Best Places to Live in Ohio
Ohio's cities offer so much, from vibrant arts & culture scenes to renowned restaurants, and tight-knit communities filled with a diverse independent spirit and desire to support local businesses.
Check out these six Ohio cities that have been nationally recognized as the best places to live.
Cincinnati
Ohio's “Queen City” combines fun and livability into the perfect place to raise a family, according to U.S. News & World Report. The site named Cincinnati as one of “The Best Places to Live for Families in the U.S. in 2022-23” and as one of the best places to live in Ohio for the fourth year in a row! And Bankrate placed Cincinnati in its top 10 list of “America's Best Places to Live in 2022.”
This year, ParkScore placed Cincinnati’s 5,000 acres of parkland as the fourth best in the nation. With its top-rated green space, Cincinnati makes for the perfect place to raise a family, enjoy amenities, and the outdoors.
Cleveland
While it might be known as the “home of rock and roll,” Cleveland has so much more to offer. Glassdoor named Cleveland one of the “Best Cities for Jobs” in 2020, and with innovators such as the Cleveland Clinic and burgeoning industry, there is opportunity around every corner.
It’s not all work, however! Last year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cleveland No. 8 in its list of “The 30 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S.” Thanks to professional sports teams, more than 400 concert venues, and museums such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Museum of Art, this Lake Erie city gives residents a dynamic place to call home.
Columbus
Ohio’s capital city provides everything you could want from big city life – art museums, sports teams, foodie scene – with the Columbus Way of focusing on community. Whether you live in the surrounding suburbs or in the heart of downtown, Columbus offers something for everyone, which is why it was named one of the “Best Cities to Live in America” in 2021 by Niche. This unique mix and integration of work and play is one of the reasons RentCafe called Columbus one of the best “Live-Work-Play” cities in the country.
Recently, Bankrate named Columbus as one of “America’s Best Places to Live in 2022.” It cited the area’s rise in new opportunities and access to recreational fun – such as the Scioto Mile park network that lets you enjoy green space, biking, and even kayaking – as top reasons to call the “Arch City” home.
Dayton
As the “Birthplace of Aviation,” Dayton is home to iconic attractions, including the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Wright Brothers Memorial, National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. It’s also the second-best city to live in Ohio, according to U.S. News & World Report.
And with Livability.com declaring Dayton as one the “10 Awesome Cities with Little to No Traffic,” you’ll be able to commute and enjoy all that that this Southwestern city has to offer.
Toledo
Regarded for its past and present as the “Glass City” and as the home of Jeep, Toledo shines as one of the best places to live in Ohio. Whether because of its ranking from Niche as one of 2022’s “cities with the lowest cost of living in America” or its standout local parks – which let you enjoy the Midwest seasons for a great work-life balance – there’s so much to discover when you make this city on Lake Erie your home.
Marietta
If it is charming and quaint you're looking for, look no further than Marietta. Filled with Main Street charm, local restaurants, and shops, Marietta is iconic for giving a city life that is family and community focused. Its charm – along with museums, art galleries, and music hall – led it to being one of HGTV’s “50 Charming Small Towns in America.”
Ohio’s cities give you the perfect place to raise a family, access new and exciting opportunities, and find a community filled with arts, attractions, and plenty of things to explore.
