Clark County

Clark County is the most affordable county in the Dayton region, with a cost of living well below the U.S. average, homes often under $160,000, and employment growth among the strongest in Ohio since the pandemic. Safety and schools are the trade-offs most buyers research. Glasshouse Realty agents know every community in the county.

The 2025 median sale price in Springfield was about $200,000, with median home values running roughly $116,000 to $156,000 depending on the source and WHIO reporting a median near $214,700 in mid-2026, up about 7.6% year over year. Housing is the primary draw and among the most affordable markets in Ohio. Glasshouse Realty agents can help you find value.

The cost of living runs roughly 11% to 15% below the U.S. average, with housing about 46% lower than the national figure. That affordability is the county's biggest draw for buyers and renters alike. Glasshouse Realty agents can help you budget a move.

Springfield City Schools is the largest district but rates below state averages on most report cards, though its four-year graduation rate improved sharply to about 88.8%. Clark-Shawnee Local leads the area with a four-star state rating, and the Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center earns the county's only five-star career-tech rating. District matters considerably here. Glasshouse Realty agents can confirm assignments.

Yes. Springfield levies a 2.4% city income tax on earned income, in effect since 2020 and collected by RITA, with a 50% credit (up to 2.4%) for income tax paid to a work city. Clark County itself does not add a separate county income tax. Glasshouse Realty agents can estimate the full tax picture.

Springfield sits about 25 miles from Dayton and roughly 45 miles from Columbus along I-70, making both commutable depending on traffic. A car is essential, with limited public transit. Glasshouse Realty agents can optimize your commute.

Yes. Among the most affordable markets in Ohio, homes and rents far below regional medians give first-time buyers real options, often with OHFA down payment assistance available. The low entry price is a strong draw. Glasshouse Realty agents specialize in first-time buyers.

Major employers include Mercy Health, Assurant, Navistar, Speedway, the Ohio Air National Guard, and Cedarville University, and the $1.3 billion Vultr data center came online in early 2026, adding roughly 120 high-tech jobs. Manufacturing remains the largest industry, with some volatility in truck manufacturing. Glasshouse Realty agents can connect home search to work.

The northeast part of the city is commonly cited as the safest, with established residential pockets and a mix of affordable historic homes. Northridge and Clairmont are named among the friendliest areas, and downtown is revitalizing around Wittenberg University. Glasshouse Realty agents can match buyers to the right neighborhood.

Enon tops the 2026 Niche ranking of places in Clark County, with Greenon Local Schools, no municipal income tax, and a short drive to Wright-Patterson AFB, followed by New Carlisle. Springfield provides the most affordable housing and a revitalizing downtown, and Yellow Springs brings one of Ohio's most unique small-town cultures. Glasshouse Realty agents can help you compare.

The pros: the most affordable housing in the Dayton region, a cost of living well below the national average, and some of Ohio's strongest employment growth since the pandemic. The cons to research: crime runs above state averages and Springfield City Schools rate below state averages. Glasshouse Realty agents can help you weigh the trade-offs.

Yes. Clark County has posted some of the strongest employment growth in Ohio since the pandemic, and the $1.3 billion Vultr data center came online in early 2026, adding roughly 120 high-tech jobs. Downtown Springfield keeps adding housing and businesses, drawing new residents who want affordability close to the I-70 corridor. Glasshouse Realty agents can point you to the neighborhoods with the most momentum.

Yes for value-focused buyers. Clark County remains one of the most affordable markets in Ohio, with WHIO reporting a Springfield median sale price near $214,700 in mid-2026, up about 7.6% year over year with just 2.2 months of supply. That is well below the 4 to 6 month balanced mark, so the county still favors sellers on well-priced homes. Glasshouse Realty agents specialize in first-time buyers here.