Darke County
OH · Pop. 51,655 · Suburban County
Darke County is a suburban county in Ohio, spanning 598 square miles with 51,655 residents at a density of 86.4 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. The median home price is $169,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.93%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.9°F and average winter lows of 19.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 38.9 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Wayne Hospital is 3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 91.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.93% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $169,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 91.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Wayne Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on soybeans, corn, wheat means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
At a glance
Darke County, OH is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 75/100
- Median home price
- $169k
- Property tax
- 0.93%
- Growing season
- 172 days (zone 6a)
- Annual rainfall
- 38.9"
- Broadband
- 91.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Wayne Hospital, 3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Darke County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Darke County?
- Darke County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.9°F, and average winter lows of 19.4°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $169,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.93%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 91.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Wayne Hospital is 3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Ohio
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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.
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