The Town FilesPort Clinton, Ohio
City in Ottawa County · population 6,025 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,300
- Household income
- $60,909
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.3
Port Clinton is a city of 6,025 people in Ottawa County, Ohio. The median home is worth $152,300, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 89% of Ohio towns, hipper than 83% of Ohio towns.
How Port Clinton 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 Port Clinton is worth $152,300, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $60,909, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 67.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Clinton | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,300 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $934 | $914 |
| Median household income | $60,909 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 67.9% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.9% | — |
Who lives in Port Clinton
| People | Port Clinton | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Port Clinton
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Clinton since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa 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 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1556: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 14,146 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,467 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Port Clinton itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Port Clinton
4 public schools with 1,438 students.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Clinton High School | 9-12 | 458 | — |
| Bataan Memorial Primary School | PK-2 | 365 | — |
| Port Clinton Middle School | 6-8 | 333 | — |
| Bataan Memorial Intermediate School | 3-5 | 282 | — |
Towns near Port Clinton
- Oak Harbor, OH10.2 mi · 2,821 people · home $142,200
- Sandusky, OH12.2 mi · 25,095 people · home $113,100
- Fremont, OH14.1 mi · 15,930 people · home $117,500
- Clyde, OH14.4 mi · 6,294 people · home $129,600
- Ballville, OH16.4 mi · 3,823 people · home $195,300
- Bellevue, OH17.1 mi · 8,249 people · home $152,800
- Huron, OH20.9 mi · 6,922 people · home $222,500
- Norwalk, OH25.0 mi · 17,068 people · home $163,300
Port Clinton questions
Is Port Clinton, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Clinton scores better for retirees than 45% of Ohio towns and quieter than 61%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Port Clinton?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Clinton is valued at $152,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,909, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Clinton?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Port Clinton get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Clinton 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)