The 10 Best Places To Live In Ohio For 2024


The best places to live in Ohio for 2024 are Madeira, Upper Arlington, and Wyoming. Find out where your city or town ranks.

The best places in Ohio let you experience Tony Packo’s famous chili dog and a bowl of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. Or you can explore places like the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toledo, the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, or the Cincinnati Zoo.

So, narrowing down the top ten best places to live in Ohio was tough.

To determine the best places to live in Ohio, we used Saturday Night Scienceto compare data from the Census, FBI, and Zillow on things like incomes, safety, and home prices. We analyzed 250 cities over 5,000 people.

Here are Ohio’s outstanding offerings.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary


What city is the best place to live in Ohio for 2024? According to the US Census and FBI data, Madeira is the best place to live in Ohio.

If you live in the greater Columbus or Cleveland area, consider yourself one lucky Buckeye.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In Ohio For 2024

Best Places To Live In Ohio Map

Madeira, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Ed!(talk)(Hall of Fame) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Madeira Ohio
Population 9,426 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $457,023 $218,216
Median Income $159,321 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 2.2% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0034 0.0214

More on Madeira: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Madeira is an awesome suburb of Cincinnati located about 15 miles northeast of the city. It’s the kind of city where you set down roots when your kids are in grade school and stay until they graduate from college. Niche gives the Madeira City Public School District an A+ rating, which is just part of the reason it’s one of the better places to live in Ohio.

Some of the other reasons Madeira ranks so well have to do with the economy. The city ranks 31st for unemployment and 11th for home values per the latest Census data. Add in top 10% finishes for every category we ranked in Ohio, and Madeira comes out as a well rounded city.

Upper Arlington, OH

Source: Public domain
Stat Upper Arlington Ohio
Population 36,500 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $560,961 $218,216
Median Income $144,705 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 2.2% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0103 0.0214

More on Upper Arlington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Next up on our trip to the best places in Ohio is Upper Arlington, a Columbus suburb of 36,500 and the most populous city on this list. Homes are quite costly in Upper Arlington, but residents can handle it seeing as the median household income here is $144,705/year, the 7th highest in the state.

The success of Upper Arlington is no coincidence. Over three quarters of residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, which has a tremendous impact on earning potential. Speaking of potential, Upper Arlington makes sure that its student population lives up to theirs. How do we know? Well, Upper Arlington High School has received a College Success Award from GreatSchools for the past two years, with an emphasis on top-ranking test scores and a perfect 10/10 for students’ college readiness.

Upper Arlington is also close to Columbus’ German Village, a historic district with old, three-story maximum architecture and brick streets that’s as good for a wholesome day out as it is for an exciting night on the town.

Wyoming, OH

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 2.5
Stat Wyoming Ohio
Population 8,720 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $442,718 $218,216
Median Income $137,917 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 1.7% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0060 0.0214

More on Wyoming: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

We’ll take a short drive west to another Cincy suburb to arrive at our 3rd best city in Ohio, Wyoming. As one of the richest places in Ohio, with a median household income of $137,917/year, Wyoming has an unshakeable economy. And with the 3rd lowest poverty level in Ohio, 1.3%, you can feel secure in knowing that all Wyoming’s residents are along for the ride. Add to that the 6th highest rate of health insurance coverage in the state, and you’ve got a city where unwelcome surprises are much less devastating.

Wyoming also has a crime rate about 60% below the national average, so the sound of police sirens should rarely be a part of your day-to-day life here.

Baseball fans might consider going in on season tickets, because from Wyoming, you can be at a Reds Game in just 20 minutes.

Powell, OH

Source: Wikipedia User jbalint1 | CC BY-SA 2.0
Stat Powell Ohio
Population 14,113 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 10
Median Home Value $544,262 $218,216
Median Income $182,736 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 3.2% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0067 0.0214

More on Powell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Clocking in as the 4th best place to call home in Ohio is Powell, one of Columbus’ best suburbs. You don’t have to worry about finding fun things to do in Powell because this city of 14,113 is chock full of exciting amenities.

Powell is home to the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay, a waterpark. Both are big hits with families, which makes sense considering that 47.95% of Powell’s households have kids. For nature lovers, there’s also the Emily Traphagen Preserve, where you can spot several types of birds.

GreatSchools gave Powell’s school district an average score of 8/10, most public schools score in the top 5% statewide, and the city has achieved the 8th lowest high school dropout rate in Ohio. No wonder Powell is one of Ohio’s fastest-growing cities.

Additionally, Powell has the 4th lowest poverty rate and 19th highest rate of health-insured residents in Ohio, so everybody gets a piece of the pie here. The median household income in Powell is $182,736, the 3rd highest in Ohio. The median home value in Powell is the 5th highest statewide at $544,262.

Pepper Pike, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Hannah Wolfe | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Pepper Pike Ohio
Population 6,778 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $590,591 $218,216
Median Income $198,438 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 1.6% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0065 0.0214

More on Pepper Pike: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Wrapping up our list of best places to call home in Ohio is Pepper Pike, an eastern suburb of Cleveland. While homes in Pepper Pike are the 1st priciest in the state, residents are also compensated with the 2nd highest paychecks as well. The median household income in Pepper Pike is $198,438/year and 99.2% of people living here have health insurance, the 4th highest rate of coverage in Ohio.

Another thing to note about Pepper Pike is the educational prowess of the population. Over 40% of people here have a master’s, PhD, or professional degree, so definitely study up before a pub quiz night here if you don’t want to stand out for the wrong reasons. And the schools for the young-uns? Well, we think the 10/10 education score Pepper Pike got on our SnackAbility scale speaks for itself.

Since smarter people tend to eat better, we think Pepper Pikers are willing to make the half hour drive to Cleveland’s West Side Market for the freshest food in town. Even if you’re not there for groceries, wandering around the 100+ stalls is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Montgomery, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Ed! (Photography) | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Montgomery Ohio
Population 10,816 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $566,117 $218,216
Median Income $142,244 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 2.4% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0119 0.0214

More on Montgomery: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Montgomery is an affluent Cincinnati suburb of 10,816. While home prices in Montgomery are among the highest in the state, people here are paid enough to shoulder the burden. In fact, at $142,244/year, Montgomery residents enjoy the 8th highest median household income in Ohio.

Don’t think that Montgomery only caters to the 1% either. With a 1.0% poverty level and 99.2% of people covered by health insurance, everyone here can get by (and then some). Not to mention that, with a 10/10 SnackAbility score for education, Montgomery’s youth gets access to some of the best schools in the state.

And with the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden a short drive away, you’ve always got the perfect family (or date) activity right in your backyard. Even if you cap off your day with a walk around Smale Riverfront Park, you can still be back in Montgomery before dinnertime.

Bexley, OH

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Stat Bexley Ohio
Population 13,537 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 9
Median Home Value $518,032 $218,216
Median Income $138,929 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 3.5% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0208 0.0214

More on Bexley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Bexley, located in Franklin County, is a great place to live for numerous reasons. This suburban city offers a low cost of living and is known for its attractive median home price, which is ranked 7th in the state.

Bexley is very close to Columbus, the state capital of Ohio. This allows Bexley access to the numerous amenities and entertainment options that Columbus has to offer. Bexley itself is home to beautiful parks such as Driving Park and Wolfe Park, as well as the renowned Franklin Park Conservatory. Additionally, the city is famous for its large houses and estates, particularly in the Bullitt Park area, where you can find notable landmarks like the Jeffrey Park Mansion and the Ohio Governor’s Mansion.

Rocky River, OH

Source: Public domain
Stat Rocky River Ohio
Population 21,552 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $346,739 $218,216
Median Income $90,459 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 2.6% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0078 0.0214

More on Rocky River: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Rocky River is a Cleveland suburb of 21,552 located along the shore of Lake Erie. If you prefer the company of women, Rocky River might just be the place for you, because at 53.5%, it has the greatest percentage of women among the places listed here. And as the second most densely populated spot on this list, you’d better believe Rocky River is a hub of activity.

Rocky River also has the 56th lowest crime rate in the state. So you won’t have to worry for your kiddos’ safety when they head off to school. Speaking of which, all levels of education in Rocky River (elementary, middle, and high school) got scores of 9/10 on GreatSchools, so from start to finish, kids get the best possible learning experience here.

And for folks who never change the radio from the classic rock station, being just 20 minutes down the road from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a welcome bonus.

Grandview Heights, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Columbusite | CC BY 3.0
Stat Grandview Heights Ohio
Population 8,258 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $493,867 $218,216
Median Income $100,833 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 1.8% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0241 0.0214

More on Grandview Heights: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Let’s start our tour of the best places to live in Ohio with Grandview Heights, a suburb just minutes from downtown Columbus. Thanks to Grandview Heights’ proximity to the Ohio’s capital city, it ranks as the 13th most densely populated and has the 77th shortest commute (20 minutes) in the whole state. Both of which are the best of cities included on this list.

Besides being in the middle of the action, Grandview Heights has a lot going for it. Like a super smart population where over 30% of people have at least a master’s degree. And a poverty level and unemployment rate at 5.4% and 1.8% respectively, both among the lowest in Ohio. This rock solid economy with highly educated workers translates into big salaries, because the median household income in Grandview Heights is $100,833/year.

While there’s plenty to do in Grandview Heights itself, we think it’s extra cool that you can be at a Buckeyes’ game at Ohio Stadium with 100,000 of your closest friends in just ten minutes. Just be sure to make your move to Grandview Heights quickly, because the secret is out and its one of the fastest growing cities in Ohio.

Perrysburg, OH

Source: Public domain
Stat Perrysburg Ohio
Population 24,855 11,774,683
Rank Last Year 20
Median Home Value $310,361 $218,216
Median Income $98,419 $66,990
Unemployment Rate 4.1% 5.0%
Crime Per Capita 0.0064 0.0214

More on Perrysburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Located just south of the Maumee River from Toledo, Perrysburg ranks as the 10th best city to live in Ohio. We already named Perrysburg the best city for families in Ohio, and a lot of those same factors help land it here on this list. For instance, a 9.5/10 SnackAbility score for education, including a high school that consistently gets awarded for college success scores. And awesome interactive projects like the 577 Foundation, where beekeeping, fossil-digging, and rock wall-climbing are just a few of the goodies in store for a guaranteed successful family day out. Or if you’d prefer a day with the fam in the big city, the Toledo Zoo is another surefire option.

Perrysburg residents enjoy a median household income of $98,419/year and a relatively low cost of living.

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Ohio

Best Places To Live In Ohio Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Ohio, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Columbus, with a population of 902,449, against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This filter left 250 cities, 385 towns, and 482 small towns.

We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Ohio have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Ohio

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Ohio across a number of criteria from one to 250, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Ohio.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking Ohio’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Ohio. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Madeira at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In Ohio

If you’re looking at areas in Ohio with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The best places to live in Ohio are Madeira, Upper Arlington, Wyoming, Powell, Pepper Pike, Montgomery, Bexley, Rocky River, Grandview Heights, and Perrysburg.

Madeira made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Ohio for 2024.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Ohio according to the data:

  1. Warren (Pop. 39,204)
  2. Youngstown (Pop. 60,048)
  3. Trotwood (Pop. 23,125)

For more Ohio reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In Ohio Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Madeira 9,426 2.2% $457,023 $159,321 $2,052 0.0034
2 Upper Arlington 36,500 2.2% $560,961 $144,705 $1,423 0.0103
3 Wyoming 8,720 1.7% $442,718 $137,917 $1,243 0.0060
4 Powell 14,113 3.2% $544,262 $182,736 $1,904 0.0067
5 Pepper Pike 6,778 1.6% $590,591 $198,438 $0 0.0065
6 Montgomery 10,816 2.4% $566,117 $142,244 $1,440 0.0119
7 Bexley 13,537 3.5% $518,032 $138,929 $1,187 0.0208
8 Rocky River 21,552 2.6% $346,739 $90,459 $1,129 0.0078
9 Grandview Heights 8,258 1.8% $493,867 $100,833 $1,641 0.0241
10 Perrysburg 24,855 4.1% $310,361 $98,419 $1,155 0.0064
11 Hudson 23,005 2.3% $483,879 $160,280 $2,105 0.0044
12 New Albany 10,516 2.2% $566,724 $224,824 $2,013 0.0151
13 Worthington 14,997 3.6% $436,367 $119,408 $1,155 0.0162
14 Granville 5,778 2.8% $486,938 $124,255 $1,068 0.0059
15 Highland Heights 8,652 4.6% $375,331 $124,821 $1,783 0.0080
16 Bellbrook 7,321 1.0% $281,184 $105,631 $1,114 0.0066
17 Mason 34,768 1.8% $438,226 $121,082 $1,685 0.0069
18 Avon Lake 25,220 1.9% $364,413 $103,946 $1,274 0.0052
19 Springboro 19,218 4.6% $392,386 $113,182 $1,440 0.0052
20 Westlake 34,027 3.6% $364,251 $103,658 $1,387 0.0046
21 Blue Ash 13,325 1.2% $401,334 $113,558 $1,478 0.0218
22 Shaker Heights 29,157 5.1% $293,145 $96,494 $1,122 0.0063
23 Dublin 48,893 2.9% $539,434 $158,363 $1,541 0.0119
24 Westerville 38,911 2.8% $403,142 $103,617 $1,361 0.0211
25 Deer Park 5,399 3.0% $237,309 $77,710 $884 0.0063
26 Fairlawn 7,697 1.8% $275,067 $87,952 $958 0.0413
27 Beavercreek 46,576 2.8% $295,087 $108,140 $1,304 0.0169
28 North Canton 17,773 2.5% $250,648 $69,132 $934 0.0135
29 Broadview Heights 19,815 1.6% $321,266 $97,902 $1,038 0.0015
30 Sylvania 19,042 3.8% $290,474 $86,048 $904 0.0083
31 Gahanna 35,529 2.2% $341,909 $104,555 $1,318 0.0259
32 Hilliard 36,103 2.4% $345,115 $116,287 $1,518 0.0112
33 Centerville 24,510 3.2% $286,617 $79,509 $1,078 0.0110
34 Harrison 13,086 0.9% $283,228 $99,871 $1,099 0.0117
35 Lyndhurst 13,952 3.5% $205,250 $84,697 $1,381 0.0110
36 Oakwood 9,496 2.2% $362,725 $132,722 $1,330 0.0743
37 University Heights 13,649 5.5% $241,309 $91,960 $1,274 0.0094
38 Brecksville 13,618 6.1% $379,607 $122,546 $1,438 0.0038
39 Twinsburg 19,291 3.2% $317,334 $91,554 $1,192 0.0074
40 Olmsted Falls 8,670 3.1% $255,597 $92,416 $1,139 0.0058
41 Willowick 14,213 4.4% $173,013 $71,418 $968 0.0032
42 Solon 24,053 3.1% $396,920 $128,470 $1,335 0.0087
43 Kirtland 6,914 3.1% $357,865 $111,184 $917 0.0006
44 Brunswick 35,304 2.3% $276,607 $81,780 $1,100 0.0062
45 St. Clairsville 5,085 2.9% $204,139 $71,732 $947 0.0010
46 Strongsville 46,165 3.0% $319,958 $101,176 $1,191 0.0091
47 Reminderville 5,305 0.0% $324,200 $101,463 $1,540 0.0051
48 Pickerington 23,229 2.1% $384,497 $114,573 $1,536 0.0110
49 Ada 5,088 3.7% $196,467 $55,749 $807 0.0020
50 Aurora 17,227 5.4% $399,236 $134,728 $1,690 0.0061
51 Groveport 5,928 1.7% $290,309 $85,230 $1,039 0.0201
52 Waterville 5,980 4.5% $300,509 $101,473 $1,452 0.0065
53 Canfield 7,662 6.4% $291,685 $100,219 $759 0.0043
54 Columbiana 6,688 1.2% $218,373 $45,833 $661 0.0031
55 Loveland 13,247 3.9% $387,201 $81,706 $1,125 0.0064
56 Seven Hills 11,681 3.8% $264,289 $91,975 $1,313 0.0075
57 Beachwood 13,846 6.1% $427,232 $105,346 $1,903 0.0339
58 North Ridgeville 35,481 3.2% $289,885 $89,466 $996 0.0045
59 Fairview Park 17,137 3.3% $245,455 $76,027 $943 0.0061
60 Kettering 57,707 3.7% $218,052 $69,818 $942 0.0144
61 Independence 7,539 1.3% $323,090 $109,691 $1,513 0.0176
62 Amherst 12,740 6.1% $243,260 $86,250 $766 0.0078
63 Cortland 7,073 1.6% $200,498 $60,767 $664 0.0055
64 Stow 34,459 4.4% $251,917 $89,805 $1,143 0.0150
65 Celina 10,974 2.0% $176,625 $60,060 $801 0.0060
66 North Royalton 31,120 4.2% $296,870 $81,511 $1,016 0.0056
67 Medina 26,092 4.8% $335,714 $74,820 $966 0.0079
68 Monroe 15,202 2.3% $305,835 $100,100 $1,488 0.0207
69 St. Marys 8,323 1.9% $172,267 $70,800 $783 0.0073
70 New Franklin 13,874 4.5% $227,011 $87,032 $994 0.0061
71 Wickliffe 12,661 4.8% $173,069 $76,938 $1,172 0.0112
72 Berea 18,550 4.8% $207,002 $67,493 $997 0.0054
73 Tallmadge 18,411 2.3% $250,321 $85,394 $926 0.0109
74 Maumee 13,824 2.5% $252,977 $79,203 $908 0.0295
75 Louisville 9,500 1.7% $213,545 $62,287 $820 0.0131
76 Wadsworth 24,073 3.7% $279,596 $72,325 $962 0.0117
77 Munroe Falls 5,034 5.2% $242,177 $67,601 $0 0.0046
78 Avon 24,822 3.3% $425,138 $128,087 $1,364 0.0230
79 Marysville 25,806 3.2% $339,984 $89,104 $1,125 0.0135
80 Mentor-on-the-Lake 7,152 3.1% $191,119 $58,524 $1,025 0.0060
81 Mentor 47,302 3.8% $252,525 $84,503 $1,124 0.0157
82 Willoughby 23,823 4.2% $211,748 $70,807 $1,079 0.0107
83 Hubbard 7,618 2.6% $149,517 $61,064 $818 0.0105
84 Lebanon 20,999 2.0% $352,816 $75,665 $1,003 0.0160
85 Canal Winchester 9,357 2.5% $373,534 $111,119 $1,525 0.0266
86 Sheffield Lake 8,958 3.2% $179,324 $61,699 $1,019 0.0066
87 North Olmsted 32,244 3.1% $236,837 $81,768 $1,046 0.0147
88 Clayton 13,292 2.8% $220,284 $89,282 $1,061 0.0105
89 Carlisle 5,488 4.5% $252,799 $69,513 $931 0.0020
90 New Philadelphia 17,602 3.1% $181,315 $55,590 $810 0.0013
91 Grafton 5,730 5.1% $266,406 $81,522 $943 0.0028
92 Huron 6,882 3.7% $271,537 $63,525 $939 0.0077
93 Parma Heights 20,706 3.8% $186,633 $57,197 $986 0.0041
94 Macedonia 12,126 3.3% $310,528 $97,611 $1,705 0.0186
95 Delaware 41,926 3.2% $362,453 $86,387 $1,143 0.0113
96 Vandalia 15,139 2.9% $211,642 $73,171 $822 0.0178
97 Mayfield Heights 20,127 5.7% $203,610 $59,423 $1,067 0.0118
98 Toronto 5,387 4.3% $119,136 $48,287 $685 0.0026
99 Troy 26,494 5.0% $241,952 $69,730 $888 0.0134
100 Pataskala 17,843 3.2% $351,075 $87,246 $1,147 0.0074

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.