The Town FilesCastalia, Ohio
Village in Erie County · population 774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,300
- Household income
- $55,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 32.2
Castalia is a village of 774 people in Erie County, Ohio. The median home is worth $186,300, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Ohio towns, easier by car than 83% of Ohio towns, quieter than 81% of Ohio towns.
How Castalia 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 Castalia is worth $186,300, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $55,455, which is more affordable than 15% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $730 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Castalia | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,300 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $730 | $914 |
| Median household income | $55,455 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Castalia
| People | Castalia | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 90.9% |
Weather in Castalia
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castalia since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 1.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 14, 1974.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 14 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 Erie County
Erie County had 36,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,985 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Castalia itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Castalia
3 public schools with 1,587 students, about 20.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaretta Elementary School | PK-5 | 548 | 17.1 |
| Margaretta High School | 6-12 | 540 | 16.9 |
| Townsend Community School (charter) | 9-12 | 499 | 35.6 |
Towns near Castalia
- Bay View, OH4.6 mi · 608 people · home $169,300
- Sandusky, OH5.8 mi · 25,095 people · home $113,100
- Bellevue, OH9.2 mi · 8,249 people · home $152,800
- Lakeside, OH9.8 mi · 668 people · home $445,200
- Marblehead, OH9.9 mi · 865 people · home $376,400
- Port Clinton, OH10.2 mi · 6,025 people · home $152,300
- Clyde, OH11.5 mi · 6,294 people · home $129,600
- Monroeville, OH12.2 mi · 1,300 people · home $136,100
Castalia questions
Is Castalia, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Castalia scores better for retirees than 91% of Ohio towns and quieter than 81%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.2).
How much does a house cost in Castalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Castalia is valued at $186,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,455, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $730 a month.
What is the weather like in Castalia?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 30.2 inches of snow.
Does Castalia get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castalia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. 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)