PlainZIP

ZIP Code 45843

standard

Source:

Forest · Hardin County · Ohio

Population
3,701

14/sq mi

Median income
$71,541

▼ 6% vs US

higher than 49% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$176,200

▼ 37% vs US

higher than 37% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
15.5%

Median age 40.4

Land area
258.8 sq mi

New York

ZIP code 45843 in Forest, Ohio has a population of 3,701. The median household income is $71,541, which is 6% below the national average. Median home value is $176,200, 37% below the US average. 15.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 45843 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 258.8 square miles in Forest, Hardin County, Ohio. The area is home to 3,701 residents, producing a population density of 14 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 45843 against Ohio and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 45843 sits at $71,541 (2% below the Ohio average), while per-capita income is $34,166. The poverty rate stands at 13.3% and the unemployment rate at 5.6%. On housing, the median home value is $176,200 (11% below the state average) with median rent at $920 per month, and 75.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 45843 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 15.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.4, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Hardin County, so you can benchmark 45843 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 45843

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 45843.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 45843, Forest, OH · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

3,701

Population

258.8

Area (sq mi)

14

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 45843?

40.4

Median Age

47.8%

Male

52.2%

Female

0.8%

Foreign-Born

White 95.0%
African American 2.8%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.3%
Hispanic or Latino 0.7%

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?

$71,541

Median Household Income

-2% vs state

$34,166

Per Capita Income

13.3%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

23.7 min

Mean Commute Time

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

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 67.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.5%

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

What does housing look like?

1,756

Total Housing Units

1,613

Occupied Units

143

Vacant Units

2.59

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.8%
Renter 24.2%

$176,200

Median Home Value

-11% vs state

$920

Median Rent

1970

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

+9.2%

YoY Change (2024)

206

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+106%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 45843 have increased 9.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +106% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +9.0% 151
2021 -8.5% 138
2022 +31.9% 182
2023 +3.8% 189
2024 +9.2% 206

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 37 business establishments in ZIP 45843, employing approximately 583 people with a combined annual payroll of $32,426,000.

37

Businesses

583

Employees

$32.4M

Annual Payroll

6

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 6 16.2%
Construction 5 13.5%
Manufacturing 5 13.5%
Retail trade 3 8.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 3 8.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 8.1%

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 45843 vs 45836 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
45836 Dunkirk, OH 1,479 5.5 mi
45867 Mount Blanchard, OH 1,189 8.1 mi
43330 Kirby, OH 118 6.4 mi
43359 Wharton, OH 819 7.6 mi
45897 Williamstown, OH 101 7.3 mi
45814 Arlington, OH 2,620 9.3 mi
43326 Kenton, OH 13,611 10.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Hardin County

43326 standard
Kenton, OH
Pop: 13,611
45810 standard
Ada, OH
Pop: 8,460
45812 standard
Alger, OH
Pop: 1,943
43340 standard
Mount Victory, OH
Pop: 1,721
45836 standard
Dunkirk, OH
Pop: 1,479
43345 standard
Ridgeway, OH
Pop: 920

Related Areas

Hardin County Forest, OH Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 45843 in? ▼
ZIP code 45843 (Forest) is located in Hardin County, Ohio. Hardin County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hardin-oh.
What is the population of ZIP code 45843? ▼
ZIP code 45843 in Forest, OH has a population of 3,701 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 45843? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 45843 is $71,541, which is 6% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 45843? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 45843 is $176,200, which is 37% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 45843? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 45843 is White at 95.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 45843? ▼
ZIP code 45843 has 37 business establishments employing approximately 583 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 45843? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 45843 are: Other services (except public administration) (6), Construction (5), Manufacturing (5). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 45843? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 45843 increased by 9.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 106%. 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 45843? ▼
In ZIP code 45843, 67.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.5% 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 45843? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 45843 is 23.7 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 45843? ▼
In ZIP code 45843, approximately 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 45843? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 45843 is 13.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
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Understanding ZIP Code Data
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ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Forest, OH

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.

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