Orwell, Ohio (circa 1910), c. 1910
Orwell’s story
200 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1910.
- 1826Orwell is settled
OrwellOH
A town of 1,499, settled in 1826.
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Population
1,499
2025 Census estimate · −0.9% since 2020
Typical home
$236K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
37.7
years
Jobs based here
599
Balanced
Is Orwell a good place to live?
Orwell’s best subject grade is an A− for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for health. 27% of residents live below the poverty line in Orwell, above both the Ohio town median (9.1%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 47 of Ohio’s 1,718 towns score lower on health. The median household income is $42K, and 27% of residents live below the poverty line. Orwell has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Orwell stand out
Where Orwell beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Typical home value
Orwell$236K
Ohio$246K
Cost of livingA−
3.3 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 76% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
32 measures vs. Ohio
0 better11 too close to call21 worse
| Widest gap | Orwell | OH |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 12% | 8% |
Worth knowing · HealthD−
Less healthy than 97% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Small town
1,499 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Orwell grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Ohio), ordered by how far Orwell is from typical.
HealthUh Regional Hospitals 17.5 miles awayD−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 9% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →Jobs & incomeDOpen →Cost of livingA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.8 of 20; 6.5% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →SchoolsBehind 55% of Ohio districts on tests and graduationB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC−Open →History3 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 37.7; 9% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Orwell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Orwell, and how to reach them.
PowerThe Illuminating Company16.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOrwell Village PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers71% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Orwell’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Ohio you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDirector, Ashtabula County Board of ElectionsAshtabula County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code4407644076 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Orwell.
HealthD−
A larger share of adults in Orwell smoke cigarettes than in the typical Ohio or U.S. town
23% of adults smoke cigarettes in Orwell, against 16% in Ohio’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. 36% of adults get no exercise outside work in Orwell. Orwell beats the Ohio average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 21.
3%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Orwell | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Ohio
0 better11 too close to call21 worse
| What stands out | Orwell | OH |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 12% | 8% |
| More smokers | 22.9% | 15.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 20% | 14.1% |
Uh Regional Hospitals
17.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Orwell
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 91% of U.S. communities.
9risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Orwell
Orwell has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Orwell is 82°F.
90″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–37°
Spring36–59°
Summer58–80°
Fall42–62°
Oct 10
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Orwell stands out in Ohio and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
Orwell’s average trip to work is 30 minutes. Since 2013, Orwell has lost 325 jobs, to 599 in 2023. Most working residents leave Orwell for work: only 7% work in town.
7%work in town
| Orwell | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,000 | $75,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Orwell7%
Orwell Township10%
Middlefield Township5%
Middlefield3%
Chardon3%
21 mi
median commute distance
599
jobs based in Orwell
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 38% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade A−
Orwell’s typical home value is about $236K
The typical Orwell home is worth about $236,000, up 6.9% in a year, close to the Ohio typical home. 49% of Orwell households own their home.
$236KZillow home value
| Orwell | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 77% | 73% |
| Median rent | $816 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Orwell$236K
Ohio$246K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Orwell
18pages on Orwell
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Orwell; the nearest are
Kent State University at GeaugaCommunity college · Public · Burton15.2 mi$7,492 in-state tuitionKent State University at TrumbullUniversity or college · Public · Warren17.8 mi$7,492 in-state tuitionLakeland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Kirtland27.1 mi$3,872 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Orwell residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Ohio.
Famous people from Orwell
3 notable people were born in Orwell.
About Orwell
Village in Ohio, United States
Orwell is a village in Orwell Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,533 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 896 ft
- ZIP code
- 44076
- Area code
- 440
Questions about Orwell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Orwell, OH expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
What is Orwell, OH known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Adna Chaffee and Russell Allen.