Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Ohio

Best Places to Live in Ohio

Every Ohio county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Adams County leads at 71/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Ohio ranks #22 for homesteading and #34 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Ohio

    How Ohio treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 88 Ohio counties, ranked

    1. 1Adams County71
    2. 2Morgan County71
    3. 3Monroe County71
    4. 4Noble County68
    5. 5Perry County68
    6. 6Gallia County68
    7. 7Vinton County67
    8. 8Holmes County67
    9. 9Hocking County67
    10. 10Washington County66
    11. 11Belmont County65
    12. 12Coshocton County65
    13. 13Jackson County65
    14. 14Meigs County65
    15. 15Guernsey County64
    16. 16Muskingum County64
    17. 17Ross County63
    18. 18Highland County62
    19. 19Athens County62
    20. 20Pike County62
    21. 21Carroll County62
    22. 22Scioto County61
    23. 23Harrison County61
    24. 24Ashtabula County59
    25. 25Jefferson County59
    26. 26Brown County58
    27. 27Knox County57
    28. 28Williams County56
    29. 29Lawrence County54
    30. 30Columbiana County53
    31. 31Trumbull County53
    32. 32Defiance County53
    33. 33Ashland County53
    34. 34Tuscarawas County52
    35. 35Clermont County50
    36. 36Huron County50
    37. 37Wyandot County49
    38. 38Geauga County47
    39. 39Crawford County47
    40. 40Logan County47
    41. 41Fulton County47
    42. 42Auglaize County46
    43. 43Licking County46
    44. 44Morrow County46
    45. 45Richland County45
    46. 46Allen County45
    47. 47Lake County45
    48. 48Seneca County44
    49. 49Hancock County44
    50. 50Darke County44
    51. 51Fairfield County43
    52. 52Champaign County43
    53. 53Clinton County43
    54. 54Lorain County43
    55. 55Portage County42
    56. 56Paulding County41
    57. 57Henry County41
    58. 58Shelby County41
    59. 59Erie County41
    60. 60Wayne County41
    61. 61Putnam County41
    62. 62Hardin County40
    63. 63Mahoning County40
    64. 64Sandusky County40
    65. 65Marion County39
    66. 66Stark County39
    67. 67Cuyahoga County39
    68. 68Mercer County39
    69. 69Van Wert County39
    70. 70Warren County39
    71. 71Lucas County39
    72. 72Miami County38
    73. 73Union County38
    74. 74Hamilton County38
    75. 75Montgomery County37
    76. 76Preble County37
    77. 77Medina County37
    78. 78Pickaway County36
    79. 79Summit County36
    80. 80Fayette County35
    81. 81Wood County35
    82. 82Greene County35
    83. 83Ottawa County34
    84. 84Clark County33
    85. 85Franklin County33
    86. 86Butler County33
    87. 87Delaware County32
    88. 88Madison County24

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