Best Places to Live in Ohio in 2024-2025
No matter where you live in Ohio, almost everyone knows the same chant and refrain – “OH!” “IO!” – to cheer on Ohio State sports teams. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ohio River cruises and Cedar Point, a destination for roller coaster junkies, are other points of pride for Ohioans. Here are the best places to live in Ohio. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Live methodology.
View All 25 PhotosColumbus, OH
#1 in Best Places to Live in Ohio
Columbus, Ohio, is perhaps best known for its unbridled passion for college football. The fierce loyalty to the Ohio... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.3
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.7
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.2
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.3
- Quality of Life
- 6.7
- Value
- 7.2
View All 28 PhotosToledo, OH
#2 in Best Places to Live in Ohio
"You will do better in Toledo," say the signs by roads into the downtown area. The slogan, introduced in 1913... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.1
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.6
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.1
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Value
- 7.6
View All 24 PhotosCincinnati, OH
#3 in Best Places to Live in Ohio
Although Cincinnati is often perceived as a sleepy Midwestern metro area, residents benefit from a wealth of amenities... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.0
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.7
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.0
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Value
- 6.7
View All 27 PhotosDayton, OH
#4 in Best Places to Live in Ohio
Dayton offers a downtown area full of unique activities and suburbs that provide close-knit communities for those who... Read More- Overall Score
- 6.0
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.8
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.6
- Value
- Overall Score
- 6.0
- Quality of Life
- 6.8
- Value
- 7.6
View All 20 PhotosYoungstown, OH
#5 in Best Places to Live in Ohio
Located halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Youngstown is still reflective of the steel industry's collapse in the... Read More- Overall Score
- 5.7
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 7.6
- Value
- Overall Score
- 5.7
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Value
- 7.6
View All 21 PhotosCleveland, OH
#6 in Best Places to Live in Ohio
Once a haven for immigrants and a powerhouse of industry, Cleveland's cultural identity springs from its past and... Read More- Overall Score
- 5.5
- Overall Score
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Quality of Life
- Value
- 6.3
- Value
- Overall Score
- 5.5
- Quality of Life
- 6.4
- Value
- 6.3