Holmes County, Ohio
A shallow water table limits basements on 62% of Holmes County's mapped land, a higher share than 76% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on under 1%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 4 flood losses here since 2016. 43% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1986.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Holmes County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.5% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 62.5% |
| Septic fields very limited | 93.2% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.2% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.1% |
| Mapped soil | 271,654 acres |
How we count · survey areas OH075 (2025-08-29)
What the numbers mean here
On 62% of Holmes County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 40.92 in, 0.51 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 41.43 in.
USDA rates 93% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
4 flood losses since 2016, $9,740 paid. The worst year was 2022, with 1.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 41.43 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 40.92 in (-0.51) |
| 2025 | 37.60 in (-3.83) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2011: 53.96 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1963: 25.89 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MILLERSBURG (2 mi away) | 8.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 14,561 |
| Median year built | 1986 |
| Built before 1980 | 43% |
| Built 2000 or later | 29% |
| Owner-occupied | 79% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $267,700 |
| Single-family detached | 81% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Cities in Holmes County
| City | Expansive clay | High water table | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenmont | 0% | 45% | 129 |
| Holmesville | 0% | 33% | 107 |
| Killbuck | 0% | 16% | 481 |
| Millersburg | 0% | 66% | 1,615 |
| Nashville | 0% | 89% | 136 |
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County, OH | 18 mi | 2% | 66% |
| Coshocton County, OH | 19 mi | 3% | 46% |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | 25 mi | 7% | 42% |
| Ashland County, OH | 26 mi | 1% | 63% |
| Knox County, OH | 28 mi | under 1% | 65% |
| Stark County, OH | 34 mi | 4% | 60% |
| Richland County, OH | 35 mi | 3% | 66% |
| Medina County, OH | 38 mi | 1% | 91% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 29, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status