Below Average CostVery SafeAthens City School District
Median Income
$52,794
household / year
Median Home Value
$223,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$922
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100
Is The Plains, OH a Good Place to Live?
The Plains is a small town of 2,724 in Ohio, with a median household income of $52,794
and a 5.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
The Plains stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether The Plains is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All The Plains 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: 93.7
The Plains's overall cost of living index is 93.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in The Plains costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
The Plains, OH
National Avg
Median Home Value
$223,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$922
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,794
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
The Plains's violent crime rate is 71.9 per 100,000 residents
— 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
71.9 /100k
Property Crime
973.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
The Plains is served primarily by Athens City School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
The Plains, OH
National Avg
School District
Athens City School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
The Plains sees average highs of 38.0°F in January
and 82.4°F in July,
with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.6 inches of snow per year.
The Plains's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes The Plains roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $223,200 and median rent is $922/month.
The Plains's violent crime rate is 71.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 973.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in The Plains are operated by Athens City School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 32.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The Plains, OH has a population of 2,724, a median household income of $52,794, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%.
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.
The Plains averages 38.0°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches
with about 17.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The Plains, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 45780.
The population of The Plains, Ohio is 2,724 with a median age of 59.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in The Plains: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $223,200, median household income $52,794, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare The Plains side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.