The Midwest's Innovation Headquarters
Priorities for a sustainable community.
Union County is currently facing a significant housing crisis—a crisis not only concerning the affordability of housing, but also the supply of housing. The two of which are inextricably linked.
Supply has not kept up with demand. This growing gap has contributed to the rising prices of homes: current home prices are now 20% higher than in 2019. High housing costs and limited housing options deny many households the opportunity to live in the county and contribute to our economy. This, in turn, reduces our economic productivity.
Our community cannot succeed without a workforce, and our workforce can’t exist without housing.
Union County is currently the fastest-growing county in Ohio. Despite this growth, high demand for new housing and construction materials shortages spurred by COVID-19 have severely limited available housing options. As a result, housing costs have skyrocketed - jeopardizing our ability to attract the workforce our businesses need to grow and thrive.
WHY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY MATTERS
Attracting businesses and increasing tax base
Housing affordability is a critical factor in attracting new employers and helping existing businesses grow. This is important not only for creating jobs, but also for building the region’s tax base so it can fund key services like education, public safety, parks and recreation, and mental health.
Reducing recruiting and retention costs
It is difficult for many local employees to afford to live in Union County. High housing costs cause challenges for recruiting and retaining employees, which increases costs for local businesses, including turnover and absenteeism. Some critical jobs that support the local infrastructure, such as school employees and first responders, are particularly hard to recruit and retain.
Encouraging community commitment
Diverse housing options promote long-term economic and social integration while building community. For instance, Union County’s population is among the youngest in Ohio. The high cost of housing forces many young professionals to move elsewhere once they begin looking to buy homes and start families.
Building stable and successful families
Stable housing contributes immensely to a family’s economic success. Paying less for housing means more is available for other essentials, such as transportation, healthcare, and childcare.
"A house is where a job goes at night."
- Jon Melchi, BIA of Central Ohio
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
TASKFORCE PRIORITIES
In 2019, the Union County Commissioners convened the Union County Housing Taskforce to address the high priority the business community places on housing.
Employers can’t recruit or retain employees if those employees can’t live in their communities. The Housing Taskforce works closely with local businesses, community organizations, developers, and municipalities to raise public awareness, implement best practices, and create policies that will ensure that anyone wishing to live in Union County will have a safe and affordable place to call home.
Educate local stakeholders on important residential issues.
Identify and implement creative ways to incentivize the desired housing types.
Identify residential development
needs and opportunities.
Streamline local government approvals to reduce barriers and cost.
BUSINESS + INDUSTRY
Like bridges and roads, housing is an investment in a community’s infrastructure. Along with numerous social benefits, housing affordability supports diverse jobs and wage levels and also attracts and retains workers, which is critical to a community’s long-term economic success.
Housing affordability also contributes to a community’s quality of life, another aspect that is increasingly important to businesses. Amazon is a recent example. When outlining preferences for its new HQ2 project, the company prioritized “a diversity of housing options” and “the presence and support of a diverse population.”
Identify residential development
needs and opportunities.
1.06
POPULATION TO
JOBS RATIO
7,676
OPEN JOBS WITHIN 20
MILES OF MARYSVILLE
4.6%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
AS OF JUNE 2021
13%
EMPLOYERS IDENTIFIED HOUSING AS A BARRIER TO TALENT RECRUITMENT
"Equitable housing is essential to the growth of our workforce and our community. Housing price points at all levels allow for businesses to maintain their talent needs. We, businesses and community leaders, must work together to support additional housing options in Union County.”
- Brian Beard, Midwest Express
AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION
If trends are left unchecked, our County will lack the resident talent necessary to support the growth and development of existing and new businesses, thereby threatening our long-term economic vitality.
Union County Chamber of Commerce
Letter to the Community
May 7, 2021
Recognizing the urgent need for a community-wide response to the unprecedented housing affordability crisis, on May 7, 2021, the Union County Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees issued an open letter to the community urging immediate and meaningful action.
The Chamber is also encouraging its members, partners, and community stakeholders to submit letters in support of residential development in Union County. A sample letter is available here.
Business & Community Supporters:
coming soon!
As a community stakeholder, we urge you to review the statistics and resources below. The key to solving the housing crisis is making educated decisions based on data and facts.
GROWTH STATISTICS
Since 1990, the average annual growth rate for Union County has decreased from 2.58% to 2.26%.
Since 1990, the average annual growth rate for Marysville has decreased from 4.61% to 1.87%.
Since 1990, Union County's population growth rate has decreased 13.5%.
Since 1990, Marysville's population growth rate has decreased 54.2%.
REAL ESTATE STATISTICS
30
ACTIVE LISTINGS
$337,900
AVG NEW HOME
$879,000
HIGHEST LISTING
$265,048
AVG. LISTING
MEVSD
MOST SALES
$75,000
LOWEST LISTING
11 DAYS
ON MARKET
1 MONTH
SUPPLY
$1,081
FAIR MARKET RENT
Data provided by MLS and realtor sources. Includes Marysville Exempted Village School District, North Union Local School District, Fairbanks Local School District. Accurate as of 6/30/2021.
GROWTH PROJECTIONS
PRESENT TO 2050
29,932 new residents
20,429 new workers
10,160 new housing units
10.8 M SF new industrial space
The above projections do not include Union County in its entirety, rather it includes the City of Marysville, Village of Plain City, Jerome, Millcreek, and Paris Townships, and portions of Liberty Township. Data provided by MORPC.
PROJECTED POPULATION CHANGE
PRESENT TO 2050
Union County
58,988 84,473
City of Marysville
23,808 33,789
PROJECTED RESIDENTIAL DEMAND
PRESENT TO 2050
To accommodate projected growth and demand, Union County will need to significantly expand its
housing stock by 2050.
Additionally, approximately 40% of new development will need to occur within the City of Marysville.
10,716 - 15,739
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
4,439 - 7,296
MULTI-FAMILY UNITS
474 - 778
TOTAL UNITS PER YEAR THROUGH 2050