What are the schools like in Kettering, OH?

Kettering is served primarily by Kettering City School District. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.5:1.

What is the median household income in Kettering?

The median household income in Kettering, OH is $69,818 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

What is the weather like in Kettering, OH?

Kettering has an average high temperature of 36.3°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Kettering, OH affordable or expensive?

Kettering's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kettering is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $174,300 and the median rent is $942 per month.

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

Kettering has a violent crime rate of 42.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1501.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kettering, OH a Good Place to Live?

Kettering is a mid-sized city of 57,707 in Ohio, with a median household income of $69,818 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Kettering 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: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Kettering is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kettering 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: 92.3

Kettering's overall cost of living index is 92.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kettering costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kettering, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$174,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$942	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,818	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kettering's violent crime rate is 42.4 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

42.4 /100k

Property Crime

1501.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Kettering is served primarily by Kettering City School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kettering, OH	National Avg
School District	Kettering City School District	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kettering sees average highs of 36.3°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation and 12.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kettering, OH
Average High — January	36.3°F
Average High — July	86.7°F
Annual Precipitation	41.6"
Annual Snowfall	12.3"

Demographics

Metric	Kettering, OH	National Avg
Population	57,707	—
Median Age	39.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oakwood, OH 2 mi Centerville, OH 4 mi Moraine, OH 5 mi Bellbrook, OH 5 mi Beavercreek, OH 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Kettering

Kettering, OH is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

45429 45420 45440 45409

Kettering vs Other Cities

Kettering, OH vs Oakwood, OH Kettering, OH vs Centerville, OH Kettering, OH vs Moraine, OH Kettering, OH vs Bellbrook, OH Kettering, OH vs Beavercreek, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kettering, OH affordable or expensive?

Kettering's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kettering roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $174,300 and median rent is $942/month.

What is the crime rate in Kettering, OH?

Kettering's violent crime rate is 42.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1501.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kettering?

Public schools in Kettering are operated by Kettering City School District. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. 40.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kettering, OH a good place to live?

Kettering, OH has a population of 57,707, a median household income of $69,818, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. 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 Kettering?

Kettering averages 36.3°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches with about 12.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kettering?

Kettering, OH is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 45429, 45420, 45440, 45409.

What is the population of Kettering?

The population of Kettering, Ohio is 57,707 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kettering?

Key numbers for living in Kettering: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $174,300, median household income $69,818, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kettering side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.