Ohio Heroes · Fairfield County
Buying your first home in Fairfield County, Ohio
Fairfield County, southeast of Columbus with about 170,000 residents, has Lancaster as its seat.
- Lancastercounty seat
- 169,752residents
- $128,225income cap, 3+ people
- $618,475price cap
What buyers in Fairfield County should know
Fairfield is one of OHFA's ten Columbus-area counties, so the single-family price cap is $618,475 in non-target areas. Income limits are $111,500 for 1 to 2 people and $128,225 for 3 or more.
Lancaster City Schools, Pickerington Local Schools and Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools are the main school employers. The Lancaster Police Department, Lancaster Fire Department and Fairfield County Sheriff's Office lead local public safety. Buyers often look in Lancaster, Pickerington, Canal Winchester, Baltimore and Lithopolis.
Already own a home? OHFA's Next Home loan offers down payment assistance to repeat buyers, though without the Ohio Heroes rate.
The Fairfield County caps
| Income cap, 1–2 people | Income cap, 3 or more | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $111,500 | $128,225 | $618,475 |
Fairfield County uses the Columbus-area non-target limits: $111,500, $128,225 and a $618,475 single-family price cap. Compare the statewide table, or work out a price you can carry.
Local money in Fairfield County
We found no program today that is limited to Fairfield County. That does not leave you empty-handed: the statewide options still apply. See the full Ohio list.
Homebuyer classes near Fairfield County
Plan on a homebuyer class. Nearly every assistance program makes you take one before closing. These HUD-approved agencies near Fairfield County teach the class or offer one-on-one counseling before you buy:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | How it is taught |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Housing Partnership, Inc, Dba Homeport | Columbus | 24 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English | In person / By phone / Online |
| Ohio State University Extension | Columbus | 28 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English | In person / By phone / Online |
From HUD's list of approved housing counseling agencies. A class one program accepts may not count for another.
Local employers whose staff may fit
- Lancaster City Schools
- Pickerington Local Schools
- Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools
- Lancaster Police Department
- Lancaster Fire Department
- Fairfield County Sheriff's Office
Lancaster officers and firefighters, county deputies and Pickerington or Amanda-Clearcreek staff qualify by role. The full job list
Questions from Fairfield County readers
I'm a Pickerington teacher who owns a condo. What can I use?
Ohio Heroes requires no primary-residence ownership in the last three years unless you're a veteran or buying in a target area. OHFA's Next Home loan is the repeat-buyer option.
Is Fairfield County's price limit higher than Hamilton County's?
Yes. Fairfield is in the Columbus-area group at $618,475, while Hamilton County uses $566,355.
How do I find an OHFA lender in Lancaster?
OHFA lists approved lenders by county on its Find A Lender page. You can also check your eligibility here to be matched.
Nearby county pages: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Montgomery · Summit · Lucas · Butler · Stark · all of them
