The Town FilesHillsboro, Ohio
City in Highland County · population 6,481 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,200
- Household income
- $55,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.3
Hillsboro is a city of 6,481 people in Highland County, Ohio. The median home is worth $149,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Ohio towns, better for retirees than 76% of Ohio towns.
How Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro is worth $149,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $55,521, which is more affordable than 48% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 53.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsboro | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $770 | $914 |
| Median household income | $55,521 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 53.3% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillsboro
| People | Hillsboro | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 90.9% |
Weather in Hillsboro
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.1 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 10, 1959 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 13, 1998.
Severe weather in Highland County since 1996
Highland County has been included in 12 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 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Highland County
Highland County had 11,108 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,831 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Hillsboro itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Hillsboro
6 public schools with 2,656 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro High School | 9-12 | 627 | 16.5 |
| Hillsboro Middle School | 6-9 | 494 | 20.6 |
| Bright Elementary School | PK-6 | 439 | 15.7 |
| Hillsboro Early Childhood Center | PK-1 | 424 | 20.2 |
| Hillsboro Primary School | 2-3 | 360 | 21.2 |
| Hillsboro Intermediate School | 4-5 | 312 | 16.4 |
Towns near Hillsboro
- Greenfield, OH15.4 mi · 4,339 people · home $113,700
- Wilmington, OH18.6 mi · 12,664 people · home $174,400
- Blanchester, OH20.2 mi · 4,224 people · home $195,700
- Mount Orab, OH21.1 mi · 4,347 people · home $267,400
- Washington Court House, OH24.5 mi · 14,401 people · home $159,800
- Williamsburg, OH25.7 mi · 2,570 people · home $196,900
- Georgetown, OH28.4 mi · 4,453 people · home $148,600
- West Union, OH29.3 mi · 3,004 people · home $132,500
Hillsboro questions
Is Hillsboro, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsboro scores better for retirees than 76% of Ohio towns and quieter than 49%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Hillsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsboro is valued at $149,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,521, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsboro?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 18.1 inches of snow.
Does Hillsboro get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 10, 1959. 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)