The Town FilesWooster, Ohio
City in Wayne County · population 27,232 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,200
- Household income
- $66,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.1
Wooster is a city of 27,232 people in Wayne County, Ohio. The median home is worth $214,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Ohio towns, hipper than 82% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 76% of Ohio towns.
How Wooster 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 Wooster is worth $214,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $66,898, which is more affordable than 21% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $918 a month. 65.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wooster | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $918 | $914 |
| Median household income | $66,898 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 65.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Wooster
| People | Wooster | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 90.9% |
Weather in Wooster
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.2°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wooster since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 16, 2010 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 10, 1980.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 10 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 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 15, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1580: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 48,515 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,609 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Wooster itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Wooster
10 public schools with 4,308 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooster High School | 8-12 | 1,165 | 19.4 |
| Edgewood Middle School | 5-7 | 738 | 18.9 |
| Wooster Twp Elementary School | PK-5 | 374 | 16.3 |
| Triway High School | 9-12 | 369 | 12.7 |
| Triway Middle School | 6-8 | 356 | 19.8 |
| Cornerstone Elementary School | PK-4 | 349 | 15.2 |
| Kean Elementary School | K-4 | 303 | 17.8 |
| Parkview Elementary School | K-4 | 268 | 16.8 |
| Melrose Elementary School | K-4 | 244 | 17.4 |
| Wooster Littlest Generals Preschool | PK-PK | 142 | 47.3 |
Towns near Wooster
- Orrville, OH8.3 mi · 8,452 people · home $188,900
- Rittman, OH13.1 mi · 6,131 people · home $162,100
- Lodi, OH15.7 mi · 2,746 people · home $158,600
- Doylestown, OH16.1 mi · 3,051 people · home $268,500
- Wadsworth, OH17.8 mi · 24,007 people · home $247,900
- Millersburg, OH18.4 mi · 3,151 people · home $146,700
- Canal Fulton, OH18.7 mi · 5,325 people · home $189,000
- Loudonville, OH20.3 mi · 2,786 people · home $168,900
Wooster questions
Is Wooster, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wooster scores better for retirees than 44% of Ohio towns and quieter than 26%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Wooster?
The median owner-occupied home in Wooster is valued at $214,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,898, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $918 a month.
What is the weather like in Wooster?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.6 inches of snow.
Does Wooster get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wooster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 16, 2010. 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)