Delaware County
OH · Pop. 221,160 · Mixed County
Delaware County sits in Ohio across 443 square miles, home to 221,160 people at 499.2 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. The median home price is $420,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.64%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 174-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.1°F and average winter lows of 23.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.1 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Grady Memorial Hospital is 4.7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 97.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Grady Memorial Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 4.7 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.8% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 5% signals a relatively stable local economy.
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.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.64% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- A median home price of $420,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- At 499.2 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Delaware County, OH is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 31/100
- Median home price
- $420k
- Property tax
- 1.64%
- Growing season
- 174 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 39.1"
- Broadband
- 97.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Grady Memorial Hospital, 4.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Delaware County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Delaware County?
- Delaware County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 174-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.1°F, and average winter lows of 23.3°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $420,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.64%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Grady Memorial Hospital is 4.7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.
Explore Ohio Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Ohio
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The closest counties to Delaware 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.
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