Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family in Ohio

Adam McCann, Financial WriterJan 23, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Jan 23, 2020

Ohio earned the name “The Heart of It All” not just for its heart shape but also for its cultural and environmental diversity. Home to three major cities — Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus — in addition to numerous small towns, Ohio boasts a colorful range of settings. But there are plenty of other reasons for families to love this part of the Midwest.

The Buckeye State, as it’s otherwise known, competes strongly against coastal states like California and Florida as the seventh-largest state economy by GDP. Plus, an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent — not too far from the nation’s 3.5 percent, as of November 2019 — coupled with 24 of the Fortune 500 companies should give parents confidence in Ohio’s job opportunities.

But a strong economy isn’t all Ohio has to offer. It has a rich culture and history as well as gorgeous scenery, including 130 nature preserves, the Appalachian Foothills in the southeast and the Lake Erie coastline in the north.

To identify the most family-friendly places in Ohio, WalletHub compared more than 180 of the state’s cities across 21 key indicators of ideal family conditions. Our data set ranges from the share of families with young children to median family income to housing affordability. Scroll down for the results, insight from a panel of experts and a detailed explanation of our methodology.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Best Places to Raise a Family in Ohio

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Family Life & Fun’ Rank	‘Education, Health & Safety’ Rank	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Socio-economics’ Rank
1	Powell, OH	76.25	19	3	1	1
2	Perrysburg, OH	70.11	24	6	4	24
3	New Albany, OH	70.03	17	26	6	7
4	Mason, OH	69.98	47	15	2	15
5	Springboro, OH	67.97	64	20	5	2
6	Hudson, OH	67.12	93	1	9	5
7	Dublin, OH	66.71	33	17	47	3
8	Hilliard, OH	66.15	7	56	31	18
9	Delaware, OH	64.82	38	34	7	46
10	Beavercreek, OH	63.12	122	66	3	10
11	Marysville, OH	63.08	32	23	15	62
12	Westerville, OH	62.39	68	29	41	19
13	Medina, OH	61.92	63	38	13	54
14	Upper Arlington, OH	61.47	60	12	103	9
15	Montgomery, OH	61.39	45	67	24	6
16	Worthington, OH	61.27	21	62	45	34
17	Loveland, OH	60.40	31	46	16	76
18	Monroe, OH	60.31	90	59	11	49
19	Wadsworth, OH	60.25	133	40	8	42
20	Pickerington, OH	60.05	46	64	56	35
21	Sylvania, OH	59.99	73	48	28	48
22	Bexley, OH	59.66	16	53	75	55
23	Mentor, OH	59.57	110	30	22	37
24	Maumee, OH	59.36	51	68	32	51
25	Defiance, OH	59.22	43	27	40	90
26	Dent, OH	59.21	52	166	10	26
27	Strongsville, OH	58.95	170	21	27	27
28	Avon Lake, OH	58.91	139	5	67	23
29	Brecksville, OH	58.53	158	18	48	22
30	Solon, OH	58.47	119	35	79	12
31	Clayton, OH	58.35	142	24	60	40
32	Twinsburg, OH	58.35	126	9	53	66
33	Broadview Heights, OH	57.96	181	11	49	11
34	Ashland, OH	57.70	36	43	51	93
35	New Franklin, OH	57.53	183	25	19	16
36	Stow, OH	57.26	140	60	42	43
37	Brunswick, OH	57.11	172	32	18	50
38	Centerville, OH	57.10	131	19	26	41
39	Grove City, OH	56.66	66	78	116	44
40	Lebanon, OH	56.51	23	101	59	74
41	Findlay, OH	56.47	14	107	71	83
42	Harrison, OH	56.24	100	70	62	52
43	North Ridgeville, OH	56.20	168	10	104	38
44	Gahanna, OH	56.18	58	88	113	33
45	Bowling Green, OH	55.96	25	57	143	87
46	North Royalton, OH	55.91	177	13	92	17
47	Macedonia, OH	55.69	184	36	21	25
48	Aurora, OH	55.65	156	16	91	47
49	Bay Village, OH	55.63	150	97	29	13
50	Celina, OH	55.48	30	81	52	96
51	Monfort Heights, OH	55.33	79	161	38	20
52	Norton, OH	55.30	167	47	36	21
53	Avon, OH	55.13	92	103	95	14
54	Rocky River, OH	55.04	135	7	87	56
55	North Canton, OH	55.04	124	42	66	59
56	Kettering, OH	54.99	88	51	61	79
57	Urbana, OH	54.97	22	65	77	116
58	Tiffin, OH	54.95	40	54	90	105
59	Bellefontaine, OH	54.72	15	8	99	155
60	Streetsboro, OH	54.71	138	33	57	63
61	Blue Ash, OH	54.68	61	94	110	28
62	Cuyahoga Falls, OH	54.63	82	73	64	84
63	Vermilion, OH	54.54	165	4	121	68
64	Mack, OH	54.53	127	147	63	4
65	Greenville, OH	54.49	50	39	94	108
66	Troy, OH	54.10	120	55	101	67
67	Bridgetown, OH	54.05	74	166	12	69
68	Forestville, OH	53.97	80	176	34	30
69	Sidney, OH	53.71	34	118	33	112
70	Tallmadge, OH	53.59	154	41	85	61
71	Westlake, OH	53.55	155	61	114	36
72	Willoughby, OH	53.54	148	52	55	72
73	Beachwood, OH	53.26	116	37	128	75
74	University Heights, OH	53.26	121	95	46	53
75	Wickliffe, OH	53.12	171	31	43	78
76	Wooster, OH	53.07	41	44	159	97
77	Riverside, OH	52.98	57	71	117	94
78	New Philadelphia, OH	52.95	102	22	122	107
79	Seven Hills, OH	52.71	186	14	44	8
80	Amherst, OH	52.68	153	90	89	31
81	Fairborn, OH	52.63	59	123	39	99
82	Norwalk, OH	52.56	55	2	160	121
83	Vandalia, OH	52.37	132	80	74	70
84	Lyndhurst, OH	52.04	160	72	54	32
85	Berea, OH	51.80	152	28	69	104
86	Green, OH	51.77	141	98	76	45
87	Trenton, OH	51.76	67	139	20	102
88	Shaker Heights, OH	51.68	98	141	17	79
89	Dover, OH	51.54	70	69	125	101
90	Miamisburg, OH	51.29	75	121	118	60
91	Van Wert, OH	51.22	72	92	80	114
92	Fairfield, OH	51.13	115	126	84	58
93	Xenia, OH	51.09	87	99	37	120
94	Mount Vernon, OH	51.04	18	77	136	138
95	North Olmsted, OH	50.95	174	91	126	39
96	Lakewood, OH	50.80	106	96	105	88
97	Marietta, OH	50.72	9	87	133	148
98	Englewood, OH	50.64	159	82	25	100
99	Huber Heights, OH	50.63	107	116	58	81
100	Reynoldsburg, OH	50.61	83	131	96	77
101	Boardman, OH	50.04	145	113	35	73
102	Franklin, OH	49.75	94	119	14	133
103	Bucyrus, OH	49.59	62	50	140	140
104	Fairview Park, OH	49.53	164	45	132	64
105	Salem, OH	49.14	89	84	108	129
106	Coshocton, OH	48.86	20	76	148	128
107	Willowick, OH	48.68	149	158	23	57
108	Eastlake, OH	48.64	163	58	100	103
109	Sharonville, OH	48.36	103	186	30	65
110	Oxford, OH	48.33	112	49	109	132
111	Oregon, OH	48.29	117	110	106	95
112	Finneytown, OH	48.19	85	184	50	86
113	Galion, OH	48.18	113	75	134	117
114	South Euclid, OH	48.18	151	117	70	89
115	London, OH	48.00	84	79	162	115
116	Piqua, OH	47.94	104	124	78	113
117	Austintown, OH	47.67	157	83	82	109
118	Massillon, OH	47.39	123	111	86	123
119	White Oak, OH	47.30	105	178	65	85
120	Parma, OH	47.28	161	104	112	71
121	Middleburg Heights, OH	47.26	162	149	81	29
122	Fremont, OH	47.03	12	133	123	164
123	Kent, OH	46.86	28	86	174	150
124	Sandusky, OH	46.77	3	140	147	163
125	Painesville, OH	46.35	65	106	93	159
126	Wilmington, OH	46.11	26	136	157	129
127	Mayfield Heights, OH	46.10	129	89	161	92
128	Forest Park, OH	46.09	127	120	102	106
129	Pataskala, OH	45.97	118	154	120	82
130	Athens, OH	45.64	2	63	186	165
131	Ironton, OH	45.60	77	105	138	147
132	Struthers, OH	45.46	182	74	73	134
133	Niles, OH	45.26	96	135	72	139
134	Conneaut, OH	45.00	144	85	163	124
135	Mansfield, OH	44.60	6	156	130	153
136	Cleveland Heights, OH	44.32	146	129	82	125
137	Alliance, OH	44.16	86	112	135	157
138	Marion, OH	44.09	53	132	153	156
139	Newark, OH	43.71	39	142	177	126
140	West Carrollton, OH	43.52	137	102	142	135
141	Reading, OH	43.43	114	145	98	118
142	Northbrook, OH	43.37	109	172	68	136
143	East Liverpool, OH	43.32	111	100	111	158
144	Parma Heights, OH	43.20	169	122	144	91
145	Fostoria, OH	43.18	56	130	88	173
146	Bedford, OH	43.02	147	93	137	152
147	Columbus, OH	42.78	29	163	173	119
148	Barberton, OH	42.68	130	146	119	131
149	Elyria, OH	42.65	108	127	150	149
150	Ravenna, OH	42.58	81	114	141	161
151	Lancaster, OH	42.38	99	137	171	127
152	Hamilton, OH	41.97	76	162	115	137
153	Zanesville, OH	41.93	4	134	176	172
154	Heath, OH	41.90	91	150	167	98
155	Washington Court House, OH	41.80	125	109	172	144
156	Lima, OH	40.93	1	177	124	166
157	Akron, OH	40.70	35	159	127	170
158	Springfield, OH	40.52	13	171	158	160
159	Toledo, OH	40.49	5	174	154	169
160	Chillicothe, OH	40.00	42	165	169	145
161	Garfield Heights, OH	39.69	143	148	131	143
162	Steubenville, OH	39.65	134	138	156	154
163	Norwood, OH	39.48	97	152	145	146
164	Warren, OH	39.09	49	143	129	181
165	Brook Park, OH	38.15	176	153	149	122
166	Portsmouth, OH	37.59	27	151	170	178
167	Bedford Heights, OH	37.40	175	108	155	162
168	Richmond Heights, OH	37.36	185	115	175	111
169	Middletown, OH	37.29	95	180	97	151
170	Canton, OH	37.17	37	175	151	174
171	Cambridge, OH	36.84	8	125	184	182
172	Lorain, OH	36.78	78	160	166	167
173	Circleville, OH	36.61	101	144	185	142
174	Springdale, OH	36.58	71	185	146	141
175	Cincinnati, OH	36.15	10	179	181	175
176	Youngstown, OH	36.14	48	164	107	183
176	Ashtabula, OH	36.14	11	128	178	184
178	Euclid, OH	36.01	136	155	152	171
179	Brooklyn, OH	34.88	179	170	165	110
180	Dayton, OH	32.37	44	182	168	179
181	Maple Heights, OH	32.33	173	157	139	177
182	Whitehall, OH	30.88	54	181	180	176
183	Trotwood, OH	30.45	180	173	164	168
184	Cleveland, OH	26.48	69	183	183	185
185	Warrensville Heights, OH	25.81	178	169	179	180
186	East Cleveland, OH	22.37	166	168	182	186

artwork 2020 best worst cities for families in ohio final

Ask the Experts

Families share a number of common priorities, like safety, jobs and recreation, when choosing a new place to call home. With that in mind, we asked a panel of experts in fields such as family studies and public health to share their insight on choosing cities in Ohio. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are some tips for young families looking for quality public schools and affordable housing in Ohio?
How can local officials in Ohio make their cities more attractive to young families?
Looking just within Ohio, to what degree is child development and a family’s quality of life influenced by the city in which they live?

Ask the Experts

: Maria Sargent
Professor of Education, Ashland University
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: Laurie Katz
Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning, Ohio State University
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: Wendy K Bedrosian
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education, Faculty Advisor, Kent Student Education Association, Coordinator of Preschool Year (Blocks I & II), Teaching, Learning & Curriculum Studies, Kent State University
Read More

: Laura Dell
Ed.D. – Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati
Read More

: Kellie Hall
Instructor in Education, Ohio Wesleyan University
Read More

: Allison L. Baer
Ph.D. – Professor, Director, Clubhouse Reading Center, College of Education, University of Findlay
Read More

Methodology

To help families find the most family-friendly cities in the Buckeye State, WalletHub compared 186 cities across four key dimensions: 1) Family Life & Fun, 2) Education, Health & Safety, 3) Affordability and 4) Socio-economics.

First, we compiled 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was given a value between 0 and 100, with a score of 100 representing the best for families.

We then calculated each city’s weighted average across all metrics to determine its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Please note that “city” refers to city proper and excludes the surrounding metro areas. Some cities were excluded from the sample due to limited data access.

Family Life & Fun – Total Points: 25

Playgrounds per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Note: “Attractions” includes, for instance, museums, theaters and zoos.
Share of Families with Children under 18 Years: Double Weight (~8.33 Points)
WalletHub “Weather” Ranking: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Average Commute Time: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)

Education, Health & Safety – Total Points: 25

Quality of School System: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
High School Graduation Rate: Half Weight (~1.47 Points)
Air Quality: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Pediatricians per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Share of Uninsured Children: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Note: This metric refers to children, newborn to age 18 years, who do not have health insurance.
Violent-Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
Property-Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)

Affordability – Total Points: 25

Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Housing Costs (accounts for both rental and sale prices) / Median Annual Family Income.
General Affordability: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the median annual family income divided by the cost of living index.

Socio-economics – Total Points: 25

Separation & Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Share of Two-Parent Families: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Share of Families in Poverty: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Share of Households Receiving Food Stamps: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Wealth Gap: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)

Sources: Data used to create these rankings were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Renwood RealtyTrac LLC, SchoolDigger.com, County Health Rankings, Areavibes, Yelp, TripAdvisor and WalletHub research.

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