The Town FilesVandalia, Ohio
City in Montgomery County · population 15,209 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,000
- Household income
- $73,275
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 39.6
Vandalia is a city of 15,209 people in Montgomery County, Ohio. The median home is worth $197,000, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 79% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 78% of Ohio towns.
How Vandalia 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 Vandalia is worth $197,000, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $73,275, which is more affordable than 48% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $882 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vandalia | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $882 | $914 |
| Median household income | $73,275 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vandalia
| People | Vandalia | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 90.9% |
Weather in Vandalia
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.0 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandalia since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 27, 2019 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 176 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 20, 1967.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2019 | Tornado | DR-4447: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 250,085 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Vandalia itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Vandalia
5 public schools with 2,499 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butler High School | 9-12 | 903 | 18.8 |
| Morton Middle School | 6-8 | 670 | 16.3 |
| Helke Elementary School | K-3 | 431 | 20.5 |
| Demmitt Elementary School | K-3 | 357 | 17.0 |
| Vandalia-Butler Preschool | PK-PK | 138 | 27.6 |
Towns near Vandalia
- Huber Heights, OH4.4 mi · 43,439 people · home $177,300
- Shiloh, OH4.9 mi · 10,952 people · home $126,800
- Tipp City, OH5.9 mi · 10,274 people · home $273,500
- Fort McKinley, OH6.0 mi · 3,473 people · home $59,900
- Englewood, OH6.3 mi · 13,463 people · home $182,800
- Dayton, OH6.5 mi · 137,644 people · home $100,600
- Union, OH6.7 mi · 6,859 people · home $169,200
- Clayton, OH7.1 mi · 13,310 people · home $208,200
Vandalia questions
Is Vandalia, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vandalia scores better for retirees than 36% of Ohio towns and quieter than 18%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Vandalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Vandalia is valued at $197,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,275, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $882 a month.
What is the weather like in Vandalia?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 25.0 inches of snow.
Does Vandalia get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandalia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 27, 2019. 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)