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Lake County, Ohio Demographics 2026

Lake County, Ohio has a population of 232,101, the 11th most populous county in Ohio. The median household income is $77,952 and the median home value is $199,900. The poverty rate is 8.2%.

Lake County Quick Facts

Population 232,101
Median Household Income $77,952
Median Home Value $199,900
Poverty Rate 8.2%
Unemployment Rate 4.3%
Median Age 44.0 years
Homeownership Rate 75.1%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 30.5%
High School Graduation 93.9%
Cities/Places 13
Population 232,101 11th of 88
Median Income $77,952 12% higher state
Poverty Rate 8.2%
Unemployment 4.3%

Economy & Housing

Employment

4.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9% | National: 5.2%
65.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.1%
Renter 24.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

27out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 39 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Lake County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Mentor city47,215$89,2025.4%$229,500
Willoughby city23,934$70,8848.9%$206,200
Painesville city20,453$50,45522.9%$151,400
Eastlake city17,538$62,5107.7%$168,300
Willowick city14,182$74,1385.3%$156,100
Wickliffe city12,639$79,0526.8%$158,400
Willoughby Hills city9,979$61,6418.7%$305,800
Mentor-on-the-Lake city7,117$61,3208.9%$171,200
Kirtland city6,913$117,7945.0%$377,500
Timberlake village629$78,2143.7%$216,300
Kirtland Hills village614$208,7503.4%$712,000
Waite Hill village532$159,3754.9%$746,400
Lakeline village215$70,5008.1%$208,300

Population Overview

Lake County is located in Ohio with a total population of 232,101. It is the 11th most populous county out of 88 in Ohio. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 44.0 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $77,952. This is 12% higher than the state median of $69,680. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 38% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $199,900. Housing costs are about average than the state median of $199,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Lake County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.1%. The Black or African American population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 12.1%.

Education

30.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 1% 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 93.9%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lake County, Ohio?

Lake County has a population of 232,101, making it the 11th most populous county in Ohio.

What is the median income in Lake County?

The median household income in Lake County is $77,952 with a poverty rate of 8.2%.

How many cities are in Lake County, Ohio?

Lake County contains 13 Census-designated places.