Ohio Heroes · Stark County
Buying your first home in Stark County, Ohio
Stark County, with Canton as its seat and about 374,000 residents, follows OHFA's base income limits.
- Cantoncounty seat
- 373,771residents
- $113,620income cap, 3+ people
- $566,355price cap
What buyers in Stark County should know
School buyers here come from Canton City Schools, Plain Local Schools, Jackson Local Schools and Massillon City Schools. On the public-safety side, the Canton Police Department and Canton Fire Department are major employers.
Homes in Canton, Massillon, Alliance, North Canton and Louisville all fall under the same county limits. Before applying, check your credit: OHFA requires 640 for conventional, VA and USDA loans and 650 for FHA.
One borrower who will live in the home also needs to finish homebuyer education. OHFA's online course is free and is done after you apply, before the loan is approved for commitment.
The Stark County caps
| Income cap, 1–2 people | Income cap, 3 or more | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $98,800 | $113,620 | $566,355 |
Stark County uses the base non-target limits of $98,800 (1 to 2 people) and $113,620 (3 or more), with a $566,355 single-family cap. Compare the statewide table, or work out a price you can carry.
Local money in Stark County
We found no program today that is limited to Stark County. That does not leave you empty-handed: the statewide options still apply. See the full Ohio list.
Homebuyer classes near Stark County
Plan on a homebuyer class. Nearly every assistance program makes you take one before closing. These HUD-approved agencies near Stark County teach the class or offer one-on-one counseling before you buy:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | How it is taught |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Inc. | Canton | 1 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English | In person / By phone / Online |
| East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. | Akron | 18 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | English | In person / By phone |
| Fair Housing Contact Service | Akron | 20 mi | Pre-buy advice | English | By phone |
| Mustard Seed Development Center | Akron | 21 mi | Buyer class / Pre-buy advice | Arabic / Chinese / English / French / Hindi / Korean / Portuguese / Russian / Spanish / Vietnamese | 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
- Canton City Schools
- Plain Local Schools
- Jackson Local Schools
- Massillon City Schools
- Canton Police Department
- Canton Fire Department
- Stark County Sheriff's Office
Stark County Sheriff's Office deputies and North Canton or Plain Local staff are covered under OHFA's job list. The full job list
Questions from Stark County readers
My score is 645. Can I get an FHA loan?
OHFA requires 650 for FHA. At 645 you could meet the 640 minimum for a conventional, VA or USDA loan.
Can I take an in-person class instead of the online course?
Yes. A HUD-approved Ohio counseling course of at least 4 hours, issued within 12 months, also counts.
Do Massillon teachers qualify?
Yes, pre-K to 12 teachers in any Ohio district are on OHFA's list.
Nearby county pages: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Montgomery · Summit · Lucas · Butler · Lorain · all of them
