The Town FilesGratis, Ohio
Village in Preble County · population 842 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,600
- Household income
- $77,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 43.0
Gratis is a village of 842 people in Preble County, Ohio. The median home is worth $154,600, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Ohio towns, easier by car than 92% of Ohio towns, quieter than 91% of Ohio towns.
How Gratis 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 Gratis is worth $154,600, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $77,500, which is more affordable than 87% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gratis | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,600 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $825 | $914 |
| Median household income | $77,500 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Gratis
| People | Gratis | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 90.9% |
Weather in Gratis
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 12.8 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
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gratis since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1961 about 8.5 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 25 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 Gratis itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Towns near Gratis
- Farmersville, OH5.8 mi · 975 people · home $159,200
- Camden, OH6.2 mi · 1,989 people · home $117,400
- West Alexandria, OH6.7 mi · 1,334 people · home $154,300
- Germantown, OH8.8 mi · 5,796 people · home $205,900
- Lake Lakengren, OH8.9 mi · 3,387 people · home $211,400
- Eaton, OH9.0 mi · 8,375 people · home $148,200
- New Lebanon, OH9.7 mi · 3,796 people · home $115,600
- Seven Mile, OH11.3 mi · 712 people · home $164,100
Gratis questions
Is Gratis, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gratis scores better for retirees than 29% of Ohio towns and quieter than 91%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Gratis?
The median owner-occupied home in Gratis is valued at $154,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,500, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Gratis?
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 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Gratis get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gratis 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)