When we are in high school, we dream of college. In college, we dream of being in the workforce and having our dream jobs. But when we are finally living the work life, we dream about our retirement — in Ohio of course.
Retirement can be full of fun, adventure, and social life. The best cities for retirement in the “heart of it all” have everything you’re looking for at an affordable price.
To find the best places to retire, we considered things that retirees like to do, like visiting museums and libraries, affordable housing near major airports, and safety. From Columbus to Cincinnati, you can find a city that fits your retirement needs.
Ohio has everything you could want. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Ohio. Not to mention, you’ll find beautiful state parks near the places on our list.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Ohio For 2024
We analyzed over 161 places in Ohio using factors that help make retirement amazing, like affordability, to determine which cities are the best of the best for retirement in Ohio.
The best place to retire in Ohio? Amherst is the best place to retire in Ohio.
Amherst is located just outside of Canton. It is also not too far from Cleveland. So you’ll be able to have the upscale suburban life with the action of the city nearby.
Why did Amherst take the top spot? And where are Columbus and Cleveland?
For more Ohio state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Ohio
- Cheapest Places To Live In Ohio
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Ohio
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Ohio For 2024
/10
Population: 12,740
Median Income: $86,250
Median Home Price: $243,260
Median Rent: $766
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Amherst: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,602
Median Income: $55,590
Median Home Price: $181,315
Median Rent: $810
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on New Philadelphia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 80,587
Median Income: $65,848
Median Home Price: $182,504
Median Rent: $980
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Parma: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,773
Median Income: $69,132
Median Home Price: $250,648
Median Rent: $934
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on North Canton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,597
Median Income: $43,702
Median Home Price: $102,070
Median Rent: $729
Distance to Closest Airport: 89 miles
More on Ironton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,459
Median Income: $73,458
Median Home Price: $230,715
Median Rent: $1,076
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Vermilion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 34,027
Median Income: $103,658
Median Home Price: $364,251
Median Rent: $1,387
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Westlake: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,874
Median Income: $87,032
Median Home Price: $227,011
Median Rent: $994
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on New Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,768
Median Income: $45,746
Median Home Price: $150,215
Median Rent: $668
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Greenville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 25,220
Median Income: $103,946
Median Home Price: $364,413
Median Rent: $1,274
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Avon Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Buckeye State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Ohio to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Buckeye State — 1203 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 161 places from across the state.
For these 161, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 161, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Amherst, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Ohio.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Ohio Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Ohio goes to Amherst.
The best places to retire in Ohio are Amherst, New Philadelphia, Parma, North Canton, Ironton, Vermilion, Westlake, New Franklin, Greenville, and Avon Lake.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Monroe
- Athens
- South Euclid
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst | 12,740 | $86,250 | $243,260 | $766 |
| 2 | New Philadelphia | 17,602 | $55,590 | $181,315 | $810 |
| 3 | Parma | 80,587 | $65,848 | $182,504 | $980 |
| 4 | North Canton | 17,773 | $69,132 | $250,648 | $934 |
| 5 | Ironton | 10,597 | $43,702 | $102,070 | $729 |
| 6 | Vermilion | 10,459 | $73,458 | $230,715 | $1,076 |
| 7 | Westlake | 34,027 | $103,658 | $364,251 | $1,387 |
| 8 | New Franklin | 13,874 | $87,032 | $227,011 | $994 |
| 9 | Greenville | 12,768 | $45,746 | $150,215 | $668 |
| 10 | Avon Lake | 25,220 | $103,946 | $364,413 | $1,274 |