What it's like to live in Whitehall
Whitehall is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Whitehall deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Whitehall compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Whitehall
Based on Whitehall's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,290
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,800 a year
- 57% of Whitehall renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$31,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $15,960
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 19% below US
$1,145/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,145 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $159,600. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $159,600 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Franklin County is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Franklin County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 150% above US
824 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5638/100k · Whitehall Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 61% below US
14% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (46 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Whitehall's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,145/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Whitehall
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