Best small towns to live in Ohio

1. 1
   Fort Recovery, OH Score 83/100

   1,729 people · typical home $163k · household income $67k · 12 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 4% of OH · 1.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   St. Henry, OH Score 79/100

   2,741 people · typical home $287k · household income $116k · 12 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of OH · 0.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Columbus Grove, OH Score 78/100

   1,532 people · typical home $157k · household income $69k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 15% of OH · 3.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Pandora, OH Score 78/100

   1,603 people · typical home $148k · household income $65k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Leesburg, OH Score 77/100

   1,098 people · typical home $151k · household income $77k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 17% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Glandorf, OH Score 77/100

   1,162 people · typical home $249k · household income $111k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 9% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Payne, OH Score 77/100

   1,418 people · typical home $112k · household income $63k · 80 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of OH · 5.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Ansonia, OH Score 77/100

   1,051 people · typical home $119k · household income $62k · 12 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 21% of OH · 5.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   St. Marys, OH Score 77/100

   8,301 people · typical home $149k · household income $80k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 39% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Leipsic, OH Score 76/100

    2,033 people · typical home $111k · household income $68k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 31% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 17 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Convoy, OH Score 74/100

    1,040 people · typical home $99k · household income $61k · 87 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 10% of OH · 4.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    New Knoxville, OH Score 74/100

    1,058 people · typical home $181k · household income $82k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 4% of OH · 5.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    New Bremen, OH Score 73/100

    2,787 people · typical home $235k · household income $82k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 3% of OH · 0.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Versailles, OH Score 72/100

    2,715 people · typical home $208k · household income $71k · 12 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 2% of OH · 1.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Lynchburg, OH Score 72/100

    1,493 people · typical home $151k · household income $71k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 12% of OH · 3.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Milan, OH Score 72/100

    1,774 people · typical home $193k · household income $98k · 75 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    North Baltimore, OH Score 71/100

    3,584 people · typical home $118k · household income $60k · 34 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 29% of OH · 3.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Upper Sandusky, OH Score 71/100

    6,558 people · typical home $158k · household income $67k · 66 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Edgerton, OH Score 71/100

    2,049 people · typical home $115k · household income $45k · 51 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of OH · 3.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Shreve, OH Score 70/100

    1,552 people · typical home $145k · household income $66k · 89 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of OH · 2.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Continental, OH Score 69/100

    1,368 people · typical home $162k · household income $75k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 17% of OH · 4.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Minster, OH Score 69/100

    3,182 people · typical home $285k · household income $88k · 41 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 1% of OH · 1.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Carey, OH Score 68/100

    3,622 people · typical home $158k · household income $75k · 32 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 46% of OH · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    West Salem, OH Score 68/100

    1,033 people · typical home $126k · household income $62k · 89 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of OH · 3.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Rockford, OH Score 67/100

    1,008 people · typical home $135k · household income $58k · 12 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of OH · 3.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Ohio with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Ohio on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Ohio districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Ohio →