RANK #498 / 1001 NAT · #32 / 49 OH · POP 132,064
1YR FORECAST: +5.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
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 +2.0% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
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 50/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#498). 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 +2.0% 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.