Best places to live in Ohio (2026)

All 31 ranked places in Ohio, by all-round score. 1 other place without FBI crime data is on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Dublin, OHSuburb · 3-bed $487k · very safe71
2. 2Reynoldsburg, OHSuburb · 3-bed $277k · very safe67
3. 3Kettering, OHCollege town · 3-bed $238k · very safe67
4. 4Cuyahoga Falls, OHSuburb · 3-bed $220k · very safe67
5. 5Delaware, OHSmall city · 3-bed $366k · very safe66
6. 6Cleveland Heights, OHSuburb · 3-bed $182k · very safe66
7. 7Beavercreek, OHCollege town · 3-bed $291k · very safe64
8. 8Mentor, OHSmall city · 3-bed $259k · very safe64
9. 9Fairfield, OHSuburb · 3-bed $286k · very safe64
10. 10Strongsville, OHSuburb · 3-bed $321k · very safe63
11. 11Lakewood, OHSuburb · 3-bed $296k · very safe62
12. 12Parma, OHSuburb · 3-bed $215k · very safe62
13. 13Huber Heights, OHSmall city · 3-bed $205k · very safe61
14. 14Middletown, OHSuburb · 3-bed $249k · safe60
15. 15Hamilton, OHSuburb · 3-bed $285k · moderate crime60
16. 16Cincinnati, OHBig city · 3-bed $240k · higher crime59
17. 17Euclid, OHSuburb · 3-bed $156k · moderate crime59
18. 18Elyria, OHSmall city · 3-bed $186k · very safe58
19. 19Columbus, OHBig city · 3-bed $259k · moderate crime58
20. 20Akron, OHMid-size city · 3-bed $146k · higher crime58
21. 21Grove City, OHSuburb · 3-bed $316k · very safe58
22. 22Findlay, OHSmall city · 3-bed $242k · safe56
23. 23Lancaster, OHSmall city · 3-bed $284k · safe56
24. 24Lorain, OHSmall city · 3-bed $156k · safe55
25. 25Cleveland, OHBig city · 3-bed $124k · higher crime55
26. 26Dayton, OHMid-size city · 3-bed $147k · higher crime53
27. 27Canton, OHSmall city · 3-bed $173k · higher crime52
28. 28Springfield, OHSmall city · 3-bed $206k · moderate crime52
29. 29Toledo, OHBig city · 3-bed $141k · higher crime51
30. 30Mansfield, OHSmall city · 3-bed $164k · moderate crime51
31. 31Newark, OHSmall city · 3-bed $255k · safe49

Cheapest places to live in Ohio

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Youngstown, OHSmall city · rent $1,270/mo · cost of living 87$77k
2. 2Cleveland, OHBig city · rent $1,650/mo · cost of living 94$124k
3. 3Toledo, OHBig city · rent $1,380/mo · cost of living 91$141k
4. 4Akron, OHMid-size city · rent $1,550/mo · cost of living 93$146k
5. 5Dayton, OHMid-size city · rent $1,650/mo · cost of living 93$147k

Safest places to live in Ohio

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Strongsville, OHSuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate40 per 100k
2. 2Dublin, OHSuburb · violent crime 0.1× the US rate52 per 100k
3. 3Beavercreek, OHCollege town · violent crime 0.2× the US rate69 per 100k
4. 4Fairfield, OHSuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate91 per 100k
5. 5Grove City, OHSuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate97 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Ohio

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Mentor, OH2 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding98
2. 2Youngstown, OH5 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes93
3. 3Akron, OH5 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hail92
4. 4Cuyahoga Falls, OH5 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, hail92
5. 5Lorain, OH4 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes92

Best places to live for families in Ohio

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Dublin, OHSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $487k86
2. 2Kettering, OHCollege town · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $238k82
3. 3Delaware, OHSmall city · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $366k82
4. 4Beavercreek, OHCollege town · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $291k81
5. 5Fairfield, OHSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $286k80

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.