Mahoning County
OH · Pop. 227,063 · Urban County
Mahoning County, Ohio covers 411 square miles with a population of 227,063 and a density of 552.5 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, hay. A median home price of $141,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.4% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 146-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.8°F and average winter lows of 18.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 39.9 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital is 5.9 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, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $141,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 97.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 5.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
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.
- A 146-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.4% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- A poverty rate of 18.3% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Mahoning County, OH is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 50/100
- Median home price
- $141k
- Property tax
- 1.4%
- Growing season
- 146 days (zone 6a)
- Annual rainfall
- 39.9"
- Broadband
- 97.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, 5.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Mahoning County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Mahoning County?
- Mahoning County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 146-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.8°F, and average winter lows of 18.5°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $141,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.4%. 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?
- Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 7 hospitals in the county.
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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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