Williston, Ohio Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 287, Williston's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Williston is a small community located in Ohio, within Ottawa County. The total population is 287. It ranks as the 1032nd most populous out of 1,264 Census-designated places in Ohio.

Age Demographics

The median age in Williston is 56.8 years. This is 43% higher than the state median of 39.7 years. 28.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Williston is $46,731. This is 35% lower than the state median of $71,389. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.4%. This is 121% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Williston, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $161,500. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $214,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Williston was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

22.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.9%. Notably, 18.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Williston, Ohio is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Ohio state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,264 Census-designated places in Ohio. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.