The Town FilesSylvania, Ohio
City in Lucas County · population 19,011 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,200
- Household income
- $100,189
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.1
Sylvania is a city of 19,011 people in Lucas County, Ohio. The median home is worth $249,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more upscale than 87% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 84% of Ohio towns, better for young professionals than 84% of Ohio towns.
How Sylvania 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 Sylvania is worth $249,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $100,189, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,072 a month. 77.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sylvania | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,072 | $914 |
| Median household income | $100,189 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 77.6% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sylvania
| People | Sylvania | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.9% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Sylvania
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.7 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvania since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 16. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 225 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 27, 1991.
Severe weather in Lucas County since 1996
Lucas County has been included in 16 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 |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lucas County
Lucas County had 194,869 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,231 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Sylvania itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Sylvania
11 public schools with 6,837 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvania Northview High School | 9-12 | 1,317 | 17.8 |
| Sylvania Southview High School | 9-12 | 1,156 | 16.5 |
| Central Trail Elementary School | K-5 | 686 | 20.8 |
| Sylvania Timberstone Junior High School | 6-8 | 624 | 16.9 |
| Highland Elementary School | K-5 | 609 | 17.9 |
| Sylvania Mccord Junior High School | 6-8 | 575 | 16.9 |
| Sylvania Arbor Hills Junior High School | 6-8 | 542 | 18.1 |
| Maplewood Elementary School | PK-5 | 541 | 19.3 |
| Sylvan Elementary School | K-5 | 412 | 17.2 |
| Hill View Elementary School | K-5 | 362 | 15.1 |
| Preschool at Sylvania Northview High School | PK-PK | 13 | 13.0 |
Towns near Sylvania
- Whiteford, MI4.3 mi · 4,590 people · home $277,900
- Ottawa Hills, OH4.7 mi · 4,790 people · home $314,900
- Lambertville, MI5.2 mi · 10,433 people · home $256,400
- Bedford, MI7.3 mi · 31,813 people · home $253,100
- Toledo, OH7.4 mi · 270,871 people · home $114,500
- Temperance, MI8.2 mi · 9,188 people · home $250,100
- Maumee, OH9.9 mi · 13,896 people · home $194,500
- Summerfield, MI11.1 mi · 3,176 people · home $284,700
Sylvania questions
Is Sylvania, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sylvania scores better for retirees than 62% of Ohio towns and quieter than 11%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Sylvania?
The median owner-occupied home in Sylvania is valued at $249,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,189, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,072 a month.
What is the weather like in Sylvania?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.7 inches of snow.
Does Sylvania get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvania since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)