C-

Mechanicstown, OH

Source:

Affordability Score: 51/100

Population: 861 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Mechanicstown, OH aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 861 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (51/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $60,000, median home value of $197,400, median rent of per month, and 10.7% 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 $1,086 per month (studio $749, 1BR $846, 3BR $1,371, 4BR $1,451). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,025 per year, consuming 15% 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 Mechanicstown, OH include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 0.0% and poverty 0.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$60,000
Median household income
Education F
10.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $197,400 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,086/mo
2BR fair market rent (22% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$9,025/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$60,000
▼ 3% vs national
Per Capita Income
$20,635
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Poverty Rate
0.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$197,400
▼ 28% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
96.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,086/mo
▼ 9% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$749
1BR
$846
2BR
$1,086
3BR
$1,371
4BR
$1,451

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
10.7%
▼ 19 ppt vs national
High School+
41.1%
Median Age
27.4
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,025/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,320/yr
Preschool (Center)
$7,384/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,200/yr

What This Means

Mechanicstown, OH receives an overall affordability grade of C- (51/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 861. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Mechanicstown, OH affordable?
Mechanicstown, OH receives an overall affordability grade of C- (51/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $60,000. Median home value is $197,400.
What is the cost of living in Mechanicstown?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $1,086/mo. Infant childcare $9,025/yr. Median home value $197,400.
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 →