City profile · Ohio · Census ACS 2023

Wellston, OH

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

5,426
Residents
$55,159
Median income
$107,900
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Wellston - the verdict

Wellston ranks in the 27th percentile for household income and the 53rd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
53rd
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: Wellston, OH

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 5,426 residents in Wellston, a small town within Ohio. Median household income here is $55,159 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.0%. Wellston's housing stock carries a median value of $107,900, and the median resident age is 40.7 years. Educational attainment runs 10.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 33% from five years earlier. Wellston reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1261.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Ohio run below the national norm: the state registers 92.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Ohio's average monthly utility costs around $228 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 35.8 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

5,426 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Ohio

Median Household Income

$55,159 /yr

Poverty 13.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.8 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Ohio average

How does Wellston compare to other US cities?

Here's how Wellston stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 53% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Ohio and the picture shifts: Wellston ranks #155 of 281 Ohio cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Ohio-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Wellston near the bottom of Ohio's cities

Among the 1,196 Ohio cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Wellston ranks #830 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wellston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#799 of 1,145
30th percentile in Ohio
Median Gross Rent
#830 of 1,196
0th percentile in Ohio
Median Home Value
#899 of 1,164
23rd percentile in Ohio
Poverty Rate
#320 of 1,196
73rd percentile in Ohio
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#911 of 1,196
23rd 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.

27thIncome percentile
53rdSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 53rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Wellston's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Wellston'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 56 Avg. percentile National median
Wellston'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 Wellston's home value compares nationally

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

$107,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $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. Wellston $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 - Wellston, OH Wellston, OH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wellston, 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 Wellston, OH median $55,159/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%
Wellston, 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 Wellston, OH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.0%

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

Population
5,426
Median Income
$55,159
Median Home Value
$107,900
Median Age
40.7
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Labor force participation
53.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1261.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
255.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1005.5
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.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,350 residents5,400 residents5,450 residents5,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,418 residents 5,488 residents ▲ +1.3%
Wellston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 11
2021 13
2022 10
2023 7
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 33% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.5%
Carpool
9.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.7%
Work from Home
2.0%
Other
3.3%

Based on 2,285 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 Wellston sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.8
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
35.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Ohio

Toronto
5,452 people
Carlisle
5,460 people
Deer Park
5,380 people
Reminderville
5,370 people
Canal Fulton
5,326 people
Turpin Hills
5,315 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wellston's 5,426 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Caruthersville, MO
5,426 people
Alvarado, TX
5,424 people
Zephyrhills South, FL
5,422 people
Waynesville, MO
5,422 people
Williamsville, NY
5,430 people
New Hempstead, NY
5,431 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wellston's $55,159 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Neosho, MO
$55,159 median income
Coolidge, GA
$55,156 median income
New Berlin, NY
$55,156 median income
Inman, SC
$55,156 median income
Pownal, VT
$55,156 median income
Sweetwater, FL
$55,154 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wellston, 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 Wellston, OH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 98.1% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.7% 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 Wellston 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
Wellston (this city) 5,426 $55,159
Toronto 5,452 $47,202
Carlisle 5,460 $70,000
Deer Park 5,380 $80,122
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OH FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wellston, OH?

What is the population of Wellston, OH? +

Wellston, OH has a population of 5,426 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Wellston runs $55,159, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wellston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wellston; 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 Wellston, OH safe? +

Wellston has a total crime rate of 1261.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Wellston, OH? +

Wellston's median home value sits at $107,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.