The Town FilesFostoria, Ohio
City in Seneca County · population 13,046 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $87,200
- Household income
- $54,151
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 39.1
Fostoria is a city of 13,046 people in Seneca County, Ohio. The median home is worth $87,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 85% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 77% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 70% of Ohio towns.
How Fostoria ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fostoria is worth $87,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $54,151, which is more affordable than 97% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $809 a month. 66.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fostoria | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $809 | $914 |
| Median household income | $54,151 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 66.4% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fostoria
| People | Fostoria | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 90.9% |
Weather in Fostoria
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.3 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fostoria since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Seneca County since 1996
Seneca County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| August 27, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1720: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Seneca County
Seneca County had 19,092 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,201 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Fostoria itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Fostoria
2 public schools with 1,835 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fostoria Elementary School | PK-6 | 1,066 | 15.7 |
| Fostoria Junior/Senior High School | 6-12 | 769 | 15.4 |
Towns near Fostoria
- Tiffin, OH12.5 mi · 17,953 people · home $142,200
- North Baltimore, OH13.4 mi · 3,369 people · home $117,900
- Findlay, OH14.1 mi · 40,313 people · home $191,000
- Carey, OH14.9 mi · 3,565 people · home $158,100
- Ballville, OH18.3 mi · 3,823 people · home $195,300
- Bowling Green, OH19.4 mi · 30,808 people · home $226,100
- Fremont, OH20.5 mi · 15,930 people · home $117,500
- Upper Sandusky, OH23.9 mi · 6,698 people · home $157,600
Fostoria questions
Is Fostoria, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fostoria scores better for retirees than 19% of Ohio towns and quieter than 32%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Fostoria?
The median owner-occupied home in Fostoria is valued at $87,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,151, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $809 a month.
What is the weather like in Fostoria?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 25.3 inches of snow.
Does Fostoria get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fostoria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)