The Town FilesVan Wert, Ohio
City in Van Wert County · population 11,092 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,900
- Household income
- $55,113
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 41.2
Van Wert is a city of 11,092 people in Van Wert County, Ohio. The median home is worth $123,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 78% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 71% of Ohio towns.
How Van Wert 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 Van Wert is worth $123,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $55,113, which is more affordable than 79% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $765 a month. 71.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Wert | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $765 | $914 |
| Median household income | $55,113 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 71.0% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Van Wert
| People | Van Wert | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 90.9% |
Weather in Van Wert
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Wert since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 10, 2002 about 1.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 12, 1999.
Severe weather in Van Wert County since 1996
Van Wert County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Van Wert County
Van Wert County had 11,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,418 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Van Wert itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Van Wert
7 public schools with 3,314 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Wert Elementary School | 1-5 | 719 | 16.0 |
| Van Wert High School | 9-12 | 585 | 20.9 |
| Vantage Career Center | 9-12 | 496 | 11.5 |
| Lincolnview Elementary School | K-6 | 418 | 16.7 |
| Van Wert Middle School | 6-8 | 373 | 12.4 |
| Lincolnview Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 362 | 14.5 |
| Van Wert Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 361 | 22.6 |
Towns near Van Wert
- Delphos, OH13.2 mi · 7,117 people · home $129,600
- Decatur, IN17.9 mi · 9,913 people · home $142,800
- Paulding, OH19.2 mi · 3,555 people · home $120,200
- Celina, OH21.4 mi · 10,935 people · home $164,100
- Berne, IN24.0 mi · 4,173 people · home $151,700
- St. Marys, OH24.2 mi · 8,397 people · home $148,500
- Fort Shawnee, OH26.2 mi · 6,263 people · home $208,700
- Lima, OH26.4 mi · 35,579 people · home $107,200
Van Wert questions
Is Van Wert, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Wert scores better for retirees than 19% of Ohio towns and quieter than 25%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Van Wert?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Wert is valued at $123,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,113, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $765 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Wert?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Van Wert get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Wert since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 10, 2002. 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)