RANK #718 / 996 · POP 131,564 · OH
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.1%
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.
Below national median
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.2x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| 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 996 counties.
Wood County has a Boom Town Index score of 28/100, ranking #718 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.4% and a median household income of $70,537, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Wood County is $203,300 with median rent at $907/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.347, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.4%. Home values changed +0.3% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 7.26% of Wood County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.