Fostoria: Economy & Jobs
Households in Fostoria earn a median $54,151 (1.2× below Seneca County median $66,025; 1.3× below Ohio median $71,389), with homes at a median value of $87,200. The surrounding county supports 44,126 jobs (avg $65,463).
- $79,179 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (at Ohio median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $54,151 — below the Ohio median ($66,082). Poverty rate 16.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 31% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 16.8% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 31.2% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 16.4% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.2% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $37,220 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,947,045 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $79,179 (at Ohio median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $60,329 |
| Median Household Income | $54,151 (vs Ohio $66,082) |
| Poverty Rate | 16.4% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $54,151 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.8% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 2% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 22.70 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 2.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 44,126 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $2,888,646,285 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $65,463 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 5,469,160 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% (vs Ohio 3.4%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 995 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 191,454 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 192.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Soybeans, Corn, Animal Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,681 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 40,690 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 2,331,181 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 10 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 23 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 16 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 8 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 52 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 74 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 9 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 18 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (5)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Jack's Carry Out |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 18 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | FOSTORIA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $726,614,062 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 9,698.53 (vs Ohio $6,792) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 74,920 people (vs Ohio 29,269) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 79.4% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 3.5% |
| Pct Walked | 2.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 39.1 years (vs Ohio 38.1y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 38.2% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12