Jefferson County
OH · Pop. 64,855 · Mixed County
Jefferson County, Ohio covers 408 square miles with a population of 64,855 and a density of 159 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $121,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.01% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 174-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.5°F and average winter lows of 21.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 41.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Trinity Medical Center West is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $121,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 92.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Trinity Medical Center West, with an emergency room, is just 5.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 41.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
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
Jefferson County, OH is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 57/100
- Median home price
- $121k
- Property tax
- 1.01%
- Growing season
- 174 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 41.5"
- Broadband
- 92.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Trinity Medical Center West, 5.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Jefferson County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Jefferson County?
- Jefferson County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 174-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.5°F, and average winter lows of 21.9°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $121,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.01%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 92.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Trinity Medical Center West is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Ohio Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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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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