OldestConcreteStreet · Ben Turover / CC BY-SA 3.0Bellefontaine Summit · Nyttend / Public domainBellefontaine-ohio-city-offices · Derek Jensen (Tysto) / Public domainSaint Patrick Church (Bellefontaine, Ohio) - exterior in springtime · Nheyob / CC BY-SA 4.0
Bellefontaine is a small city of 13,785 in Ohio, with a median household income of $58,402
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bellefontaine stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bellefontaine is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bellefontaine city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.4
Bellefontaine's overall cost of living index is 90.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bellefontaine costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bellefontaine, OH
National Avg
Median Home Value
$146,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$796
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,402
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bellefontaine's violent crime rate is 106.7 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
106.7 /100k
Property Crime
789.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bellefontaine is served primarily by Bellefontaine City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Bellefontaine, OH
National Avg
School District
Bellefontaine City
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bellefontaine sees average highs of 33.5°F in January
and 82.6°F in July,
with 42.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.8 inches of snow per year.
Bellefontaine's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bellefontaine roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $146,700 and median rent is $796/month.
Bellefontaine's violent crime rate is 106.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 789.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Bellefontaine are operated by Bellefontaine City.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. 15.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bellefontaine, OH has a population of 13,785, a median household income of $58,402, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bellefontaine averages 33.5°F in January and 82.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.6 inches
with about 25.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bellefontaine, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 43311.
The population of Bellefontaine, Ohio is 13,785 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bellefontaine: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $146,700, median household income $58,402, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bellefontaine side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
_-_exterior_in_springtime.JPG)