PlainZIP

Bluffton, OH · standard

ZIP Code 45817

Allen County, Ohio - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

6,736
40/sq mi
$76,848
Median income
$210,100
Median home value
38.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Bluffton pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 42%
household income, US ZIPs
46th pct
home value, US ZIPs
40
people per sq mi
76%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 45817 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 45817 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio, home to 6,736 residents across 167.1 square miles, a density of 40 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 45817 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $76,848 (5% above the Ohio average), while per-capita income is $38,390. Local economic indicators show a 2.6% poverty rate alongside 5.8% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $210,100 (7% above the state average) with median rent at $795 per month, and 75.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.1, and the average commute is 19 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 8 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 45817, plus 6 more within Allen County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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 45817

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bluffton, OH

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 45817.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 45817, Bluffton, 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

6,736

Population

167.1

Area (sq mi)

40

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 45817?

43.1

Median Age

46.3%

Male

53.7%

Female

4.4%

Foreign-Born

White 89.6%
African American 2.0%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.5%

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?

$76,848

Median Household Income

+5% vs state

$38,390

Per Capita Income

2.6%

Poverty Rate

5.8%

Unemployment Rate

19.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 45817 ranks nationally

Bluffton, OH household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$76,848 Top 42% higher than 58% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 69.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

2,543

Total Housing Units

2,394

Occupied Units

149

Vacant Units

2.28

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.9%
Renter 24.1%

$210,100

Median Home Value

+7% vs state

$795

Median Rent

1964

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

+9.5%

YoY Change (2024)

196

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+96%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 45817 have increased 9.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +96% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.9% 143
2021 +6.7% 152
2022 +11.5% 170
2023 +5.6% 179
2024 +9.5% 196

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 161 business establishments in ZIP 45817, employing approximately 3,602 people with a combined annual payroll of $177,029,000.

161

Businesses

3,602

Employees

$177.0M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 22 13.7%
Other services (except public administration) 22 13.7%
Retail trade 18 11.2%
Accommodation and food services 18 11.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 15 9.3%
Finance and insurance 14 8.7%
Construction 11 6.8%
Wholesale trade 9 5.6%
Manufacturing 8 5.0%
Transportation and warehousing 5 3.1%
Information 4 2.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4 2.5%
Educational services 4 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 2.5%

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 45817 vs 45868 →

ZIP 45817 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 45817 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 45817 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 45817 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
45868 Mount Cory, OH 567 6.4 mi
45877 Pandora, OH 2,139 6.1 mi
45808 Beaverdam, OH 349 5.6 mi
45841 Jenera, OH 929 7.6 mi
45810 Ada, OH 8,460 7.9 mi
45881 Rawson, OH 1,461 7.5 mi
45854 Lafayette, OH 498 9.0 mi
45816 Benton Ridge, OH 291 10.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Allen County

45801 standard
Lima, OH
Pop: 25,303
45805 standard
Lima, OH
Pop: 22,514
45804 standard
Lima, OH
Pop: 15,758
45807 standard
Lima, OH
Pop: 12,221
45806 standard
Lima, OH
Pop: 11,158
45833 standard
Delphos, OH
Pop: 10,667

Related Areas

Allen County Bluffton, OH Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 45817 in? ▼
ZIP code 45817 (Bluffton) is located in Allen County, Ohio. Allen County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/allen-oh.
What is the population of ZIP code 45817? ▼
ZIP code 45817 in Bluffton, OH has a population of 6,736 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 45817? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 45817 is $76,848, which is 1% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 45817? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 45817 is $210,100, which is 24% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 45817? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 45817 is White at 89.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 45817? ▼
ZIP code 45817 has 161 business establishments employing approximately 3,602 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 45817? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 45817 are: Health care and social assistance (22), Other services (except public administration) (22), Retail trade (18). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 45817? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 45817 increased by 9.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 96%. 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 45817? ▼
In ZIP code 45817, 69.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.0% 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 45817? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 45817 is 19.2 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 45817? ▼
In ZIP code 45817, approximately 75.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 45817? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 45817 is 2.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.