Everything You Need to Know About Living Off The Grid in Ohio
Ohio is situated on the beaches of Lake Erie and has a population of over 11.9 million people. Living off the grid in Ohio is popular, as the climate, growing seasons, and lack of restrictions make it easy! Despite the fact that Ohio has about 12 million people, the vast majority of residents live in smaller towns and cities.
Here’s a more detailed look into the Best Counties for Living Off the Grid in Ohio.
General Statistics for Off the Grid Living in Ohio
Living off the grid in Ohio is excellent because it is legal, the cost of living is significantly below the national average, and land and house costs are roughly 40% less than the national average. Despite the fact that the property tax is greater than the national average, the low cost of homes and land make it quite affordable.Living off the grid in Ohio is one of the best spots in the east. This is because of its low cost of living, low crime rate, significant refunds, and incentives for generating your own power.
Ohio is well-known for its strong health-care and education systems. Its employment market has drawn a large number of individuals in recent years. However, if you’ve ever visited Ohio, you’ve probably noticed two things: potholes and road construction. You can’t avoid them. The first thing you should do is check for road construction along your route.
Ohio might be an excellent place to live if you can deal with the local environment. To say the least, Ohio weather is unpredictable; one week you could be swimming in a lake and the next you could be ice skating. Ohio is virtually at the sweet spot from a geographical standpoint; the climate is moderate, and the state experiences all four seasons, but spring and fall are becoming shorter every year.
Most of the eastern states are not the ideal for off-grid living; this is due to higher pricing across the board, not because of the climate; simply put, the closer you travel to the east coast, the higher the prices and living costs will be. Check out my Complete Guide to Off-Grid Living in Tennessee if you’re seeking for a state with a low cost of living that is located on the east coast.
What is the Climate in Ohio?
The climate in most of Ohio is humid continental, but the climate in the southern section of the state is humid subtropical. This essentially means that the growing season for crops in the southern portion of the state is a little longer, though most crops can be grown regardless of where you are in Ohio. The average temperature in the summer is around 80°F – 90°F, and in the winter, it is around 15°F.
One thing to keep in mind about the humid continental climate is that the temperature difference between night and day is rather large, and you will sense it both throughout the summer and winter. Check out my previous piece on Off-Grid Living in Idaho, if you’re looking for another choice.
What Are The Best Crops to Grow in Ohio?
Although there are many farms cultivating wheat and even oats, Ohio is best recognized for two crops: corn and soybeans. Due to its short growing season, Ohio has a large number of greenhouses, the majority of which grow vegetables and nursery products. People who live off the grid in Ohio raise animals for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is that most of the maize harvested in the state is used for animal feed.
What’s Freshwater Availability Like in Ohio?
Because Ohio has a humid continental climate, there is no scarcity of water, and the state’s average rainfall is roughly 38 inches. In terms of off-grid life, this means that you can acquire water both below and above ground rather simply. Most people simply collect rainwater from their roofs and store it in water cisterns in locations where drilling a well is not economically feasible.
What Kind of Wildlife is in Ohio?
If you have to commute to work, animals may pose problems, not because of predators, but because of white-tailed deer, which are pretty typical to see grazing in suburban areas. If you’re not a fan of cicadas, you’re not going to like Ohio; the quantity of cicadas can be rather high in some sections of the state. The white-tailed deer is the most frequent mammal found in Ohio, but shrews, foxes, and muskrats are also common.
In addition to Lake Erie, Ohio has other rivers and lakes where you can catch walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, flathead, and a variety of catfish. Both fishing and hunting require a license which can be found here.
How to Generate Off-Grid Power in Ohio?
Solar power: Solar power is used by the majority of people who live off the grid in Ohio to generate electricity. You can apply for a federal tax credit of 30%, and the state also offers many rebates and incentives for installing a solar system. The types of incentives and rebates you are eligible for will depend on when you installed your solar system, and the rules in various counties may change.
Wind power: In addition to the federal tax credit of 30%, you can apply for federal wind energy rebates. Although the number will vary by county, you will save an additional 20-30% on top of the federal tax credit.
What Are the Off-Grid Living Laws in Ohio?
There are currently no restrictions or laws forbidding you from gathering rainwater in Ohio. If you have a larger farm with livestock, you will be subject to regulations regarding how you store the rainwater. Homeschooling rules in Ohio are quite mild. You will need to notify the local authorities a couple of times, but many families homeschool their children even if they do not live off the grid. Check out my previous article Off-Grid Living in Delaware if you’re interested in a state on the east coast.
What’s Road Access Like in Ohio?
The biggest issue with road access in Ohio isn’t a shortage of roads, but rather a lack of infrastructure; the closer you get to the cities, the more potholes you’ll find. Although you can easily avoid these potholes in the summer, they can be a severe hazard in the winter. During the winter, people living off the grid in Ohio either use 4WD vehicles or snowmobiles.
What’s the Price of Land in Ohio?
When compared to the rest of the country, the cost of land in Ohio is quite low. You can expect to pay roughly 40% less for housing and land in Ohio than in the rest of the country. There are a few states with equally low-cost land, but most of them are underdeveloped and located in the state’s southern regions. If you want to live as cheaply as possible, Ohio’s low land and home prices are certainly worth it.
What’s the Property Tax in Ohio?
The property tax in Ohio is higher than the national average; currently, the property tax in Ohio is 1.57 percent, whereas the national average is 1.08 percent. Despite the fact that the property tax is greater than the national average, the low cost of housing and property easily compensates for it. Licking County has the lowest property tax rate in Ohio, at 1.42 percent.
What’s the Cost of Living Off the Grid in Ohio?
In general, the cost of living is roughly 18 percent lower than the national average. Housing is around 40 percent cheaper, healthcare is 13 percent cheaper, and transportation is around 17 percent cheaper. In addition, you will save about 4% on food and utilities will be about the same as the national average.
What’s the Job Market Like in Ohio?
Ohio’s unemployment rate is approximately 4.2 percent, slightly higher than the national average of 4 percent. The minimum wage is $8.55 per hour, which is more than the national average of $7.25 per hour. Aerospace and defense, healthcare, agriculture, education, manufacturing, and the auto industry are the most important industries in Ohio.
What’s the Crime Rate in Ohio?
Ohio’s crime rate is much lower than the national average; it is now at 2.8 crimes per 1000 people, while the national average is around 4 crimes per 1000 people. New Weston, Clifton, Waite Hill, and Rockford are the cities with the lowest crime rates. Logan, Newark, Heath, and Cincinnati are the cities with the highest crime rates. The northern and northwestern portions of the state, on average, have the lowest crime rates.
Is Living Off the Grid Affected by Natural Disasters in Ohio?
Flash floods, floods, tornadoes, severe rain, and snow are the most common natural catastrophes in Ohio. Flash floods and tornadoes are by far the most severe natural disasters in Ohio. These do not occur very often, hence Ohio is regarded generally safe when it comes to natural catastrophes.
Can You Live Off the Grid in Ohio?
Ohio contains all of the amenities that some people might require to live off the grid as cheaply as possible. Not only are the prices cheaper than the national average, but the state is also one of the safest in the country. It also has with outstanding (and) affordable healthcare and education.
