Ontario, Ohio

Inside Ontario's city limits, a shallow water table limits basements on 86% of mapped land, the 2nd-highest of 8 cities in Richland County. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 1%.

That water-table share is above Richland County's 66%. FEMA's flood data list 2 flood losses since 2016 in the 2 ZIP codes overlapping the city. Of its 2,858 homes, 43% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1986.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Richland County

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

86%

high water table: limits basements

flood losses since 2016 in 2 overlapping ZIPs

43%

of homes built before 1980

Basement waterproofing in Ontario

Basement waterproofing in Ontario: a shallow water table limits basements on 86% of Ontario's mapped land, more than in 73% of Ohio cities, and the 2 ZIP codes overlapping Ontario logged 2 FEMA flood losses since 2016.

About 1,700 of Ontario's 2,858 homes are detached houses.

Prices

Cost guide ranges compared

Soil under Ontario city limits

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)	0.6%
High water table (limits basements)	86.2%
Septic fields very limited	90.8%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)	2.8%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)	0.6%
Urban land, not rated	1.3%
Mapped soil	7,099 acres

Soil series	Share here	Series nationally: high water table
Rittman	46%	99%
Wadsworth	21%	n/a
Wooster	4%	57%
Canfield	4%	over 99%
Frenchtown	4%	n/a
Shoals	2%	n/a

Ontario city limits inside Richland County, shaded by the city's high water table share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count

What the numbers mean here

On 86% of Ontario's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.

USDA rates 91% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

Drought in Richland County

0% of Richland County is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. County detail.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026

Flood losses by ZIP code

FEMA flood records since 2016 in the ZIP codes that overlap Ontario. ZIP areas reach past city limits.

ZIP	Share of city land	Flood losses	Paid
44906	64%	0	$0
44903	36%	2	$32,944

Homes in Ontario

Housing units	2,858
Median year built	1986
Built before 1980	43%
Built 2000 or later	21%
Owner-occupied	59%
Median value, owner-occupied	$174,500
Single-family detached	58%

Nearby cities

Place	Distance	Expansive clay	High water table
Mansfield	4 mi	1%	64%
Lexington	6 mi	2%	39%
Crestline	7 mi	under 1%	71%
Shelby	8 mi	1%	83%
Galion	9 mi	under 1%	76%
Lucas	11 mi	1%	34%
Bellville	12 mi	under 1%	39%
Tiro	12 mi	under 1%	90%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status