The Town FilesEaton, Ohio
City in Preble County · population 8,375 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,200
- Household income
- $51,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 43.3
Eaton is a city of 8,375 people in Preble County, Ohio. The median home is worth $148,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks hipper than 89% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 74% of Ohio towns.
How Eaton 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 Eaton is worth $148,200, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $51,467, which is more affordable than 35% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 67.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eaton | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $764 | $914 |
| Median household income | $51,467 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 67.3% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Eaton
| People | Eaton | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 90.9% |
Weather in Eaton
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 17.4°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.4 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eaton since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1961 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 2, 2009.
Severe weather in Preble County since 1996
Preble County has been included in 11 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 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Preble County
Preble County had 11,510 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,740 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Eaton itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Eaton
4 public schools with 1,857 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton High School | 9-12 | 549 | 15.7 |
| Eaton Middle School | 6-8 | 444 | 15.3 |
| William Bruce Elementary School | 3-5 | 437 | 19.9 |
| Hollingsworth East Elementary School | K-2 | 427 | 14.7 |
Towns near Eaton
- Lake Lakengren, OH5.2 mi · 3,387 people · home $211,400
- New Lebanon, OH12.8 mi · 3,796 people · home $115,600
- Brookville, OH13.1 mi · 5,989 people · home $182,200
- Richmond, IN14.7 mi · 35,720 people · home $114,400
- Germantown, OH16.5 mi · 5,796 people · home $205,900
- Trotwood, OH16.9 mi · 23,070 people · home $113,200
- Oxford, OH17.9 mi · 23,035 people · home $238,000
- Clayton, OH18.4 mi · 13,310 people · home $208,200
Eaton questions
Is Eaton, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eaton scores better for retirees than 68% of Ohio towns and quieter than 33%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Eaton?
The median owner-occupied home in Eaton is valued at $148,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,467, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Eaton?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 17.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 12.4 inches of snow.
Does Eaton get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eaton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1961. 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)