The Town FilesSt. Clairsville, Ohio
City in Belmont County · population 5,096 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,000
- Household income
- $76,480
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.4
St. Clairsville is a city of 5,096 people in Belmont County, Ohio. The median home is worth $199,000, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Ohio towns, quieter than 78% of Ohio towns, hipper than 75% of Ohio towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- #3 in The 15 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Ohio
- #6 in The 11 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Ohio With Mild Winters
- #10 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
- #10 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America
- #16 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Ohio
How St. Clairsville 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 St. Clairsville is worth $199,000, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $76,480, which is more affordable than 53% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $927 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Clairsville | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $927 | $914 |
| Median household income | $76,480 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in St. Clairsville
| People | St. Clairsville | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.2% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 90.9% |
Weather in St. Clairsville
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Clairsville since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 29, 2021 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 2, 2025.
Severe weather in Belmont County since 1996
Belmont County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| April 8, 2019 | Flood | DR-4424: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 17, 2018 | Flood | DR-4360: Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Belmont County
Belmont County had 20,616 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,753 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in St. Clairsville itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in St. Clairsville
3 public schools with 1,676 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Clairsville Elementary School | PK-4 | 624 | 16.9 |
| St Clairsville Middle School | 5-8 | 530 | 18.3 |
| St Clairsville High School | 9-12 | 522 | 23.7 |
Towns near St. Clairsville
- Bellaire, OH9.1 mi · 3,870 people · home $85,400
- Martins Ferry, OH9.2 mi · 6,260 people · home $96,200
- Wheeling, WV10.7 mi · 27,052 people · home $146,500
- Shadyside, OH10.7 mi · 3,454 people · home $143,100
- Bethlehem, WV11.7 mi · 2,605 people · home $200,000
- Cadiz, OH13.3 mi · 3,051 people · home $119,300
- Moundsville, WV13.6 mi · 8,093 people · home $118,600
- Barnesville, OH15.7 mi · 4,008 people · home $114,800
St. Clairsville questions
Is St. Clairsville, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Clairsville scores better for retirees than 100% of Ohio towns and quieter than 78%. 29.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in St. Clairsville?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Clairsville is valued at $199,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,480, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $927 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Clairsville?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does St. Clairsville get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Clairsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 29, 2021. 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)