Kettering, OH
Census place 3940040 · pop 57,206
Named after prolific inventor Charles F. Kettering, who developed the electric automobile starter.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.83% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$74,681 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
43 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
24.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
64.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
33.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
8.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$208,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
94.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
41.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
64/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
6.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,314/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Kettering: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Kettering, OH a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Kettering scores 60/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is property-tax burden. Ohio overall ranks #28 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Kettering, OH expensive to live in?
- Kettering has a median home value of $208,500 and typical rent around $1,314/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Kettering, OH?
- Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.83%) — 14/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Kettering, OH best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,314/mo) — 81/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Named after prolific inventor Charles F. Kettering, who developed the electric automobile starter.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.