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Belmont County

OH · Pop. 65,982 · Mixed County

53/100Homestead Score

Belmont County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Ohio, spanning 532 square miles with 65,982 residents at a density of 124 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $143,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.99%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 176-day growing season, average summer highs of 81°F and average winter lows of 21.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.8 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Barnesville Hospital Association is 11.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.99%
Growing Season: 176 days
Broadband: 92.3%
Density: 124/sq mi

Pros

  • A median home price of $143,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 92.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Barnesville Hospital Association, with an emergency room, is just 11.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Wildfire risk is high, so defensible space and fire preparedness should be part of any build plan.

At a glance

Belmont County, OH is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
53/100
Median home price
$143k
Property tax
0.99%
Growing season
176 days (zone 6b)
Annual rainfall
43.8"
Broadband
92.3%
Nearest hospital
Barnesville Hospital Association, 11.8 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.99%
Median Household Income$58,411
Poverty Rate14.3%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$143K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6b
Growing Season176 days
Annual Rainfall43.8 inches
Avg Summer High81°F
Avg Winter Low21.8°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire5/10
Tornado6/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalBarnesville Hospital Association (11.8 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities3

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage92.3%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate5.6%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Belmont County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Belmont County?
Belmont County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 176-day growing season, average summer highs of 81°F, and average winter lows of 21.8°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $143,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.99%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 92.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Barnesville Hospital Association is 11.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Belmont County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.