What are the schools like in Bluffton, OH?

Bluffton is served primarily by Bluffton Exempted Village. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.6:1.

What is the median household income in Bluffton?

The median household income in Bluffton, OH is $74,620 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Bluffton, OH?

Bluffton has an average high temperature of 33.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 32.5 inches.

Bluffton, OH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bluffton, OH affordable or expensive?

Bluffton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bluffton is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $186,900 and the median rent is $834 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bluffton, OH?

Bluffton has a violent crime rate of 47.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 493.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bluffton, OH a Good Place to Live?

Bluffton is a small town of 3,540 in Ohio, with a median household income of $74,620 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Bluffton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bluffton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bluffton 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: 87.6

Bluffton's overall cost of living index is 87.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bluffton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bluffton, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$186,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$834	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,620	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bluffton's violent crime rate is 47.0 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

47.0 /100k

Property Crime

493.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bluffton is served primarily by Bluffton Exempted Village. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bluffton, OH	National Avg
School District	Bluffton Exempted Village	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	42.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bluffton sees average highs of 33.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation and 32.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bluffton, OH
Average High — January	33.4°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	38.7"
Annual Snowfall	32.5"

Demographics

Metric	Bluffton, OH	National Avg
Population	3,540	—
Median Age	35.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.0%	18.9%
Asian	3.9%	6.3%
Under 18	25.5%	22.2%
65 and over	21.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mount Cory, OH 4 mi Pandora, OH 5 mi Beaverdam, OH 6 mi Rawson, OH 7 mi Jenera, OH 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Bluffton

Bluffton, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

45817

Bluffton vs Other Cities

Bluffton, OH vs Mount Cory, OH Bluffton, OH vs Pandora, OH Bluffton, OH vs Beaverdam, OH Bluffton, OH vs Rawson, OH Bluffton, OH vs Jenera, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bluffton, OH affordable or expensive?

Bluffton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bluffton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $186,900 and median rent is $834/month.

What is the crime rate in Bluffton, OH?

Bluffton's violent crime rate is 47.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 493.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bluffton?

Public schools in Bluffton are operated by Bluffton Exempted Village. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.6:1. 42.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bluffton, OH a good place to live?

Bluffton, OH has a population of 3,540, a median household income of $74,620, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Bluffton?

Bluffton averages 33.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches with about 32.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bluffton?

Bluffton, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 45817.

What is the population of Bluffton?

The population of Bluffton, Ohio is 3,540 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bluffton?

Key numbers for living in Bluffton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $186,900, median household income $74,620, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bluffton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.