The Town FilesPataskala, Ohio
City in Licking County · population 17,886 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $314,500
- Household income
- $92,033
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.1
Pataskala is a city of 17,886 people in Licking County, Ohio. The median home is worth $314,500, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more upscale than 76% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 72% of Ohio towns.
How Pataskala 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 Pataskala is worth $314,500, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $92,033, which is more affordable than 15% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,387 a month. 72.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pataskala | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,500 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,387 | $914 |
| Median household income | $92,033 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 72.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Pataskala
| People | Pataskala | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Pataskala
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pataskala since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 1973 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 23, 2000.
Severe weather in Licking County since 1996
Licking County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Flood | DR-4945: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, And Landslides |
| May 2, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4777: Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Licking County
Licking County had 72,111 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,066 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Pataskala itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Pataskala
10 public schools with 7,808 students, about 20.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watkins Memorial High School | 9-12 | 1,423 | 23.0 |
| Licking Heights High School | 9-12 | 1,405 | 21.0 |
| West Elementary School | 1-4 | 836 | 20.4 |
| LICKING HEIGHTS CENTRAL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 825 | 20.1 |
| Licking Heights Middle School | 7-8 | 785 | 21.2 |
| South Elementary | 1-4 | 771 | 19.3 |
| Watkins Intermediate School | 3-5 | 769 | 22.6 |
| Pataskala Elementary School | K-3 | 453 | 16.2 |
| LICKING HEIGHTS NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-K | 371 | 17.7 |
| LICKING HEIGHTS CENTRAL PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 170 | 28.3 |
Towns near Pataskala
- Beechwood Trails, OH3.4 mi · 3,276 people · home $349,000
- Reynoldsburg, OH5.4 mi · 41,076 people · home $244,300
- New Albany, OH5.7 mi · 10,825 people · home $772,100
- Gahanna, OH8.5 mi · 35,726 people · home $350,900
- Johnstown, OH9.1 mi · 5,182 people · home $347,900
- Whitehall, OH9.4 mi · 20,127 people · home $159,600
- Pickerington, OH9.4 mi · 23,094 people · home $339,600
- Blacklick Estates, OH11.1 mi · 8,990 people · home $165,000
Pataskala questions
Is Pataskala, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pataskala scores better for retirees than 36% of Ohio towns and quieter than 44%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Pataskala?
The median owner-occupied home in Pataskala is valued at $314,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,033, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,387 a month.
What is the weather like in Pataskala?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 28.2 inches of snow.
Does Pataskala get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pataskala since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 1973. 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)