Darke County, Ohio Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Darke County is located in Ohio with a total population of 51,655. It is the 49th most populous county out of 88 in Ohio.

Age Demographics

The median age in Darke County is 42.0 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Darke County is $64,654. This is 7% lower than the state median of $69,680. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $169,100. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $199,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Darke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Darke County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

16.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.7%.