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Living in
Van Wert.
About
Life in Van Wert
Van Wert is a community of 10,710 people in Ohio. The median household income is $55,113, median rent runs about $765 per month, and median home values are around $123,900. Unemployment is low at 4.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Van Wert at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
+0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Van Wert: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Van Wert, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (45.6%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
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 26% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Van Wert
In Van Wert, rent runs 26% below the OH average, and home values are 42% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,231
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $184,415 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Van Wert
Unemployment in Van Wert County, which includes Van Wert, is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Van Wert: Van Wert County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Van Wert County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Van Wert Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.9 min avg
How Van Wert residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Van Wert, most residents drive alone to work (85%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 33 mi
Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA)
Regional airport · few flights486k passengers boarded in 2025
- 107 mi
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 113 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Van Wert runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
188.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,563.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Van Wert Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
20.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Van Wert County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Van Wert County, which includes Van Wert, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $136,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $96,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Winter Weather | None reported |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Van Wert County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Allen County, OH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 26 miles from Van Wert) is typically good — 235 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
235
per year
Moderate Days
115
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Allen County, OH (26 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Van Wert has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.4"
Annual Snowfall
17.1"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
125
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 18°F | 2.57" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 2.05" |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 2.52" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.59" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.76" |
| Jun | 81°F | 61°F | 4.59" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.66" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 3.95" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 3.15" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 2.99" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 2.94" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.59" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Van Wert
Van Wert has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Van Wert County Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ridgeview Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 5.8 mi away · Middle Point
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.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Van Wert
Van Wert's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 79 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Van Wert
Van Wert has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (79 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
88 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Van Wert
Brumback Library
215 W. Main St., Van Wert
Cities Near Van Wert
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Van Wert?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Van Wert FAQ
Is Van Wert, Ohio affordable?⌄
Van Wert's median rent is $765/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,113/year. Median home value is $123,900.
Is Van Wert, Ohio safe?⌄
Van Wert's violent crime rate was 189 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 1564 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Van Wert, Ohio?⌄
Van Wert County, which includes Van Wert, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Van Wert, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Van Wert is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $765/month and median household income is $55,113/year. The median home value is $123,900. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Van Wert, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Van Wert is 16 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