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 74/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Ohio ranks #23 for homesteading and #32 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 County74
    2. 2Monroe County73
    3. 3Morgan County71
    4. 4Perry County70
    5. 5Gallia County69
    6. 6Holmes County69
    7. 7Vinton County69
    8. 8Hocking County69
    9. 9Noble County69
    10. 10Washington County67
    11. 11Belmont County67
    12. 12Coshocton County67
    13. 13Jackson County67
    14. 14Muskingum County67
    15. 15Meigs County67
    16. 16Guernsey County66
    17. 17Highland County65
    18. 18Ross County65
    19. 19Pike County64
    20. 20Carroll County64
    21. 21Scioto County63
    22. 22Harrison County63
    23. 23Athens County63
    24. 24Ashtabula County62
    25. 25Jefferson County61
    26. 26Brown County60
    27. 27Knox County59
    28. 28Williams County58
    29. 29Lawrence County56
    30. 30Defiance County56
    31. 31Ashland County55
    32. 32Trumbull County55
    33. 33Columbiana County55
    34. 34Tuscarawas County54
    35. 35Huron County53
    36. 36Wyandot County52
    37. 37Clermont County52
    38. 38Crawford County50
    39. 39Logan County49
    40. 40Auglaize County49
    41. 41Geauga County49
    42. 42Allen County48
    43. 43Morrow County48
    44. 44Licking County48
    45. 45Richland County48
    46. 46Fulton County47
    47. 47Seneca County47
    48. 48Hancock County47
    49. 49Darke County46
    50. 50Lake County46
    51. 51Champaign County46
    52. 52Clinton County46
    53. 53Fairfield County45
    54. 54Lorain County44
    55. 55Henry County44
    56. 56Shelby County44
    57. 57Portage County44
    58. 58Paulding County44
    59. 59Erie County44
    60. 60Wayne County43
    61. 61Putnam County43
    62. 62Hardin County43
    63. 63Sandusky County42
    64. 64Marion County42
    65. 65Mahoning County42
    66. 66Mercer County42
    67. 67Van Wert County41
    68. 68Stark County41
    69. 69Miami County41
    70. 70Union County41
    71. 71Cuyahoga County41
    72. 72Lucas County41
    73. 73Warren County40
    74. 74Preble County39
    75. 75Hamilton County39
    76. 76Pickaway County39
    77. 77Montgomery County39
    78. 78Medina County38
    79. 79Fayette County38
    80. 80Wood County38
    81. 81Summit County37
    82. 82Greene County37
    83. 83Ottawa County36
    84. 84Clark County35
    85. 85Franklin County34
    86. 86Butler County34
    87. 87Delaware County34
    88. 88Madison County26

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