County · Ohio

Preble County, Ohio

Preble County, Ohio. Preble County had 40,664 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.8% since 2020, while Ohio grew 0.9%. It holds 23 places (11 cities, villages and boroughs, 11 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 39135.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

40,664

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 40,999 · ACS 2020-2024: 40,765

Median household income

$69,223

±$3,243 (90% margin)
Ohio: $71,389

Median home value

$180,900

±$7,668 (90% margin)
Ohio: $214,800

Median gross rent

$794

±$39 (90% margin)
Ohio: $1,034

How many people live in Preble County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 40,999 residents in Preble County. The Census Bureau estimates 40,664 for July 1, 2025, down 0.8% since 2020, while Ohio grew 0.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 40,765 over 424 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −136 (40,871)
2021→2022 −345 (40,526)
2022→2023 +35 (40,561)
2023→2024 +157 (40,718)
2024→2025 −54 (40,664)

Preble County in Ohio. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Preble County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	40,765	11,810,293	−328
Households	16,725±248	4,863,191	+474
Average household size	2.42±0.04	2.37	−0.08
Housing units	18,140±47	5,292,391	+238

Preble County's population since 2000

From 42,337 in 2000 to 40,664 in 2025: down 4.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 42,337
2005 (estimate) 42,584
2010 Census 42,270
2015 (estimate) 41,313
2020 Census 40,999
2025 (estimate) 40,664

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Preble County?

Preble County holds 23 places: 11 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 11 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Eaton with 8,327 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Preble County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Eaton	city	8,375	8,339±19	$51,467	$148,200	14.1%	100%
Harrison Township, Preble County	township	4,305	4,278±20	$77,414	$181,300	13.1%	100%
Gratis Township	township	4,224	4,204±21	$88,523	$214,700	13.6%	100%
Gasper Township	township	3,911	3,895±17	$85,769	$214,600	9.5%	100%
Somers Township	township	3,829	3,802±32	$64,350	$165,000	16.9%	100%
Lanier Township	township	3,727	3,706±17	$62,689	$195,900	8.7%	100%
Lake Lakengren	CDP	3,387	3,445±203	$87,135	$211,400	6.5%	100%
Twin Township, Preble County	township	2,669	2,653±27	$71,563	$219,300	14.6%	100%
Monroe Township, Preble County	township	2,084	2,345±255	$73,478	$149,800	8.3%	100%
Camden	village	1,989	2,029±264	$49,063	$117,400	23.7%	100%
Washington Township, Preble County	township	1,809	1,622±216	$84,861	$234,400	7.2%	100%
Lewisburg	village	1,745	1,927±319	$75,379	$155,800	21.6%	100%
New Paris	village	1,494	1,582±234	$38,527	$86,800	23.7%	100%
West Alexandria	village	1,334	1,340±232	$59,973	$154,300	8.5%	100%
Jackson Township, Preble CountyGEOID 3913538010	township	1,141	1,506±333	$80,568	$191,400	13.3%	100%
Israel Township	township	1,131	773±216	$69,630	$192,500	2.5%	100%
GratisGEOID 3931472	village	842	725±245	$77,500	$154,600	7.4%	100%
Dixon TownshipGEOID 3913522106	township	568	430±227	$88,068	$187,200	13.5%	100%
Eldorado	village	458	841±278	$68,966	$135,600	7.2%	100%
West Manchester	village	415	341±82	$61,875	$105,500	6.6%	100%
Verona	village	403	653±184	$66,250	$153,600	9.3%	84%
College Corner	village	387	429±226	$53,224	$135,700	28.7%	62%
West ElktonGEOID 3983216	village	164	148±63	$50,833	$89,000	26.4%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Preble County?

The median resident of Preble County is 43.3 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 20.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.8%. 0.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Preble County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.3±0.6	39.7	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.2%±0.1 pts	22.0%	–
65 years and over	20.4%±0.2 pts	18.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.1%	4.8%	+0.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	95.0%±0.4 pts	75.8%	−1.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.3 pts	12.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	2.5%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.8%±0.5 pts	4.3%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.6%±0.2 pts	5.2%	−0.4 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.5%±0.5 pts	8.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.7%±0.7 pts	6.6%	–
With a disability	15.8%±1.4 pts	14.4%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.4%±1.1 pts	6.4%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.5%±1.0 pts	91.8%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	18.5%±1.9 pts	31.5%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.9%±1.1 pts	12.2%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.2%±0.4 pts	1.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Preble County earn?

Half of Preble County's 16,725 households earn less than $69,223 a year (±$3,243), against $71,389 in Ohio. In 2015-2019 it was $72,558 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Preble County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$69,223±$3,243	$71,389	no clear change
Mean household income	$84,162±$3,793	$96,990	–
Per capita income	$34,711±$1,389	$40,552	no clear change
People below the poverty line	12.6%±1.7 pts	13.3%	+2.5 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	18.9%±3.3 pts	17.8%	+5.9 pts
Households receiving SNAP	10.2%±1.5 pts	12.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.0%±1.9 pts	90.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Preble County?

Owners occupy 79.7% of Preble County's occupied homes and renters 20.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $180,900 by its owner (±$7,668). The median renter pays $794 a month including utilities, and 30.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Preble County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$180,900±$7,668	$214,800	+$26,940
Median gross rent	$794±$39	$1,034	−$118
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	30.5%±5.9 pts	37.3%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,278±$45	$1,517	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.7%±2.0 pts	67.2%	no clear change
Housing units	18,140±47	5,292,391	+238
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.5 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.6%±3.2 pts	4.4%	–
Single-family detached homes	86.9%±1.6 pts	68.8%	–
Mobile homes	3.2%±0.8 pts	3.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.4%±0.3 pts	1.1%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	26.8%±2.1 pts	19.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Preble County building?

Builders took permits for 45 new housing units across Preble County in 2025 (45 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 36 units
2020 48 units
2021 48 units
2022 46 units
2023 30 units
2024 58 units
2025 45 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Preble County get to work?

82.8% of Preble County's workers drive alone and 7.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Preble County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	61.9%±1.4 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.2%±0.7 pts	4.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	82.8%±2.1 pts	75.1%	–
Carpooled	7.2%±1.4 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	1.0%	–
Walked	2.0%±0.7 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	7.3%±1.4 pts	13.0%	+4.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.4 min±1.2	23.4 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Preble County's census tracts?

Preble County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $45,988 (Tract 4550.02) to $89,848 (Tract 4801).

Census tracts of Preble County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 400139135400100	New Paris (34%)	3,226	3,212±22	$64,125	$136,900	$766	16.1%
Tract 410139135410100	Eldorado (18%)	2,084	2,345±255	$73,478	$149,800	$800	8.3%
Tract 420139135420100	Lewisburg (43%)	4,305	4,278±20	$77,414	$181,300	$861	13.1%
Tract 430139135430100	West Alexandria (27%)	2,669	2,653±27	$71,563	$219,300	$694	14.6%
Tract 440139135440100	West Alexandria (32%)	3,730	3,741±56	$62,025	$200,900	$831	9.5%
Tract 450139135450100	Eaton (16%)	2,161	2,231±307	$72,656	$249,600	$857	9.1%
Tract 4550.0139135455001	Eaton (86%)	2,273	2,015±296	$62,644	$144,500	$882	13.3%
Tract 4550.0239135455002	Eaton (93%)	5,750	5,715±371	$45,988	$146,300	$746	14.3%
Tract 460139135460100	College Corner (4%)	2,840	2,709±303	$75,625	$190,000	$944	10.3%
Tract 4701.0139135470101	Lake Lakengren (75%)	3,573	3,506±204	$86,288	$212,300	$1,345	6.4%
Tract 4701.0239135470102	Camden (33%)	4,167	4,191±205	$65,893	$169,500	$827	18.8%
Tract 480139135480100	Gratis (25%)	4,221	4,169±55	$89,848	$212,100	$897	12.9%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Preble County compare with Ohio's other counties?

Preble County's rank among Ohio's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	61st of 88
Growth 2020-2025	58th of 88
Residents per square mile	56th of 88
Median household income	41st of 88
Median home value	47th of 88
Median gross rent	67th of 88
Poverty rate	49th of 88
Bachelor's degree or higher	56th of 88
Median age	19th of 88

Every county in Ohio

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Preble County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.