The Town FilesCardington, Ohio
Village in Morrow County · population 2,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,000
- Household income
- $70,260
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.1
Cardington is a village of 2,079 people in Morrow County, Ohio. The median home is worth $155,000, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Ohio towns, quieter than 93% of Ohio towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Ohio towns.
How Cardington 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 Cardington is worth $155,000, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $70,260, which is more affordable than 79% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $905 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cardington | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $905 | $914 |
| Median household income | $70,260 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cardington
| People | Cardington | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.2% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.3% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 90.9% |
Weather in Cardington
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.0 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cardington since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 13, 1981 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 126 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 13, 2014.
Severe weather in Morrow County since 1996
Morrow County has been included in 16 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 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Morrow County
Morrow County had 5,513 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,743 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cardington itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Cardington
4 public schools with 1,053 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardington-Lincoln Elementary School | PK-4 | 405 | 18.4 |
| Cardington-Lincoln Middle School | 5-8 | 297 | 15.6 |
| Cardington-Lincoln High School | 9-12 | 263 | 16.4 |
| Tomorrow Center (charter) | 8-12 | 88 | 12.6 |
Towns near Cardington
- Mount Gilead, OH5.2 mi · 3,503 people · home $174,300
- Ashley, OH6.8 mi · 1,198 people · home $153,400
- Caledonia, OH10.4 mi · 560 people · home $120,100
- Candlewood Lake, OH10.6 mi · 1,329 people · home $324,200
- Marion, OH13.8 mi · 35,999 people · home $119,500
- Prospect, OH15.6 mi · 1,067 people · home $164,100
- Centerburg, OH16.9 mi · 1,690 people · home $246,900
- Delaware, OH17.5 mi · 41,302 people · home $318,400
Cardington questions
Is Cardington, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cardington scores better for retirees than 60% of Ohio towns and quieter than 93%. 9.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Cardington?
The median owner-occupied home in Cardington is valued at $155,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,260, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $905 a month.
What is the weather like in Cardington?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 25.0 inches of snow.
Does Cardington get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cardington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 13, 1981. 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)