The Town FilesBidwell, Ohio
Community in Gallia County · population 863 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,700
- Household income
- $60,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 33.5
Bidwell is a community of 863 people in Gallia County, Ohio. The median home is worth $99,700, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks quieter than 95% of Ohio towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Ohio towns.
How Bidwell 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 Bidwell is worth $99,700, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $60,417, which is more affordable than 95% of Ohio towns. 89.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bidwell | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,700 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | — | $914 |
| Median household income | $60,417 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 89.2% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bidwell
| People | Bidwell | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 33.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.4% | 90.9% |
Weather in Bidwell
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 44.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.3 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bidwell since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 23, 1968 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 12, 1989.
Severe weather in Gallia County since 1996
Gallia County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Gallia County
Gallia County had 11,265 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,285 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Bidwell itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Bidwell
2 public schools with 763 students, about 20.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Valley High School | 9-12 | 402 | 20.1 |
| River Valley Middle School | 6-8 | 361 | 20.1 |
Towns near Bidwell
- Rio Grande, OH5.8 mi · 724 people · home $186,800
- Gallipolis, OH8.6 mi · 3,313 people · home $119,900
- Point Pleasant, WV9.6 mi · 4,070 people · home $118,000
- Gallipolis Ferry, WV11.0 mi · 735 people · home $91,900
- Middleport, OH12.9 mi · 2,208 people · home $87,700
- Mason, WV15.1 mi · 866 people · home $110,400
- Oak Hill, OH15.4 mi · 1,407 people · home $94,600
- Pomeroy, OH15.7 mi · 1,573 people · home $64,900
Bidwell questions
Is Bidwell, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bidwell scores better for retirees than 59% of Ohio towns and quieter than 95%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
How much does a house cost in Bidwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Bidwell is valued at $99,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,417, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Bidwell?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.5 inches of precipitation a year and 15.3 inches of snow.
Does Bidwell get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bidwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 23, 1968. 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)