The Town FilesOntario, Ohio
City in Richland County · population 6,656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,500
- Household income
- $68,539
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.9
Ontario is a city of 6,656 people in Richland County, Ohio. The median home is worth $174,500, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more vibrant than 86% of Ohio towns, hipper than 72% of Ohio towns, quieter than 70% of Ohio towns.
How Ontario 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 Ontario is worth $174,500, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $68,539, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,093 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ontario | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,500 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,093 | $914 |
| Median household income | $68,539 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ontario
| People | Ontario | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 90.9% |
Weather in Ontario
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontario since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 14, 2019 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 16, 1961.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4777: Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| April 24, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3286: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 48,954 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,804 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Ontario itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Ontario
3 public schools with 1,418 students, about 28.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stingel Elementary School | PK-5 | 904 | 22.0 |
| Buckeye Community School (charter) | 9-12 | 479 | 53.2 |
| Lexington Pre-School | PK-PK | 35 | — |
Towns near Ontario
- Mansfield, OH4.4 mi · 47,534 people · home $119,600
- Lexington, OH6.4 mi · 4,848 people · home $192,300
- Crestline, OH7.0 mi · 4,525 people · home $104,600
- Shelby, OH8.4 mi · 9,282 people · home $122,200
- Galion, OH9.0 mi · 10,453 people · home $112,700
- Ashland, OH17.1 mi · 19,225 people · home $157,900
- Mount Gilead, OH18.5 mi · 3,503 people · home $174,300
- Bucyrus, OH18.8 mi · 11,684 people · home $128,600
Ontario questions
Is Ontario, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ontario scores better for retirees than 48% of Ohio towns and quieter than 70%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Ontario?
The median owner-occupied home in Ontario is valued at $174,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,539, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,093 a month.
What is the weather like in Ontario?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Ontario get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontario since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 14, 2019. 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)