Vinton County, Ohio
A shallow water table limits basements on 37% of Vinton County's mapped land, a higher share than 55% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 12%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 1 flood losses here since 2016. 46% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1982.
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 Vinton County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 11.8% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 36.6% |
| Septic fields very limited | 91.5% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 11.6% |
| Mapped soil | 265,548 acres |
How we count · survey areas OH163 (2025-09-08)
What the numbers mean here
On 37% of Vinton 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: 44.14 in, 0.75 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 43.39 in.
USDA rates 92% 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. Part of the county was in drought in 1 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 17.3% of its area, on the May 19, 2026 map.
| 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
1 flood losses since 2016, $11,275 paid. The worst year was 2017, with 1.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 43.39 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 44.14 in (+0.75) |
| 2025 | 45.13 in (+1.74) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2018: 60.31 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1930: 25.53 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at SALEM CTR 2 E (16 mi away) | 9 |
Homes
| Housing units | 5,935 |
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Built before 1980 | 46% |
| Built 2000 or later | 26% |
| Owner-occupied | 76% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $150,000 |
| Single-family detached | 65% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Cities in Vinton County
| City | Expansive clay | High water table | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamden | under 1% | 87% | 372 |
| McArthur | 7% | 81% | 1,056 |
| Wilkesville | 13% | 76% | 58 |
| Zaleski | 2% | 77% | 226 |
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hocking County, OH | 16 mi | 14% | 36% |
| Jackson County, OH | 18 mi | 17% | 53% |
| Athens County, OH | 24 mi | 29% | 27% |
| Meigs County, OH | 27 mi | 43% | 21% |
| Ross County, OH | 31 mi | 20% | 61% |
| Gallia County, OH | 32 mi | 29% | 26% |
| Pike County, OH | 33 mi | 17% | 54% |
| Fairfield County, OH | 35 mi | 5% | 60% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 8, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status