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Living in
Kettering.
About
Life in Kettering
The community skews slightly older and more family-oriented, with 41% of residents holding college degrees, though it's becoming more diverse over time. The biggest trade-off is typical suburban car dependency—this is a 16-square-mile city fully built out as an urban area, so you'll need wheels for most errands and activities. Weather-wise, you're in Ohio, which means hot summers, cold winters, and the attendant heating and cooling costs.
Kettering at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Foreign-Born
5.4%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.4% foreign-born, most often from Other Eastern Africa
Who lives in Kettering: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kettering, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Eastern Africa (8.8%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.2%
of households
Married Couples
43.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
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 about average for OH
Rent, home values, and income in Kettering
Rent and home values here are close to the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,809
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $244,185 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Kettering
Unemployment in Kettering is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kettering Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.3 min avg
How Kettering residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kettering, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY)
Small hub638k passengers boarded in 2025
- 52 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
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 74% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kettering runs 74% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
86.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,377.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kettering Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Montgomery County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Montgomery County, which includes Kettering, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,500 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,350 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,300 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $96,950 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,200 |
| 2020 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $113,500 |
| 2019 | 27 | Winter Weather | $502.0M |
| 2018 | 20 | Winter Weather | $202,200 |
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
Montgomery County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, which includes Kettering, is typically good — 220 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
220
per year
Moderate Days
141
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Montgomery County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kettering has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
12.3"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
107
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 20°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 2.35" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 3.54" |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.45" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.38" |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.41" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.03" |
| Aug | 86°F | 64°F | 3.12" |
| Sep | 79°F | 56°F | 3.03" |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 3.00" |
| Nov | 52°F | 33°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 41°F | 26°F | 3.13" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kettering
Kettering has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Kettering Health Main Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Miami Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Dayton
Dayton Childrens Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Dayton
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Childrens · 5.5 mi away · Dayton
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.
Education17.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kettering
Kettering's student/teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Kettering
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 549 students · in-state tuition $16,800 · 66% graduate · median earnings $68,877 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,682 students · in-state tuition $50,610 · 81% graduate · median earnings $83,775 (10 yrs after entry)
Wright State University-Main Campus
7.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,762 students · in-state tuition $12,268 · 49% graduate · median earnings $53,497 (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: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kettering
Kettering has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
44 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kettering
Kettering-Moraine Branch Library
3496 Far Hills Ave., Kettering
Wilmington-Stroop Branch
3980 Wilmington Pike, Kettering
Cities Near Kettering
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kettering?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kettering FAQ
Is Kettering, Ohio affordable?⌄
Kettering's median rent is $1,051/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,681/year. Median home value is $208,500.
Is Kettering, Ohio safe?⌄
Kettering's violent crime rate was 86 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1378 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kettering, Ohio?⌄
Kettering has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kettering, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Kettering is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,051/month and median household income is $74,681/year. The median home value is $208,500. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kettering, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Kettering is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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