The Town FilesColumbus Grove, Ohio
Village in Putnam County · population 2,160 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,800
- Household income
- $68,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 35.3
Columbus Grove is a village of 2,160 people in Putnam County, Ohio. The median home is worth $156,800, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for families than 98% of Ohio towns, more of a college town than 87% of Ohio towns, easier by car than 86% of Ohio towns.
How Columbus Grove 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 Columbus Grove is worth $156,800, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $68,750, which is more affordable than 74% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $902 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus Grove | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,800 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $902 | $914 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus Grove
| People | Columbus Grove | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 90.9% |
Weather in Columbus Grove
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.5 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus Grove since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.0 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 130 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 19, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 16, 2017.
Severe weather in Putnam County since 1996
Putnam County has been included in 13 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 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| August 27, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1720: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Putnam County
Putnam County had 12,541 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,046 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Columbus Grove itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Columbus Grove
3 public schools with 755 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Grove High School | 9-12 | 267 | 22.3 |
| Columbus Grove Elementary School | K-4 | 265 | 12.0 |
| Columbus Grove Middle School | 5-8 | 223 | 20.3 |
Towns near Columbus Grove
- Pandora, OH5.8 mi · 1,204 people · home $147,700
- Cairo, OH6.3 mi · 517 people · home $114,500
- Ottawa, OH7.0 mi · 4,456 people · home $190,700
- Glandorf, OH7.4 mi · 969 people · home $249,300
- Kalida, OH8.4 mi · 1,455 people · home $196,100
- Bluffton, OH9.2 mi · 3,967 people · home $212,400
- Elida, OH11.7 mi · 1,923 people · home $220,900
- Fort Jennings, OH12.5 mi · 525 people · home $220,600
Columbus Grove questions
Is Columbus Grove, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus Grove scores better for retirees than 61% of Ohio towns and quieter than 56%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Columbus Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus Grove is valued at $156,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,750, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $902 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus Grove?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.5 inches of snow.
Does Columbus Grove get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)