Wood County
OH · Pop. 131,795 · Mixed County
Wood County sits in Ohio across 617 square miles, home to 131,795 people at 213.6 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. The median home price is $214,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.36%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.2°F and average winter lows of 19.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 34.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Wood County Hospital is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% 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 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Wood County Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 2.5 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.
- A low poverty rate of 12% 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 1.36% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- At 213.6 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Wood County, OH is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 58/100
- Median home price
- $214k
- Property tax
- 1.36%
- Growing season
- 172 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 34.4"
- Broadband
- 99.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Wood County Hospital, 2.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Wood County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Wood County?
- Wood County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 172-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.2°F, and average winter lows of 19.6°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $214,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.36%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Wood County Hospital is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Ohio Resources
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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.