median household income is $74,216 and job growth is running at -1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Wood County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $227,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $972/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Wood County's job market is contracting (-1.4% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.2% change). Home values are +0.8% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
In significant numbers — 7.02% of Wood 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.