The Town FilesChillicothe, Ohio
City in Ross County · population 22,059 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,500
- Household income
- $54,086
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.7
Chillicothe is a city of 22,059 people in Ross County, Ohio. The median home is worth $162,500, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks hipper than 90% of Ohio towns, better transit than 88% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 84% of Ohio towns.
How Chillicothe 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 Chillicothe is worth $162,500, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $54,086, which is more affordable than 30% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $887 a month. 60.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chillicothe | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,500 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $887 | $914 |
| Median household income | $54,086 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 60.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Chillicothe
| People | Chillicothe | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 90.9% |
Weather in Chillicothe
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.9 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chillicothe since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 26, 1962 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 16, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Ross County since 1996
Ross County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4002: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ross County
Ross County had 29,510 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,036 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Chillicothe itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Chillicothe
19 public schools with 8,701 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unioto Elementary | PK-5 | 1,035 | 19.2 |
| Chillicothe High School | 9-12 | 859 | 20.5 |
| Chillicothe Intermediate School | 3-6 | 754 | 16.4 |
| Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center | 7-12 | 710 | — |
| Unioto High School | 9-12 | 605 | 26.3 |
| Chillicothe Primary School | K-2 | 546 | 20.2 |
| Zane Trace Elementary School | K-4 | 489 | 16.3 |
| Unioto Middle School | 6-8 | 487 | 24.4 |
| Huntington Elementary School | K-4 | 409 | 14.1 |
| Chillicothe Middle School | 7-8 | 381 | 13.6 |
| Southeastern Elementary School | PK-4 | 379 | 15.2 |
| Zane Trace Middle School | 5-8 | 367 | 16.0 |
Towns near Chillicothe
- Waverly, OH14.8 mi · 4,165 people · home $168,900
- Circleville, OH18.3 mi · 13,927 people · home $191,700
- Greenfield, OH21.0 mi · 4,339 people · home $113,700
- Ashville, OH26.7 mi · 4,529 people · home $291,000
- Washington Court House, OH26.8 mi · 14,401 people · home $159,800
- Jackson, OH27.8 mi · 6,252 people · home $153,600
- Wellston, OH29.0 mi · 5,412 people · home $124,000
Chillicothe questions
Is Chillicothe, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chillicothe scores better for retirees than 23% of Ohio towns and quieter than 26%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Chillicothe?
The median owner-occupied home in Chillicothe is valued at $162,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,086, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $887 a month.
What is the weather like in Chillicothe?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 14.9 inches of snow.
Does Chillicothe get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chillicothe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 26, 1962. 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)