Population 232,216 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake County
Household size in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.44 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.09 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Lake County is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.44 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Ohio counties have smaller households: only six of 88.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.0 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.8, Lake County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.1, as it has nationally. Of Ohio's 88 counties, only eight are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Lake County than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. Lake County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Ohio counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lake County
Renters in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.1% | 33.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 33.5% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.2% of households in Lake County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 38.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the east. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Lake County: 5.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.3 points, as it has nationally. Only seven of Ohio's 88 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1963 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1964 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1964 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Lake County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. Even so, homes here are newer than in the wider Cleveland area, where the median home dates to 1966. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $909 | $833 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $881 | $872 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $977 | $949 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,162 | $1,216 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$252 | +$383 | +$377 | +$606 |
Rent in Lake County runs $1,162 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $252 a month since 2006–10, up 28%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lake County
Bachelor's degrees in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 27.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.1% | 28.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.6% | 34.5% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Lake County than nationally: 31.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.7% | 87.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.2% | 88.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.2% | 90.3% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.3% | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lake County is above the national rate: 94.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Lake County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Ohio counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Lake County than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lake County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 2.33 | 44.8 | 8.8% | 24.2% | 5.7% | 1974 | $1,162 | 31.6% | 94.3% | 3.8% |
| Ashtabula County | 2.47 | 42.7 | 13.1% | 24.3% | 13.3% | 1963 | $830 | 15.9% | 87.0% | 5.7% |
| Crawford County | 2.38 | 44.6 | 10.3% | 25.3% | 17.4% | 1965 | $845 | 21.0% | 89.7% | 5.1% |
| Ottawa County | 2.17 | 49.6 | 9.3% | 16.4% | 25.1% | 1970 | $918 | 28.9% | 94.5% | 3.2% |
| Lucas County | 2.38 | 40.0 | 14.8% | 38.0% | 9.6% | 1965 | $1,045 | 29.8% | 91.3% | 6.5% |
| Fulton County | 2.49 | 41.6 | 9.0% | 19.8% | 5.8% | 1969 | $908 | 20.3% | 94.6% | 3.8% |
| Cameron County | 1.99 | 52.7 | 11.8% | 27.6% | 29.3% | 1958 | $766 | 12.8% | 92.2% | 7.9% |
| Williams County | 2.37 | 41.9 | 13.0% | 23.7% | 6.5% | 1965 | $796 | 13.9% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Steuben County | 2.42 | 43.2 | 8.6% | 20.5% | 21.4% | 1976 | $934 | 26.2% | 92.3% | 6.8% |
| LaGrange County | 3.30 | 33.3 | 8.5% | 17.0% | 11.9% | 1983 | $846 | 10.5% | 54.4% | 3.9% |
| Elkhart County | 2.95 | 37.0 | 12.6% | 28.4% | 10.4% | 1977 | $1,093 | 20.4% | 81.7% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yavapai County, AZ · Berkeley County, SC · Sussex County, DE · Barnstable County, MA · Whatcom County, WA · Tuscaloosa County, AL · New Hanover County, NC · Jackson County, OR · Warren County, OH · Canyon County, ID
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lake County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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