The Town FilesSouth Russell, Ohio
Village in Geauga County · population 3,972 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $432,800
- Household income
- $171,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 45.2
South Russell is a village of 3,972 people in Geauga County, Ohio. The median home is worth $432,800, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for families than 100% of Ohio towns, more upscale than 97% of Ohio towns, better for retirees than 95% of Ohio towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio
- #5 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Ohio
- #11 in The 15 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- #26 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in America
- #26 in The 50 Best Affordable Places for Remote Workers in America
How South Russell 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 South Russell is worth $432,800, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $171,875, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. 98.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Russell | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $432,800 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | — | $914 |
| Median household income | $171,875 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 98.5% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Russell
| People | South Russell | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.4% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 90.9% |
Weather in South Russell
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 86.8 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Russell since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 6.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 1965.
Severe weather in Geauga County since 1996
Geauga County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| 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 |
| April 24, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3286: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| August 1, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1656: Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Geauga County
Geauga County had 36,578 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in South Russell itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near South Russell
- Chagrin Falls, OH3.2 mi · 4,188 people · home $440,700
- Bainbridge, OH3.6 mi · 9,242 people · home $446,600
- Moreland Hills, OH5.6 mi · 3,466 people · home $621,900
- Chesterland, OH6.7 mi · 7,074 people · home $297,800
- Solon, OH6.7 mi · 24,262 people · home $392,900
- Orange, OH7.5 mi · 3,421 people · home $442,300
- Pepper Pike, OH7.5 mi · 6,796 people · home $579,600
- Reminderville, OH8.2 mi · 5,412 people · home $333,000
South Russell questions
Is South Russell, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Russell scores better for retirees than 95% of Ohio towns and quieter than 59%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in South Russell?
The median owner-occupied home in South Russell is valued at $432,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $171,875, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in South Russell?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 86.8 inches of snow.
Does South Russell get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Russell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. 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)