The Absolute Best Places to Actually Live in Ohio Right Now
Ohio has many towns that look ordinary, but become highly appealing after a closer look. Affordable homes are a great start, but a good lifestyle also requires nice parks, quality healthcare, steady jobs, convenient shopping, and fun weekend activities. The places listed below stand out because they give people a reason to move in and stay.
Tiffin
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Tiffin is a great choice for anyone looking for a small Ohio city with good schools, arts, and affordable housing. Tiffin University and Heidelberg University bring students, events, and year-round activities to this part of Seneca County. The Ritz Theatre offers live entertainment right downtown, while the Howard Collier State Nature Preserve provides 115 acres of quiet woods near the Sandusky River.
Sandusky
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Living near Lake Erie is great, and Sandusky makes it easy to enjoy the water every day. The city is famous for the Cedar Point amusement park, but locals also enjoy taking ferries to Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay. There is also Shoreline Park and a nice waterfront area that stays open long after the summer tourists leave. For healthcare, Firelands Regional Medical Center offers reliable emergency care right in town.
Marion
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Marion has a much richer history than most Ohio cities of its size. Visitors often stop to see the home of Warren G. Harding, the 29th U.S. president, who ran his famous election campaign right from his front porch. The city also features the historic Marion Palace Theatre for downtown entertainment. Every September, the community hosts the popular Marion Popcorn Festival, and the bigger city of Columbus is just an hour’s drive away.
Cambridge
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Cambridge is a great location for travelers who spend a lot of time driving. Two major highways, I-70 and I-77, cross right here, so it’s easy to drive to Columbus, Pittsburgh, and most of southeastern Ohio. The town has a unique history of glassmaking that you can explore at the National Museum of Cambridge Glass. Recreation is a breeze thanks to over 100 acres of city parks and the 7-mile Great Guernsey Trail.
Eastlake
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Commuting to Cleveland is much easier when your home price is affordable. Eastlake is located about 20 miles from downtown Cleveland, right next to Lake Erie. Residents can cool off at Houston-Fisher Pool on hot summer days or enjoy hiking and bird-watching at Bruce Yee Park. The city even hosts concerts right at City Hall.
Xenia
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Xenia holds a significant place in Ohio weather history. The powerful 1974 F5 tornado leveled about half of the city, and local residents still remember that event today. Now, the city is better known for its outdoor trails, Greene County services, and an easy commute to Dayton. Xenia Station celebrates the town’s old railroad history and serves as a major hub for local bicycle paths.
Dover
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The memorable museum scene in Tuscarawas County is one of Dover’s highlights. The Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens features amazing hand-carved trains, while the Famous Endings Museum shows artifacts from the funerals of famous people. Residents have access to great healthcare right in town at the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital. The downtown area is highly walkable, and locals always look forward to the annual Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival.
Wickliffe
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Wickliffe offers families a comfortable suburban lifestyle just east of Cleveland. Downtown is only about 15 miles away, but the town has plenty of fun things to do right at home. Orlando Park features sports fields, courts, and playgrounds. Pete’s Pond Preserve provides a peaceful trail for nature walks. In the summer, the pool at Coulby Park becomes a popular spot for neighbors to meet up.
Wauseon
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This is a peaceful town in northwest Ohio that still offers plenty to do. As the Fulton County seat, it features local government offices, a regional history museum, a movie theater, and Reighard Park for weekend outings. The town is tied to the Old West because the Earp family lived in the area in the 1850s. Local factories provide jobs, and residents can easily drive to Toledo for bigger shopping trips.
Shelby
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Shelby is an affordable Ohio town with a great story and real charm. The Shelby Bicycle Company built bike frames here from 1925 to 1953, and this helped put the town on the map. Today, life moves at a steady pace. Residents enjoy fishing in the reservoir, shopping at small businesses, joining town programs, and taking short trips to nearby Mansfield.