City profile · Ohio · Census ACS 2023

Stow, OH

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Stow - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

34,317
Residents
$91,933
Median income
$238,000
Median home
$1,268
Median rent (state)

Stow - the verdict

Nationally, Stow sits in the 72nd percentile for household income and the 35th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

72nd
percentile, household income
53rd
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
35th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Stow, OH

Stow is a small city in Ohio, home to 34,317 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Stow brings in $91,933 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. Home values in Stow run a median of $238,000, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. Educational attainment runs 48.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 9 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 81% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 1870.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.2°F with 41.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Ohio run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Ohio scores 92.8 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,268 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Ohio's average monthly utility costs around $228 (state average). The average commute for Stow workers runs 20.6 minutes, with 75.8% driving alone and 15.6% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 91.2 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

34,317 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Ohio

Median Household Income

$91,933 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.8 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Ohio average

How does Stow compare to other US cities?

Where Stow sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 72% higher than other cities
Home value 53% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities
Safety 35% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Ohio, Stow ranks #198 of 281 Ohio cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Stow against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Ohio only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Ohio-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Stow's strongest outlier among Ohio cities

Among the 1,196 Ohio cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Stow ranks #115 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Stow only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#204 of 1,145
82nd percentile in Ohio
Median Gross Rent
#418 of 1,196
61st percentile in Ohio
Median Home Value
#209 of 1,164
82nd percentile in Ohio
Poverty Rate
#746 of 1,196
37th percentile in Ohio
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#115 of 1,196
90th percentile in Ohio

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Ohio only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

72ndIncome percentile
35thSafety percentile

72nd percentile nationally for median household income · 35th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Stow's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Stow's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 53 Avg. percentile National median
Stow's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Stow's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$238,000 47th percentile more affordable than 47% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Stow $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Stow, OH Stow, OH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Stow, OH-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Stow, OH median $91,933/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Stow, OH's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Stow, OH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
34,317
Median Income
$91,933
Median Home Value
$238,000
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
63.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1870.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
115.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1754.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.2°F
Annual Precipitation
41.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
33,800 residents34,000 residents34,200 residents34,400 residents34,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,464 residents 33,941 residents ▼ -1.5%
Stow's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 47
2020 46
2021 41
2022 48
2023 29
2024 9

Permit volume decreased 81% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.6 minutes
Drive Alone
75.8%
Carpool
5.8%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
15.6%
Other
1.1%

Based on 17,497 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Ohio - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$78
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$228
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Ohio state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Ohio state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Stow sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.8
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,268/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Ohio

Fairborn
34,506 people
Westlake
34,036 people
Mason
35,148 people
Brunswick
35,284 people
Lima
35,304 people
Gahanna
35,438 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Stow's 34,317 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spanaway, WA
34,322 people
Pleasant Hill, CA
34,335 people
Westmont, CA
34,291 people
Holland, MI
34,266 people
Goshen, IN
34,374 people
Valparaiso, IN
34,377 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Stow's $91,933 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Capitol Heights, MD
$91,938 median income
Cazenovia, NY
$91,923 median income
Orderville, UT
$91,944 median income
Vadnais Heights, MN
$91,946 median income
Chatfield, MN
$91,912 median income
Andrews AFB, MD
$91,905 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Stow, OH Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Stow, OH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.9% White 86.9% Black or African American 4.7% Asian 3.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 5.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Stow compares to nearby Ohio cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Stow (this city) 34,317 $91,933
Fairborn 34,506 $55,966
Westlake 34,036 $110,101
Mason 35,148 $124,407
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OH FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Stow, OH?

What is the population of Stow, OH? +

Stow, OH counts 34,317 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Stow, OH? +

Median annual household income in Stow runs $91,933, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Stow? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Stow; the closest available measure is the Ohio state average, a cost of living index of 92.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Ohio vary by metro area.

Is Stow, OH safe? +

Stow has a total crime rate of 1870.3 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Stow, OH? +

Homes in Stow carry a median value of $238,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Stow? +

The average annual temperature in Stow runs 49.2°F, 41.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.