© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Chillicothe.
About
Life in Chillicothe
Living in Chillicothe means embracing a town that's genuinely affordable—median home values around $163,000 and rent about $890 monthly—while maintaining steady population and real community roots. The job market here centers on healthcare (Adena Regional and VA Medical Centers), education (Ohio University Chillicothe), and vocational training, though the recent closure of the Pixelle paper mill, which employed 800 people, signals the kind of economic shifts you should factor into your decision. You'll find a maturing population (median age 42) with strong local ties; this isn't a transient place, and that shows in the way longtime residents actually stay and invest in their neighborhoods.
Chillicothe at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Foreign-Born
0.9%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.9% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Chillicothe: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chillicothe, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (28.4%), and 0.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
21.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.9%
of households
Married Couples
34.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 14% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Chillicothe
In Chillicothe, rent runs 14% below the OH average, and home values are 24% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,658
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $201,507 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Chillicothe
Unemployment in Ross County, which includes Chillicothe, is 1.1 percentage points higher than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Chillicothe: Ross County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ross County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Chillicothe Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.6 min avg
How Chillicothe residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chillicothe, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 33 mi
Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)
Regional airport · few flights171k passengers boarded in 2025
- 46 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 33% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chillicothe runs 33% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
221.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,778.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chillicothe Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
62.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ross County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ross County, which includes Chillicothe, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Winter Weather | $120,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,000 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $120,250 |
| 2022 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $115,250 |
| 2021 | 10 | Winter Weather | $436,500 |
| 2020 | 12 | Winter Weather | $93,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Flood | $58,500 |
| 2018 | 12 | Flood | $3,250 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ross County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Scioto County, OH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 36 miles from Chillicothe) is typically good — 204 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
204
per year
Moderate Days
159
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Scioto County, OH (36 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chillicothe has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
11.5"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
114
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 3.20" |
| Feb | 44°F | 24°F | 3.13" |
| Mar | 54°F | 31°F | 4.25" |
| Apr | 66°F | 41°F | 4.10" |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.43" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.37" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.20" |
| Aug | 85°F | 63°F | 3.49" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 2.95" |
| Oct | 68°F | 43°F | 3.15" |
| Nov | 55°F | 32°F | 2.90" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 3.39" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chillicothe
Chillicothe has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Chillicothe VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adena Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Chillicothe
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chillicothe
Chillicothe's student/teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Chillicothe
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Public · 2-year · 833 students · in-state tuition $6,552 · 34% graduate · median earnings $61,938 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chillicothe
Chillicothe has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
54 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chillicothe
Chillicothe And Ross County Public Library
140 S Paint St, Chillicothe
Mt. Logan Satellite Branch
841 E. Main St., Chillicothe
Northside Branch
550 Buckeye Street, Chillicothe
Cities Near Chillicothe
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chillicothe?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chillicothe FAQ
Is Chillicothe, Ohio affordable?⌄
Chillicothe's median rent is $887/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,086/year. Median home value is $162,500.
Is Chillicothe, Ohio safe?⌄
Chillicothe's violent crime rate was 221 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3779 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chillicothe, Ohio?⌄
Ross County, which includes Chillicothe, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chillicothe, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Chillicothe is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $887/month and median household income is $54,086/year. The median home value is $162,500. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chillicothe, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Chillicothe is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from