B

Bluffton, OH

Source:

Affordability Score: 72/100

Population: 6,736 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Bluffton, OH aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,736 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B (72/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $76,848, median home value of $210,100, median rent of $795 per month, and 38.0% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,108 per month (studio $839, 1BR $844, 3BR $1,338, 4BR $1,493). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,025 per year, consuming 12% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Bluffton, OH include housing, commute, rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.8% and poverty 2.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$76,848
Median household income
Education B-
38.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B+
2.7x
Home value $210,100 vs income
Commute B+
19 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,108/mo
2BR fair market rent (17% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$9,025/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$76,848
▲ 24% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,390
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Poverty Rate
2.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$210,100
▼ 24% vs national
Median Rent
$795/mo
Owner Occupied
75.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,108/mo
▼ 8% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$839
1BR
$844
2BR
$1,108
3BR
$1,338
4BR
$1,493

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
38.0%
▲ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
69.0%
Median Age
43.1
Avg. Commute
19 min
▼ 7 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,025/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,320/yr
Preschool (Center)
$7,384/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,200/yr

What This Means

Bluffton, OH receives an overall affordability grade of B (72/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,736. This area performs well in housing and commute and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Bluffton ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Bluffton, OH affordable?
Bluffton, OH receives an overall affordability grade of B (72/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $76,848. Median home value is $210,100.
What is the cost of living in Bluffton?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $795/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,108/mo. Infant childcare $9,025/yr. Median home value $210,100.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →