The Town FilesKettering, Ohio
City in Montgomery County · population 57,862 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $208,500
- Household income
- $74,681
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.5
Kettering is a city of 57,862 people in Montgomery County, Ohio. The median home is worth $208,500, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Ohio towns, hipper than 89% of Ohio towns, better transit than 89% of Ohio towns.
How Kettering 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 Kettering is worth $208,500, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $74,681, which is more affordable than 42% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,051 a month. 64.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kettering | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $208,500 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,051 | $914 |
| Median household income | $74,681 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 64.9% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Kettering
| People | Kettering | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 90.9% |
Weather in Kettering
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.3 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kettering since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 36. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 38 deaths and 1,446 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2019 | Tornado | DR-4447: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide |
| 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 Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 250,085 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Kettering itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Kettering
12 public schools with 8,429 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettering Fairmont High School | 9-12 | 2,525 | 18.6 |
| Kettering Middle School | 6-8 | 1,011 | 15.3 |
| Dayton Regional STEM School | 6-12 | 772 | 20.3 |
| J F Kennedy Elementary School | PK-5 | 631 | 17.1 |
| Van Buren Middle School | 6-8 | 607 | 14.8 |
| Indian Riffle Elementary School | PK-5 | 569 | 17.8 |
| Southdale Elementary School | K-5 | 504 | 18.7 |
| Oakview Elementary School | PK-5 | 479 | 19.2 |
| Prass Elementary School | K-5 | 397 | 16.5 |
| Beavertown Elementary School | PK-5 | 357 | 17.9 |
| Orchard Park Elementary School | K-5 | 308 | 14.0 |
| Greenmont Elementary School | PK-5 | 269 | 17.9 |
Towns near Kettering
- Oakwood, OH2.1 mi · 9,572 people · home $370,100
- Centerville, OH4.3 mi · 24,240 people · home $287,200
- Moraine, OH4.9 mi · 6,393 people · home $156,800
- Bellbrook, OH5.3 mi · 7,317 people · home $264,300
- Beavercreek, OH5.5 mi · 46,549 people · home $279,600
- West Carrollton, OH5.9 mi · 13,129 people · home $156,900
- Riverside, OH6.2 mi · 24,474 people · home $147,800
- Dayton, OH6.7 mi · 137,644 people · home $100,600
Kettering questions
Is Kettering, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kettering scores better for retirees than 39% of Ohio towns and quieter than 9%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Kettering?
The median owner-occupied home in Kettering is valued at $208,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,681, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,051 a month.
What is the weather like in Kettering?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.3 inches of snow.
Does Kettering get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kettering since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. 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)