Living in Centerville, Ohio
A 2026 guide for buyers and sellers
Centerville is a city of about 25,194 people (U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2025 estimate) south of Dayton and Kettering, mainly in Montgomery County. Redfin reported a median sale price of $347,834 for the three months ending September 2026, and the main Centerville City taxing district carried an effective residential rate of 69.40 mills for tax year 2025 (Montgomery County Treasurer). Downtown Dayton is about 11 miles from the city government center and Wright-Patterson AFB is about 15 miles, so Centerville is a common search area for buyers relocating to the Dayton region from another state or from overseas.
By Amanda Mullins, MBA, SRES, REALTOR® | eXp Realty | Updated October 23, 2026
Centerville, Ohio at a glance
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 25,194 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Population, 2020 Census | 24,240 | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Land area | 10.97 square miles | U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |
| Median sale price, three months ending Sept. 2026 | $347,834 (up 13.1% year over year) | Redfin |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020 to 2024 | $287,200 | U.S. Census Bureau, ACS |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020 to 2024 | 67.0% | U.S. Census Bureau, ACS |
| Effective residential tax rate, main district (O68), tax year 2025 | 69.40 mills | Montgomery County Treasurer |
| Municipal income tax | 2.25% | City of Centerville |
Overview of Centerville
Centerville is older than Dayton. According to Wikipedia, three brothers-in-law, Aaron Nutt, Benjamin Archer, and Benjamin Robbins, surveyed the land in February 1796, two months before Dayton was established. Robbins named the settlement after his hometown of Centreville, New Jersey. The state recognized the town in 1803, it was platted in 1805, and it incorporated as a town in 1830. The U.S. Post Office changed the spelling from Centreville to Centerville in 1900, and Centerville became a city on December 2, 1968.
Early settlers replaced their log houses with homes built from local limestone. Wikipedia notes that nearly 100 stone buildings lined local streets and homesteads in the 19th century, and many still exist, with many listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic core, called the Heart of Centerville, has boutiques, restaurants, and businesses in that setting. The 1908 Town Hall Theatre, which once housed Washington Township's government, became a performing arts center in 1989.
The Census Bureau counted 23,999 residents in 2010 and 24,240 in 2020, and its July 1, 2025 estimate of 25,194 is up 4.2 percent from the April 2020 base. The city covers about 10.97 square miles of land (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). Although Centerville is mainly in Montgomery County, Wikipedia notes that a small part of the city is in Greene County.
Miami Valley Hospital South opened in Centerville in 2007 as an outpatient facility with an emergency department and was expanded into a full-service hospital by 2013 on a 115-acre campus next to Interstate 675, according to Wikipedia. The Washington-Centerville Public Library serves the city.
Housing and prices in Centerville
Redfin reported a median sale price of $347,834 in Centerville for the three months ending September 2026, up 13.1 percent from the same period a year earlier. Homes sold after a median of 27 days on the market, compared with 30 days a year before, and Redfin counted 123 homes sold in September 2026, up from 118 in September 2025.
A jump like 13.1 percent deserves context. A three-month median reflects which homes sold in that window, so a quarter with more larger or newer homes can lift the median even if similar homes did not rise that much. When Amanda prices a specific home, she uses comparable sales of similar size, age, and condition rather than the citywide median.
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes at $287,200 for 2020 to 2024. That figure is based on owner estimates over five years, so it runs below recent sale prices. The same survey reports that 67.0 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied, and the median gross rent was $1,270 a month for 2020 to 2024.
Centerville's housing ranges from historic stone and frame houses near the old town center to subdivisions built after the city's growth in the late 20th century. That range means condition, updates, and lot size can matter as much as square footage. Amanda's appraisal background helps buyers sort out whether a list price is supported, and helps sellers set a price that holds up when the buyer's lender orders an appraisal. If you own a home in Centerville, start with a home value estimate based on recent comparable sales.
Property taxes in Centerville
Ohio property tax depends on the taxing district a parcel sits in, and Centerville has more than one.
For tax year 2025, payable in 2026, the Montgomery County Treasurer lists an effective residential rate of 69.40 mills for the main Centerville City taxing district (code O68). Ohio taxes homes on 35 percent of the county Auditor's market value, so 69.40 mills works out to about $2,429 a year for each $100,000 of market value, before credits such as the homestead exemption or the owner-occupancy reduction where they apply.
The same rate sheet lists the Centerville City II taxing district (code O67-1) at 73.27 mills, or about $2,564 a year per $100,000 of market value. Parcels in the small Greene County part of the city are valued by the Greene County Auditor and billed at Greene County rates, which this guide does not list. Check the exact parcel before you budget.
Centerville has a municipal income tax of 2.25 percent, in effect since January 1, 2017, according to the City of Centerville and the Ohio Department of Taxation. Before 2017, the rate was 1.75 percent. The city says residents may receive credit, up to 2.25 percent, for tax paid on wages earned in another city. Ask a tax professional how that applies to you.
Commute and getting around
Centerville sits at the southern edge of the Dayton area, with Interstate 675 along its eastern side and I-75 to the west. The figures below are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), measured from the Centerville city government center at 100 West Spring Valley Pike. Allow more time at rush hour.
| From Centerville to | Distance | Drive time (no traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dayton | about 11 miles | about 21 minutes |
| Wright-Patterson AFB, Gate 19B (Area A) | about 15 miles | about 24 minutes |
| Downtown Springfield | about 35 miles | about 45 minutes |
The Census Bureau reports a mean travel time to work of 20.4 minutes for Centerville residents for 2020 to 2024.
Who Centerville suits
Centerville draws buyers from many backgrounds. It tends to fit people who want:
- Historic character. Buyers drawn to early stone buildings can look in and around the Heart of Centerville, the historic center with shops and restaurants.
- Access to I-675. Service members and civilian employees commuting to Wright-Patterson AFB often use I-675, which runs along the city's eastern side. Military buyers can read Amanda's guide to VA loans near Wright-Patterson AFB and her overview of Wright-Patterson AFB BAH rates.
- A move to a smaller home. Homeowners planning to downsize can read about Amanda's SRES downsizing services, which cover pricing, timing, and the steps between selling and buying.
- A long-distance move. Buyers relocating from another state or from overseas can review comparable sales and plan an offer remotely. Amanda's relocation services page explains the process.
Working with Amanda in Centerville
Amanda Mullins spent more than 13 years in residential appraisal management before she started representing buyers and sellers. On a purchase, she studies the comparable sales behind the list price, notes condition items that could affect the lender's appraisal, and helps you write an offer that holds up. On a sale, she builds your price from the same evidence an appraiser will use. With a median that moved 13.1 percent in a year, that kind of evidence matters.
She works with clients across Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Miami, and nearby counties, and she can handle the early stages of a move by phone or a virtual meeting. When you are ready, Request a Time to Talk and share your timeline, budget, and must-haves.
Frequently asked questions
Explore nearby guides
Request a Time to Talk
If you are thinking about buying or selling in Centerville, or you are moving here from another state or from overseas, a short conversation about your timeline, budget, and must-haves is a good first step. Amanda meets by phone or a virtual meeting, so you can start before you arrive in Ohio.
(317) 750-6316Get a home value estimate if you own a home in Centerville and want to know what it may sell for, based on recent comparable sales.
Amanda Mullins, MBA, SRES, REALTOR® | eXp Realty
Ohio License #2021006208 | 301 N Fountain Ave, Springfield, OH 45504 | (317) 750-6316 | amullinsmba@gmail.com
About Amanda Mullins
Amanda Mullins, MBA, SRES, REALTOR® with eXp Realty in Springfield, Ohio, spent more than 13 years in residential appraisal management before she started helping buyers and sellers, so she reads a house and its comparable sales the way an appraisal reviewer would. She was named the 2026 RateMyAgent Agent of the Year for Champaign County and a 2026 RateMyAgent Top 5 Agent for Clark County, and she is a member of the Ohio REALTORS President's Sales Club (2024, 2025, and 2026).
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Centerville city, Ohio (V2025 population estimates; 2020 and 2010 Census; 2020 to 2024 ACS housing, rent, and commute figures): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/centervillecityohio/PST045225
- Redfin, Centerville Housing Market, data through September 2026: https://www.redfin.com/city/3439/OH/Centerville/housing-market
- Montgomery County Treasurer, Rates of Taxation for 2025 (Payable 2026): https://www.mcrealestate.org/pdffiles/taxrates/Taxrate_2025.pdf
- City of Centerville, Income Tax: https://www.centervilleohio.gov/177/Income-Tax
- Ohio Department of Taxation, Municipal Income Tax Rate Table: https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/v1741618460/tax.ohio.gov/muni-net-profit/municipal.tax.rate-3.7.25.pdf
- Wikipedia, Centerville, Ohio (history, geography, arts and culture): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centerville,_Ohio
- Drive distances and times: OpenStreetMap data via the OSRM routing service, checked October 23, 2026, from 100 West Spring Valley Pike.