The Town FilesLake Darby, Ohio
Community in Franklin County · population 4,731 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,200
- Household income
- $97,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 40.2
Lake Darby is a community of 4,731 people in Franklin County, Ohio. The median home is worth $233,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for families than 88% of Ohio towns, more upscale than 77% of Ohio towns, easier by car than 74% of Ohio towns.
How Lake Darby 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 Lake Darby is worth $233,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $97,404, which is more affordable than 67% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,446 a month. 96.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Darby | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,446 | $914 |
| Median household income | $97,404 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 96.5% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Darby
| People | Lake Darby | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.9% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.8% | 90.9% |
Weather in Lake Darby
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Darby since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 1973 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 16, 2013.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Flood | DR-4945: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 779,560 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,180 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lake Darby itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Lake Darby
- Lincoln Village, OH4.7 mi · 9,702 people · home $169,100
- West Jefferson, OH4.8 mi · 4,137 people · home $192,100
- Hilliard, OH6.0 mi · 37,114 people · home $385,100
- Upper Arlington, OH9.1 mi · 36,800 people · home $595,600
- Grandview Heights, OH9.6 mi · 8,085 people · home $583,300
- Plain City, OH10.3 mi · 4,065 people · home $368,500
- Grove City, OH10.5 mi · 41,252 people · home $310,400
- Dublin, OH11.1 mi · 49,328 people · home $563,500
Lake Darby questions
Is Lake Darby, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Darby scores better for retirees than 4% of Ohio towns and quieter than 29%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Lake Darby?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Darby is valued at $233,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,404, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,446 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Darby?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 23.2 inches of snow.
Does Lake Darby get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Darby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 1973. 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)