Ironton, OH · standard
ZIP Code 45638
Lawrence County, Ohio - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,635
- 108/sq mi High-density area
- $52,728
- Median income Below-median income area
- $119,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Ironton pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 16th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 108
- people per sq mi
- 69%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 45638 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 45638 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio, with 21,635 residents across 200.9 square miles, a density of 108 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 45638 reports a modest median household income of $52,728 (28% below the average Ohio ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,408. The poverty rate is 19.0%, with unemployment at 4.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $119,000 (40% below the average Ohio ZIP), and median rent is $807; owner occupancy is 68.6%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.1, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lawrence County, so 45638 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 45638
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ironton, OH
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 45638.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
69 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
62 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
39 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 establishments
- Finance and insurance 25
Finance and insurance
25 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 45638, Ironton, OH · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,635
Population
200.9
Area (sq mi)
108
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 45638?
40.1
Median Age
46.7%
Male
53.3%
Female
0.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$52,728
Median Household Income
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$29,408
Per Capita Income
19.0%
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Unemployment Rate
22.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 45638 ranks among Ohio ZIPs
Ironton, OH household income vs. every Ohio ZIP code
Median household income among 1,127 reporting Ohio ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$52,728 18th percentile higher than 18% of 1,127 Ohio ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Ohio ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,216housing units
9,216
Total Housing Units
7,917
Occupied Units
1,299
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$119,000
Median Home Value
-40% vs state ZIP avg
$807
Median Rent
1962
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-0.7%
YoY Change (2024)
193
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+93%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 45638 have decreased 0.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +93% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.8% | 144 |
| 2021 | +10.5% | 159 |
| 2022 | +10.2% | 175 |
| 2023 | +11.1% | 194 |
| 2024 | -0.7% | 193 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 334 business establishments in ZIP 45638, employing approximately 4,584 people with a combined annual payroll of $219,517,000.
334
Businesses
4,584
Employees
$219.5M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 69 | 20.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 62 | 18.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 39 | 11.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 10.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 7.5% |
| Construction | 19 | 5.7% |
| Manufacturing | 18 | 5.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15 | 4.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 2.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 2.1% |
| Utilities | 6 | 1.8% |
| Information | 6 | 1.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 45638 vs 41183 →
ZIP 45638 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 41102
Ashland (41102)
21,712 residents
- 45638
Ironton (45638)
21,635 residents
- 41101
Ashland (41101)
18,758 residents
- 45680
South Point (45680)
13,074 residents
- 41139 8,271
Flatwoods (41139)
8,271 residents
- 41169 5,354
Russell (41169)
5,354 residents
- 45629 3,438
Franklin Furnace (45629)
3,438 residents
- 45645 3,036
Kitts Hill (45645)
3,036 residents
- 45659 2,973
Pedro (45659)
2,973 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 45638 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 45638 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 45636
Haverhill (45636)
$73,940 median income
- 41102
Ashland (41102)
$67,879 median income
- 41169
Russell (41169)
$66,473 median income
- 41183
Worthington (41183)
$65,609 median income
- 45645
Kitts Hill (45645)
$64,632 median income
- 45629
Franklin Furnace (45629)
$60,592 median income
- 45659
Pedro (45659)
$59,844 median income
- 41139
Flatwoods (41139)
$59,034 median income
- 45680
South Point (45680)
$54,523 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 45638 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41183 | Worthington, KY | 1,618 | 3.3 mi |
| 41169 | Russell, KY | 5,354 | 3.1 mi |
| 41139 | Flatwoods, KY | 8,271 | 4.2 mi |
| 41101 | Ashland, KY | 18,758 | 6.4 mi |
| 45645 | Kitts Hill, OH | 3,036 | 7.9 mi |
| 45659 | Pedro, OH | 2,973 | 8.1 mi |
| 45636 | Haverhill, OH | 148 | 8.1 mi |
| 41102 | Ashland, KY | 21,712 | 10.1 mi |
| 45629 | Franklin Furnace, OH | 3,438 | 9.5 mi |
| 45680 | South Point, OH | 13,074 | 10.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 45638, both outside OH so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (21,635 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lawrence County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 45638 in?
ZIP code 45638 (Ironton) is located in Lawrence County, Ohio. Lawrence County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lawrence-oh.
What is the population of ZIP code 45638?
ZIP code 45638 in Ironton, OH has a population of 21,635 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 45638?
The median household income in ZIP 45638 is $52,728, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 45638?
The median home value in ZIP 45638 is $119,000, which is 57% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 45638?
The largest racial group in ZIP 45638 is White at 94.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 45638?
ZIP code 45638 has 334 business establishments employing approximately 4,584 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 45638?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 45638 are: Retail trade (69), Health care and social assistance (62), Other services (except public administration) (39). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 45638?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 45638 decreased by 0.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 93%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 45638?
In ZIP code 45638, 60.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 45638?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 45638 is 22.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 45638?
In ZIP code 45638, approximately 68.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 45638?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 45638 is 19.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 45638's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 45638 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Ironton, OH ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.