Local Stock Market 📉 

Owens Corning | $OC ( ▲ 0.69% ) 

Dana Incorporated | $DAN ( ▲ 2.61% ) 

The Andersons | $ANDE ( ▲ 1.73% ) 

Owens Illinois | $OI ( ▲ 2.26% )

Welltower Inc. | $WELL ( ▲ 0.52% ) 

Marathon Petroleum Corporation | $MPC ( ▲ 1.56% ) 

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company | $CTB ( ▼ 0.05% ) 

Toledo just snagged the top spot on the Wall Street Journal’s Spring 2025 Housing Market Ranking, and while the $235K median listing price raised eyebrows nationwide, locals know the real question is: what’s driving the demand?

The answer lies in the economic backbone of Northwest Ohio — a resilient mix of traditional industries, emerging sectors, and education pathways that keep the workforce fed and families moving up the income ladder.

🏭 Core Industries: Built to Last

Toledo’s economy still proudly wears its blue-collar badge, with manufacturing as a foundational pillar. Stellantis, First Solar, Owens Corning, and Dana Incorporated keep the region humming with skilled trade and engineering roles.

But it’s not all steel and sweat:

• Healthcare employs tens of thousands, with anchors like ProMedica and Mercy Health expanding not just care, but careers.

• Education is a heavyweight too — from University of Toledo to Bowling Green State University, the region produces talent and employs it.

• Logistics and warehousing are on the rise, with Toledo’s location on I-75 and proximity to the Great Lakes making it a shipping sweet spot.

• And don’t sleep on the solar and clean energy sector, led by firms like First Solar, helping Toledo reinvent its Rust Belt image.

💵 By the Numbers: What Are Folks Earning?

• Median household income in Toledo: ~$47,000

• In suburban counties like Wood and Lucas, household incomes trend higher: $60K–$70K depending on industry and experience

• Many dual-income households comfortably cross the six-figure line, especially when pairing skilled trades with education or healthcare roles

• Union jobs and public sector roles still offer stability, pensions, and benefits many metros would envy

Compare that to a median home price of $235,000? Affordability is Toledo’s competitive edge.

🎓 Education: From Welding to Degrees

What makes Northwest Ohio special is the range of pathways available to residents:

• University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University churn out engineers, teachers, nurses, and business grads

• Owens Community College and Terra State offer workforce-ready programs for trades, manufacturing, and logistics

• New career tech and STEM programs are gaining steam at the high school level, pushing students toward in-demand careers without four-year debt

Want to pivot careers or level up your income? You can do it right here — without leaving the 419.

🧠 TL;DR — The Toledo Formula

Stable industries + growing sectors + diverse education = an economy that quietly outperforms expectations.

So yes, Toledo may be grabbing headlines for its housing market — but it’s the jobs, schools, and affordability that make people stick around. And for those priced out of Chicago, Ann Arbor, or Columbus? Toledo is starting to look like the Midwest’s best-kept secret.

 Money Confessional | Manufacturing Engineer + Teacher Combined $100k+

Age:
I’m 50—firmly in the “how did we get here so fast?” stage of life.

Children:
Yes, we have one teenage child. The #1 stressor? College costs. We’re trying to balance giving them a debt-free start without completely draining our retirement.

Living Situation:
My husband and I own. We refinanced into a 15-year mortgage a few years back when rates dipped, which was a bit of a squeeze monthly, but the peace of mind knowing it's almost paid off? Worth it. If you can swing the payments and plan to stay put, I highly recommend it.

Job:
I’m a mechanical engineer in the manufacturing sector. Been with the same company for over a decade—steady, stable, and I still enjoy the problem-solving. My husband is a teacher in Maumee.

Salary:
I make around $105,000 annually. No bonuses, but we do have a modest profit-sharing program that kicks in around $4K/year most years.

Salary Journey:
Started in the late '90s making $42K right out of college. Biggest jumps were when I got my PE license and moved from project engineering into systems and team lead roles. My advice: if your industry rewards credentials, invest in them early. They compound.

Other Income:
None consistently. My husband tutors on the side during the school year—maybe an extra $3,000/year. We’ve dabbled in selling handmade furniture (his hobby, my CAD skills), but more for fun than income.

Work/Life Balance:
Honestly? Not bad. Manufacturing isn’t exactly 9-to-5, but it’s not 80-hour weeks either. I rarely take work home. And summers are easier with my husband off—more time together as a family.

On Your Mind:
We’re torn between aggressively saving for retirement and wanting to help our kid avoid student loans. The calculator says, “prioritize retirement.” The heart says, “write the tuition check.”

Debt:
Just the mortgage—about $38K left, 3.25% interest. No car loans, no credit card balances. We try to live within our means and use debt only when it serves a clear purpose.

Credit Card:
We use the Citi Double Cash card. Simple, no fuss, 2% back on everything. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done.

Budgeting:
We use YNAB (You Need a Budget). Took a while to get used to, but now it’s second nature. Every dollar has a job. Biggest tip? Budget your “fun money”—you’ll actually enjoy spending it without guilt.

Best/Worst Recurring Expense:
Best? My husband’s local coffee subscription—$18/month and it’s his little joy each morning. Worst? The HOA fee. It’s only $40/month, but they do nothing and still manage to send angry reminder letters.

Splurge:
We love going to Maumee Bay or Put-in-Bay a couple times a summer and renting a little place on the lake. Nothing fancy, but it recharges us. That’s our favorite splurge.

Toledo Restaurant:
Inside the Five in Sylvania—definitely a casual meal, but absolutely worth the time for a fun night out. I always go for the smash burger and love it every time.

Total Savings/Investments:
We’ve got around $430K in combined 401(k)s, another $60K in a brokerage account, and $20K in cash savings. No financial advisor—we keep things simple with a 3-fund portfolio (VTI, VXUS, BND). Maxing out our Roth IRAs has been the most consistent wealth builder.

Savings Goal:
We’re trying to save for a two-week trip to Italy. If money were no object, I’d build out a proper home woodshop for my husband and buy a little camper van for weekend trips.

Total Net Worth:
Roughly $750K. We built it slowly over time—living below our means, paying off debts quickly, and consistently saving for retirement. No windfalls, no shortcuts. My #1 tip: automate your savings and never adjust your lifestyle up just because your income increases.

Retirement:
We’re hoping to retire at 60 with at least $1.2M saved. Plan is to do some part-time consulting for a few years and then travel (slow and frugal, not luxury).

Knowledge:
My dad was a union tradesman—he taught me early on to never carry a balance and always put something in savings. I learned the rest from trial, error, and a lot of time on Bogleheads and Reddit.