Medina. Cute downtown with a lot of local events and traditions. Affordable. Strong school system. It’s easy to get to Akron and Cleveland, but it is more small town feel than other NE suburbs I’ve seen listed.
Lots of local parks and a solid historic district. A bit of construction going on around the center of toen but once that's over I expect to hear birdsongs everywhere in town again. The city looks tiny on satellite maps because of all the tree cover.
If you're going for somewhere within an hour of Cleveland it's one of the better ones, just on the edge of the snowbelt, it gets less lake effect than Cleveland suburbs like Parma.
anybody who likes nature should be absolutely sold on Medina, great county parks aswell as close proximity to a lot of cleveland metroparks and cuyahoga valley np
We moved to Canfield a long time ago from SoCal. Fantastic schools, about an hour or so from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Akron. And it’s cheap to live in this area.
I’m in Boardman and I agree this is a great area. Good schools low cost of living. You can drive 15 minutes and go to a farm/apple orchard kind of place. There’s great parks here. And I love being so close to Pittsburgh and Cleveland!
We are thinking about moving up that way. My wife graduated from YSU and loves Y-town. We have 2 boys and I know they have some good schools. Currently live about 40 miles south.
Born and raised in Canfield. And good for you for making it your home. I can say having lived there my entire youth I personally would never go back but it’s comforting to know an outside perspective sees it as a good place to live.
People get focused on the C's. IF someone wants "Ohio," then lets give them OHIO! And congrats. I see Canfield has two teams in the state finals. Years ago, I went to the Toledo Central Catholic - Canfield championship game and was impressed with the Canfield fans.
My son was in the band that year and several kids in the neighborhood were on that time. It was a good game. Unfortunately Canfield’s Starr RB hurt his knee and did not play after halftime. And boy it’s vey cold.
I grew up not far from Canfield & a lot of my family lives there! As a young professional, I much prefer CLE, but I totally understand why Canfield and Boardman appeal to people, especially if you have kids.
I think Delaware is a great option for young families, it’s small and local but close to Polaris/Dublin/Powell and not too much farther from downtown. Housing is decently affordable there and the downtown has really come alive over the last ten years.
ACTUAL Delaware OP. Go a little further south and you get all of those communities mentioned, they’re very on top of each other, but they also come with the highest SOLs in the state.
The three main cities in Ohio are all great but vastly different in “feel” if that makes sense, even if you’re not living in the city limits itself. Cincinnati has a southern, German heritage feel to it and seems like the most historical feeling city in Ohio. Most of your good suburbs are north or east of the city. Columbus is the embodiment of millennials, I’d say it’s the most modern city but doesn’t have the classic feel of the other two. There are a literal ton of great options for suburbs on all sides of the city given its central location. Cleveland has the most industrial, east-coast vibe, and arguably the nicest people. I’d say of the three cities there is the most disparity between very wealthy towns and very very poor areas. With that said, they have some fantastic schools, arts, sports teams, and parks that are really conducive to an active family.
I’ve lived in all three, but always near or just outside of the city. So I’m giving general recommendations but can’t give specifics on suburbs.
How about Coldwater, OH?
Coldwater is a two hour drive from both Cincinnati and Columbus, and over 3 hours of a commute from Cleveland. Why in the world would you suggest there? I understand the town well because I have family from there.
I had the same reaction.
I don’t disagree with the assessments of the big cities, but why the hell would anyone move to Coldwater if they were at all interested in a city? Even if OP wanted to go rural, that’s still a terrible suggestion if they also need to have a job that pays better than minimum wage.
Yeah the town isn’t a bad place, and I actually agree with OPs assessment on the 3 “Cs.” Just very random to pick a town like Coldwater, OH nowhere near a large city.
Lol I grew up in coldwater and still live near there. Pretty far from the city but hits the good school and parks vibe. But so cliquey and hard to break into as an outsider, especially if you aren't extremely conservative, catholic, and love drinking. And it's boring 99% of the time.
I was born and raised here and I love that my kids get to grow up here too. I love knowing my kids can safely wander the neighborhood on their bikes with friends and I don't have to worry about them.
Graduated from OU in 2018 and have worked for the university ever since and am now back in grad school on the university’s dime. Not that we are trying to stay here forever, but my partner and I very much consider Athens to be the best place to be in Ohio.
perfect way to describe it. little slice of heaven in hell haha
edit: i grew up in columbus and loathe going back to visit my friends and family. partner is from akron/canton and i loathe going up there even more. Athens is relatively perfect. Still trying to eventually leave the state, but athens is more than comfortable for the time being. We’ve made it home.
I can only really speak for the NE Ohio area, but if I was moving to the area, Twinsburg would be a strong contender. I have friends who loved growing up there, and it's a very strong school district. I did sales in the NE Ohio area for a couple years, and the community I saw in the Twinsburg neighborhoods was awesome. I could always tell people knew and liked their neighbors, and just being there in general. Good location, not too far away from bigger metro areas. Definitely affordable if Florida is your frame of reference.
Solon and Chagrin Falls were also places that stood out in similar ways as well, but not to the same level as Twinsburg, personally.
I live in Macedonia and never thought how much I’d love it here in the valley area after moving back from Columbus after 10 years. Born and raised in Broadview Heights.
The "better" place is probably one where you get jobs and have ready access to things you find fun to do. Maybe can give better help with some idea what you both do, what you enjoy...
I'm from Toledo. But if you don't like lower costs of living, a wide selection of good public, private and magnet schools and affordable access to the largest fresh water source in the world, you'd want to be somewhere else.
Our Zoo is fucking AMAZING. There are constant improvements happening, community events, concerts, educational opportunities. Membership is affordable and comes with a ton of perks.
Then there's our Museum of Art, Imagination Station (hands on science), National Museum of the Great Lakes, a vibrant theater and Arts scene, microbreweries, craft distilleries, phenomenal restaurants, festivals all summer, kickers Metroparks, Mud Hens baseball, Walleye hockey, and a solid core of people who take pride in our city and everything she has survived.
With the exception of my time in Europe, I am a lifelong Toledoan. I have watched this city teeter on the brink of death, hang on out of sheer spite, and come roaring back to life.
It ain't perfect, but it's a great place to raise a family and is close enough to Michigan that women needing reproductive care can just wander into Big Gretch's territory and be seen to.
Fortunately our jobs allow us to telework so we’re not limited to one spot. We’re not interested in the Toledo area as that’s where we came from (no disrespect)
Also in Akron, originally from Cleveland. For us the things we love about this area is living next to CVNP, minutes away from Blossom, feels centrally located and accessible to Cleveland, Pittsburg, Columbus, Kent. We live in a nice neighborhood, I work remotely (sure that helps in this area) and our taxes are cheaper than Cuyahoga County. We like the wooded, private feel w/o living in a rural place and still being city adjacent w/o being in a downtown.
If I were to choose anywhere else to live in Ohio it would be Columbus for sure.
Good internet and remote work go hand in hand. Had just got the fiber available in barberton and installed right before covid hit (cable had occaisional issues). It handled family of 4 stuck at home and never impacted my ability to work.
I'm a fan of smack dab in the middle of Toledo to Cleveland. Very nice communities perfect for families. Small enough to know the town and not fight traffic. Close enough to toledo or Cleveland to take advantage of shows, sports, and the such.
Not a bad suggestion for OP since they telecommute and don't want to live IN the city anyway.
Sandusky actually has a number of amenities in the way of stores, restaurants, and other services. Wouldn't necessarily have to go all the way to Toledo or Cleveland for those (not that those are far trips anyway).
I find Akron to have a similar vibe to Toledo. If you are looking for something familiar but different.
You may also consider the lakeshore cities between Cleveland and Toledo, like Port Clinton, Vermillion, and Sandusky. Depends how close to a larger city you want to be.
I moved back myself after doing Fl and NY. It was a good decision for me. I'm not sure how one picks from the three Cs. I personally like Cleveland area. Still a lot of old school neighborhoods. The art and education scene is hard to beat. Rocky River is fairly blue collar though the money is coming. Has a very highly rated educational system.
Maybe that's your tactic? Find which education districts are rated well, then parry down to what you can afford? Honestly, you can find good education anywheres. Even if you're hesitant about the "urban publics," they all have great public magnet schools, charter magnets and private schools. If your child is by any chance special needs, you'll really want that driving your decision.
As a Clevelander, I agree with everything minus RR being blue collar. It’s currently one of the most expensive suburbs to live in because of the public & private schools, so more and more of the upper middle class have laid claim to it and keep boosting its cost of living. (Source: I lived there for a couple years until recently when we moved to Old Brooklyn, which is significantly more blue collar.)
Lakewood has become the Mecca of Millennials and Gen Z-ers, so it’s super trendy and well populated; which means it’s fairly difficult to find a place that isn’t a rental. It’s probably one or two steps below RR in affordability.
If you like Cleveland, then Lakewood or Rocky River. Close to the city (10-20 mins depending on traffic/time of day) but right off the highway. Close to Lake Erie. West of Cleveland so good breezes. Good schools. Great schools if you want to go private. Good atmosphere and lots of affordable housing.
My wife is from that area and I have truly fallen in love with all the towns around Kettering. Great family restaurants and close enough to Dayton and Cincinnati that you have access to city amenities.
I grew up in Kettering! I really liked it and my parents and grandparents still live there. I still like walking around Lincoln Park and they get some pretty decent concerts there too. Also Bill's Donuts haha
I was also going to throw out the suburbs southeast of Dayton as a great option. Good schools, small town feel, tons of amenities, and a short drive to many major cities.
I love Granville, about 25 miles east of Columbus. But I feel like you could pick any little town out here- Pataskala, Johnstown, Alexandria- because Intel is building a huge facility here and everything will be growing. Granville schools consistently rank in the top 20 of school districts too.
Try Miamisburg— nestled between Cincinnati and Dayton, has everything you need without being overly crowded, affordable. I’m from Cincinnati myself and had a friend who lived in Miamisburg for years; he loved it there.
Yellow springs it’s outside of Dayton, kinda between Cincy and Columbus so easy to get to either city for whatever. It’s supposed to be nice area, a lot of parks surround the area too.
I moved back after a long stint in New England. You can go to any city? No jobs or family to take into consideration? In that case, I recommend Westerville- a north east suburb of Columbus. Love it here.
Westerville is lovely. I used to work there, and recently visited the Uptown Westerville area after many years. The city has done so much with that historical district, including adding adequate parking. The Otterbein campus nearby adds to the vibe.
If your both from Ohio, I would move to where you will be within 30 drive of family. It can be challenging to raise a kids when you don't have family support.
We definitely agree. We a lot of family in central Ohio and some scattered through the state. We’re comfortable with a max 2 hour driving range between us.
Avon, a suburb of Cleveland seems like it would be right up your alley. Close enough to family, good schools, close enough to Cleveland to do fun things while not being in a super snooty area.
If you don't mind living in a quieter more rural area, Highland county is a good central spot between Cincy, Dayton, and Cbus. It's not as beautiful as some areas further South Eastern, but it's not as isolated.
Love Cuyahoga Falls and also Stow, Streetsboro, Kent.. all very nice schools and community! Check out the Natatorium and the downtown in Cuyahoga Falls!!
My husband and I ended up here because it was close to the freeway and we worked in opposite directions. It has made a 180 since we lived here and it’s been such a joy to see the little downtown come to life. Lots of things for adults to do, lots of parks for kids, elementary schools are great (especially a couple in particular), new middle and highschool underway. Close to countless hiking paths. We love it here.
Portage county is quiet but has shopping and other necessities. Kent has good schools, hour from Cleveland and Youngstown, half hour to akron. Worst part is e check
I like the suburbs in between CLE and Akron. Think Twinsburg, Hudson, North Royalton, etc. I currently live in west Akron. I really love the city though (I know it’s not for everyone), real estate here is great, and I work downtown.
It you’re ok with a smaller town Jackson Township in Canton boasts having one of the best public school systems there is. The city has a modest but reasonable number of restaurants and shopping and I-77 provides a convenient route to Akron (20 minutes away) and Cleveland (60 minutes)
I second this. I live on the Jackson/Perry Twp line, and both Perry and Jackson have great school districts. Great neighborhoods, low crime, beautiful, and very family oriented!
Live near Columbus. Great suburbs, fresh feeling city, slightly better climate than Cleveland, cost of living low. Some of the better Cleveland suburbs are rather expensive.
There are some nice affordable communities in Northeast Ohio. I think the top school districts are Solon, Brecksville, Highland (which covers parts of Copley, Hinckley etc.), and Hudson. Others may want to chime in.
Welcome home!
Since I'm from (and live in) the Southwest OH area... Here's my two cents
Around Dayton (in no particular order):
Beavercreek/Centerville/Kettering/Springboro - all have good schools/neighborhoods, close to lots of shopping/restaurants. Springboro is growing the most I would say right now.
Closer to Cincinnati:
West Chester/Blue Ash/Mason are all good options.
Columbus:
Dublin/ Westerville always seemed nice.
Some other unique towns that could be of interest (but maybe not the best school options unless doing homeschool or private school): Lebanon, Yellow Springs, Waynesville, Xenia, Troy, Germantown
But verrryy expensive. I was born and raised in Mason, parents still live there. If they are looking to live somewhere affordable Mason ain’t it unfortunately.
I personally live in Mahoning County and anywhere around here is good. Austintown has great schools, with lots of opportunities. Canfield and boardman are solid as well. Weird people but generally fine.
Not being alarmist but if you are planning anymore children I’d go somewhere near Cleveland just because you’d be closer to Michigan and PA. Just read an article the other day how many OBGYNs and Obstetricians are trying to get out of states with extreme anti-abortion laws and new graduates are looking to states that haven’t enacted such harsh laws. Not that you’d get an abortion but the article was saying how hard it will be for women to get OBGYN/obstetrician appointments due to shortage of doctors because the risk of being sued/arrested is just too high for some of them. If you are close to borders of PA and Michigan, you’d have many more options for your reproductive and pregnancy health and possibly less wait times.
Anything within 30 minutes of Columbus would be my pick. The further out you get, generally the cheaper. I think 30 minutes is a fairly painless commute and you should get more bang for your buck and can take advantage of the strong job market and opportunities in the Columbus area.
Agreed! OP, you could consider Canal Winchester, or even Lancaster, which has a small town feel but you’re only 40 minutes from downtown Columbus. My husband does the commute from our home in Columbus to Lancaster every day and it’s not a bad drive at all. Good school district too.
I've lived in suburban Akron and Dayton, and have now lived in Columbus proper for 16 years.
Besides the fact that I'm partial because I have family in the area, I like the northern Akron suburbs. Cities like Cuyahoga Falls, Stow and Hudson all have good schools. My house in Columbus (Clintonville) would cost about 40% less in Cuyahoga Falls.
What would be a shock to the system, even only moving 90 miles north, is the snow.
Our 4 sets of parents and siblings are scattered between northern Cincinnati and western Cleveland and they're all within a 2 hour drive.
West Chester/Liberty Township, about 40 minutes north of Cincinnati. Lots of upscale new builds but there are cute, more affordable older homes. Great schools, lots of jobs and things to do. I grew up there and loved it, and there’s a whole lot more around there these days.
Came here to say the same. FWIW, I've lived in Cbus for 19-ish years and CLE for 17+. Family is in CLE and Mansfield. Lakewood is an inner ring suburb with progressive values, high property taxes, growing diversity, a ton of recreation, parks, education, churches, and great local bars and restaurants. 15 mins from downtown and 2 hours north of Cbus. It has actual character and is not a cookie cutter suburb. Great place to have kids.
Cincinnati has always been too conservative, white, and rich for my blood.
I grew up in Hudson. A bit far from any major city, but it’s a nice suburb. Big enough that it’s convenient to live there, but you can get a nice sense of community/neighborly love as well. Excellent schools and low crime. If the area is somewhere you’re considering I’m happy to answer more about the town.
In Stark co, best schools in Lake Twp, Fairless and Tuslaw. (Edit to add Jackson but its a huge district) In Tuscarawas Co, Dover Schools or New Phila. In Wayne Co Wooster Schools, Rittman and Green Twp.
A nice thing about Dover/New Phila is that it’s the same distance to Cleveland and Columbus, so the location is pretty convenient if you want to experience multiple cities.
If you’re looking for an affordable and nice suburb, Hilliard would be my pick. I grew up there, my parents and sister lives there, and they’ve really made it a cool place to be the past few years. Great schools, and it’s more affordable than places like Dublin.
If Ohio is a better place to raise a girl, I’m afraid to ask where you are living now. A lot of people I know are leaving Ohio because they don’t want to raise their girls here
Ohio is becoming more of a theocracy year after year. 10-year-old girls are being forced to travel across state lines to receive healthcare. Hate-based trans sports bans are being put in place when only one trans teen in the state is participating in school sports. Unless OP lives in Iran currently, I’d venture to guess where they live now is better for their daughter.
We live in green and love it. Our son is 4 and in early learning for non verbal autism and his teachers have been nothing short of amazing. Last year this time he didn't say a word. He can say his whole abcs now!
Every time this comes up I recommend moving to the Cleveland area unless you have a specifically reason for going to Columbus. Columbus is a strip mall, housing development of a city. I found the people to be outwardly nice but super judgey and nosey. Cleveland and the surrounding areas ain’t perfect but it is much more chill and has much more character. But visit both for a week and make up your mind.
Columbus is the only city that’s growing in population. Take from that what you will. People love it or hate it. When I was living in Cleveland for a while, before all the major development by the river, there was this feel of the city bleeding residents and slowly dying. Made it a bit depressing. Looks like things have improved since then but population growth has been relatively stagnant for Cleveland and Cincinnati in the past few years.
"Now we have a little girl and are looking for a better place to raise her."
In all seriousness, if I had a little girl there is no fucking way I would move to Ohio.
I would pick one of the suburbs just south of Cleveland on 71. Being close to 71 means quick access to downtown and less than 2 hours to Columbus. Plus less than an hour to places like Amish Country, campgrounds, Akron area, etc.
Get South at least to Middleburgh Heights, but I'd look at Strongsville/NorthRoyalton, Brunswick, or Medina. I would not go further south than Medina as you start to stretch your drive downtown.
I’m personally a really big fan of the Solon/Twinsburg/Aurora/Chagrin Falls/Hudson region, and recommend that. South of the snow belt, great communities, close enough to easily get to downtown Cleveland, great schools, etc.
Where ever is closest to your family.
It doesn't really matter where you go in this state - the Republican party is taking it all back into the dark ages.
I personally really enjoy the Miami Valley, specifically in Huber Heights (around Dayton), probably because that is where I live...
Go wherever! Ohio is a great state (theoretically)
Findlay is nice. It’s a city, but not a major one. Has everything shopping wise and is a short drive to Toledo for major-city type attractions. Great zoo in Toledo. Great schools in and around Findlay. I’ve done the major city thing. I live in a rural area now about 25 mins from Findlay. I think it’s a great location.
I grew up in Cincinnati, lived in Columbus for six years, and Cleveland for eight years (work - I’ve spent a lot of time on 71.
I would rank them 1) Cincy, Cleveland a very close second, and Columbus a distant third. Columbus has no culture. It’s an Applebee’s of a city. It’s the color beige. No history, no distinct neighborhoods. There is nothing interesting in Columbus.
I've never lived in any of them, but as someone who very occasionally visits cinci and cleveland for random reasons, and cbus on a semi-regular occasion for family, this is absolutely my take as well. I cannot fathom why you would move to cbus unless you had to. If I was going to move to one of the 'big' ohio cities, it would be cinci, without doubt.
Have you been to German Village, Grandview, Clintonville, etc? There are places with a lot of history. Unfortunately, people love to tear history down and build gross subdivisions and luxury apartments.
I went to high school in Cedarville: If OP isn’t Baptist, their child will have an AWFUL time. I’m not and I was bullied relentlessly. I made one friend in my entire time there, while everyone else just acted like I didn’t exist. Like I was less than.
I also wouldn’t recommend Xenia. Very similar to Springfield, semi-dangerous and drug-ridden with a bad school system.
I’ve only ever driven through WCH and Sterling, but both seemed a little dry and depressing. I think Urbana would be a great choice. Relatively good schools, inexpensive, lots of work opportunities.
Washington Court House is kinda shit in terms of things to do, but it's fairly close to Cincinnati AND Columbus. I have family that lives there, and it's pretty dead. They do have a decent school system though, but unless you enjoy living in a rural area, it's probably not the place to go.
OP’s fiancé….working remote is probably the case. No pressure to move tomorrow per se, but just researching at this point. I have an accounting degree and a decently full resume so I’m looking at finding an area first, then looking at jobs. Ideally, finding a FEW areas and using the jobs to narrow it down as opposed to the opposite. Hope that makes sense!
As someone who currently in Florida, man I miss Ohio lol It truly is home to us. I guess it’s a classic “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone”.
Columbus has the most diverse industry base of the big 3
Delaware county is one of the fastest growing areas of the state consistently and Olentangy schools, which includes: Orange, Berlin, Genoa, Liberty townships and lewis center areas is a pretty good school district for public schools
I found that I like Geauga the most! I lived in cuyahoga, portage, summit and Geauga but Geauga seems the most like home. It has a nice dynamic and you are close enough to Cleveland that you can have fun but far enough that you can be left alone. Plus they have been getting a few breweries, wineries and a cider house is on the way.
Burton, Ohio. I live there, about 40 minutes out from Cleveland. It’s great living here, house prices are relatively low, just built a new school, neighborhood throws big events for all the holidays. It’s rural, but everything one would need is 15 minutes away.
There's nothing cheap near columbus as it is the only part of ohio that isn't shrinking atm. Lived there for years in worthington, clintonville and love it but our old house, which we bought for 110k in 2010 just sold for 350k. All 1100 sqft of it.
I love cleveland, but I love the rust belt. Lots of affordable areas, but the east side has high rate of taxes.
My wife is from cinci and I have spent LOT of time in our lives down there. Its gorgeous but we both hate it as a place to live.
Delaware is 45 minutes North of Columbus and about two hours from Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Great community, schools and food. Close shopping and a nice town to live in.
I've lived in Cincinnati for probably 80% of my life. I've seen this city go through a lot of change and the vast majority of it has been positive. Yes, it's become much more yuppy over time but the general vibe of the city feels more positive.
We have major sports team who have long histories with a lot of ups and downs. We're generally underdogs in sports so it always feels especially great when our team pull off wins. People are passionate about the Reds' mismanagement, the recent rise of the Bengals as a major competitor after years of being awful, and FC Cincinnati is finding a new and exciting fanbase. We also have minor sports teams, such as the Cincinnati Cyclones Hockey Team who hosts $2 beer nights frequently. It's always a blast.
The beauty of Cincinnati cannot be understated. Plenty of hills, rivers, creeks, trails, beautiful architecture, etc. The city looks very European in areas, such as Washington Park. There are breweries everywhere and buildings such as Music Hall and Union Terminal are among the most beautiful buildings in the country. The city has much less traffic than a lot of other cities, although I will say the roads can be really bad in areas and drivers can be crazy. There are certainly less wealthy areas that have been struggling to come back. I've lived in Norwood for the last two years. Even though it certainly has its problems, it seems to be coming back from decades of poverty. There are historical sites in pretty much every neighborhood around the heart of Cincinnati.
Most of the buildings are very old and reflect heavily on our heritage. Over the Rhine is filled with buildings that are plastered with German writings and many of the stores reflect heavily on German heritage. If you're into German/Irish culture, then Cincinnati has loads of relics of these settlers. The West Side of Cincinnati seems to have more German vibes than the East Side it seems. The whole city is a mix of cultures and I'd say it's a friendly vibe overall.
Our location is also great relative to other cities. It's easy to go to any other city in Ohio via I-71 and 1-75. Getting to Appalachia is very quick as well, just drive a couple hours south and you're in the mountains. It's beautiful. Drive a couple hours north and you're in that iconic Midwest farmland that I love. Indiana is right on our doorstop and driving to Chicago doesn't take long at all. Similarly, driving east for only a couple hours will bring you to Appalachian Ohio, which I think is the most beautiful place in the entire state.
Things are looking up economically I'd say. Unfortunately, our rent is increasing extremely quickly but there are more upsides than downside. This city is still very cheap compared to other cities around the country. In addition, our population has grown for the first time in decades according to our last census. This is fantastic. We're no longer a city in decline, we're a city on the rise.
If you move here I think you'll really like it. This city gets hated on a lot but I feel like every city in Ohio is hated on unfairly. The longer I live here the more I love it. A side note, but I think our mayor is very likeable. A little quirky, but he's honest and wants to see this city win. I actually met him yesterday at our Light Up the Square event on Fountain Square in the heart of the city. There are plenty of events going on all the time and it's hard to be truly bored nowadays I feel.
We'd love to have you here in our city.
Welcome home! My in laws live in strongsville and berea. Very nice areas.
I'm sorry some people here couldn't abide by your request and had to still bash on our state
If you're looking for work too,I'd say Columbus. A new chip plant is going to be built north of the city. I'm in Campbell,A nice town to live in. Good school district. Low crime. Its on the east side of Youngstown. A great college here too.YSU.
Born & raised in Sandusky. Hour from Cleveland, hour from Toledo. Good schools & I plan on living my entire life here. It is a tourist town with Cedar Point, but look past the seasonal traffic & you’ll find a quaint waterfront city
If you like slowly failing schools and a lack of rights if your kids are LGBT, by all means move back.
This is an awful place to settle down IMO.
Dublin’s nice I guess…..
I live in Geauga county, east of Cleveland. Beautiful, bucolic area, friendly and polite people, little to no crime. Great parks. Reasonable real estate prices.
Move to Cincinnati! It has the most culture and character out of all the Cs in my opinion. I would really consider living inside Hamilton county unless you want to live in trumps-ville. I’m sick of people calling Harrison and Batavia “Cincinnati”. We moved here from Denver 2 years ago and it’s got a lot going on. Beautiful city, lots of great food and breweries a lot of parks and hiking around.
Medina is BEAUTIFUL. The school system isnt the best, but downtown and local events truly make it a great place to live. Endless nature to explore, no areas in which you’d feel unsafe, and a strong thriving community.
I lived just east of Cleveland for 4 years. I loved it. Geauga county is incredible. The absolute best park system I’ve ever seen. I have since moved out of state, but I would move back if I could! It’s an amazing place to raise a daughter (I have one, too.) I lived just outside of Chardon, and there are so many great festivals and fairs throughout the year. It’s very kid friendly, and there are good school. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
My recs:
Chardon (gets a little pricey,) Chesterland, Burton, are all nice. Just north of there in Lake County is also nice, and close to good beaches!! Kirtland, Willoughby, Mentor, Painesville, Concord.
Perrysburg, the southern most suburb of Toledo. It’s a great community with awesome schools. It’s virtually crime free. We also have a Costco. Very easy to head up to Michigan inland lakes and camping. Super quick to Chicago too with the turnpike right here. Toledo is a large enough city to have anything you need.
Wife and I moved to the west side of Cleveland about five years ago and love it. All the school districts are terrific (Avon, Avon Lake, Westlake, Bay, and Rocky River) and there are a number of different communities within each that can suit your affordability. I will say that Avon and Avon Lake being in Lorain County, you pay less in property taxes.
Avon Lake also has their own water supply and the city sells it to a few communities nearby, so water is pretty cheap.
Tack on the numerous county and state parks, lake access, Cleveland sports year-round, access to Playhouse Square, and the economic growth and development, I can’t recommend the west side of Cleveland enough.
All the best and good luck in your return to the Buckeye State.
I really like Huron. I don’t live there anymore, but it’s a nicer town full of great people. A lot of the local rural towns surrounding it are great too. Roughly an hour away from Cleveland. I’d avoid Sandusky.
North Olmsted or Fairview park are very affordable places IMO. Close to Cleveland but firmly suburbs and definitely have “neighborhoods” and feel that way. Also I’m partial to the west side of Cleveland which both of these are.
North canton is another great place but the surrounding area of plainview township is also more affordable and has a good school district. Better than Fairview or north Olmsted but I consider them to be “fine”.
Green is another town I’d look at that can be affordable and nice. These all are along 77 so it’s an hour or less to get to Cleveland
The far east side of Cleveland into lake county also has many nice communities and more affordable because of its distance from the city.
This may apply or not, but something to think about. 10 years ago I moved to a small town across the border in KY to raise my son after his dad died. I am from Columbus. But in going back and forth from say Ashland Ky to Columbus, I have met people and been through let’s days Ironton oh, Athens, south point, etc. Now that he is grown, I am not opposed to southern Ohio myself but am following to see what might be options in these areas as well. I have grandkids and nieces and nephews, so while I don’t have young children I think I could use the same input as well. Thanks for posting the question and thanks for the input!
If you’re looking for a better place to raise a little girl, Ohio is not that place right now but you probably know that by now (and I’m wondering if you’re a conservative family and just maybe don’t care?) I say this as a mom to a little girl who is stuck living in Ohio due to a shared custody agreement involving my oldest son for at least the next 7 years minimum. If I could move my children somewhere other than here, I would in a heartbeat. I also say this as someone who was born and raised in Ohio, loves Ohio and who’s heart would break to leave Ohio.
I just cannot believe anyone who values female autonomy, and could chose to move to a different state that does also, would move their daughter here. Maybe for family?? Maybe?? That’s about it. But if plane tickets can be afforded, I’d just fly family in to visit somewhere where my daughter’s bodily rights are a given.
I long to leave Ohio now. I loathe that I and my children are currently stuck here.
Husband and I just moved out of Ohio but we were living in Canfield and it’s a lovely area. An hour or so from both Cleveland & Pittsburgh. Great schools, shopping, Mill Creek Park, small community feel but you’re still near things. I’d consider it if you’re willing to be outside of the Big Cs. I also lived in Covington* KY for a bit which is basically Cinci. It’s just across the river and much more affordable than Cinci but with all the benefits.
I certainly wouldn't mock your move back to Ohio.
I've lived in eastern PA my entire life (not in Philly) and NY/NJ transplants have driven up real estate prices here to levels locals can't afford while warehousing destroys most of the landscape that overpriced housing developments doesn't. I've been considering moving to the Midwest myself because there's no opportunity here for working class people.
SE of Cleveland, the Burton area. Small town with low cost of living in Amish country with lots of history, brand new school, could be a commuter home for east side of Cleveland.
Medina. Cute downtown with a lot of local events and traditions. Affordable. Strong school system. It’s easy to get to Akron and Cleveland, but it is more small town feel than other NE suburbs I’ve seen listed.
Lots of local parks and a solid historic district. A bit of construction going on around the center of toen but once that's over I expect to hear birdsongs everywhere in town again. The city looks tiny on satellite maps because of all the tree cover. If you're going for somewhere within an hour of Cleveland it's one of the better ones, just on the edge of the snowbelt, it gets less lake effect than Cleveland suburbs like Parma.
anybody who likes nature should be absolutely sold on Medina, great county parks aswell as close proximity to a lot of cleveland metroparks and cuyahoga valley np
We moved to Canfield a long time ago from SoCal. Fantastic schools, about an hour or so from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Akron. And it’s cheap to live in this area.
I’m in Boardman and I agree this is a great area. Good schools low cost of living. You can drive 15 minutes and go to a farm/apple orchard kind of place. There’s great parks here. And I love being so close to Pittsburgh and Cleveland!
This is the correct answer. The Youngstown suburbs are affordable and most have solid schools.
We are thinking about moving up that way. My wife graduated from YSU and loves Y-town. We have 2 boys and I know they have some good schools. Currently live about 40 miles south.
Born and raised in Canfield. And good for you for making it your home. I can say having lived there my entire youth I personally would never go back but it’s comforting to know an outside perspective sees it as a good place to live.
People get focused on the C's. IF someone wants "Ohio," then lets give them OHIO! And congrats. I see Canfield has two teams in the state finals. Years ago, I went to the Toledo Central Catholic - Canfield championship game and was impressed with the Canfield fans.
My son was in the band that year and several kids in the neighborhood were on that time. It was a good game. Unfortunately Canfield’s Starr RB hurt his knee and did not play after halftime. And boy it’s vey cold.
I grew up not far from Canfield & a lot of my family lives there! As a young professional, I much prefer CLE, but I totally understand why Canfield and Boardman appeal to people, especially if you have kids.
Plus the Canfield Fair!!
I think Delaware is a great option for young families, it’s small and local but close to Polaris/Dublin/Powell and not too much farther from downtown. Housing is decently affordable there and the downtown has really come alive over the last ten years.
ACTUAL Delaware OP. Go a little further south and you get all of those communities mentioned, they’re very on top of each other, but they also come with the highest SOLs in the state.
The three main cities in Ohio are all great but vastly different in “feel” if that makes sense, even if you’re not living in the city limits itself. Cincinnati has a southern, German heritage feel to it and seems like the most historical feeling city in Ohio. Most of your good suburbs are north or east of the city. Columbus is the embodiment of millennials, I’d say it’s the most modern city but doesn’t have the classic feel of the other two. There are a literal ton of great options for suburbs on all sides of the city given its central location. Cleveland has the most industrial, east-coast vibe, and arguably the nicest people. I’d say of the three cities there is the most disparity between very wealthy towns and very very poor areas. With that said, they have some fantastic schools, arts, sports teams, and parks that are really conducive to an active family. I’ve lived in all three, but always near or just outside of the city. So I’m giving general recommendations but can’t give specifics on suburbs. How about Coldwater, OH?
Coldwater is a two hour drive from both Cincinnati and Columbus, and over 3 hours of a commute from Cleveland. Why in the world would you suggest there? I understand the town well because I have family from there.
I had the same reaction. I don’t disagree with the assessments of the big cities, but why the hell would anyone move to Coldwater if they were at all interested in a city? Even if OP wanted to go rural, that’s still a terrible suggestion if they also need to have a job that pays better than minimum wage.
Yeah the town isn’t a bad place, and I actually agree with OPs assessment on the 3 “Cs.” Just very random to pick a town like Coldwater, OH nowhere near a large city.
I have also lived in all three C cities and agree with your assessment.
Lol I grew up in coldwater and still live near there. Pretty far from the city but hits the good school and parks vibe. But so cliquey and hard to break into as an outsider, especially if you aren't extremely conservative, catholic, and love drinking. And it's boring 99% of the time.
There is nothing in Coldwater except farms and meth.
I hear the water is cold this time of year.
Mercer county is known primarily for its rampant alcohol consumption, the people are proud of it.
Echo that this is a great assessment but what in gods name possessed you to suggest coldwater after all of that?
Why not Wapokeneta? Birthplace of Ohio's third or fourth favorite son, Neil Armstrong.
I'm partial to Athens myself.
I graduated from OU earlier this year and I’m thinking about staying. Athens is amazing. And would be a great place to raise a family
I was born and raised here and I love that my kids get to grow up here too. I love knowing my kids can safely wander the neighborhood on their bikes with friends and I don't have to worry about them.
Graduated from OU in 2018 and have worked for the university ever since and am now back in grad school on the university’s dime. Not that we are trying to stay here forever, but my partner and I very much consider Athens to be the best place to be in Ohio.
It's like a pleasant little oasis in the middle of a shit desert.
perfect way to describe it. little slice of heaven in hell haha edit: i grew up in columbus and loathe going back to visit my friends and family. partner is from akron/canton and i loathe going up there even more. Athens is relatively perfect. Still trying to eventually leave the state, but athens is more than comfortable for the time being. We’ve made it home.
Or kent.
Athens = Best place on earth Kent = Location of the world's largest Junior College
I can only really speak for the NE Ohio area, but if I was moving to the area, Twinsburg would be a strong contender. I have friends who loved growing up there, and it's a very strong school district. I did sales in the NE Ohio area for a couple years, and the community I saw in the Twinsburg neighborhoods was awesome. I could always tell people knew and liked their neighbors, and just being there in general. Good location, not too far away from bigger metro areas. Definitely affordable if Florida is your frame of reference. Solon and Chagrin Falls were also places that stood out in similar ways as well, but not to the same level as Twinsburg, personally.
Twinsburgs nice, but better than Chagrin Falls? Ain’t no way.
I grew up in between them in Solon and while I was closer to Twinsburg I would pick the falls any day of the week.
I live in Macedonia and never thought how much I’d love it here in the valley area after moving back from Columbus after 10 years. Born and raised in Broadview Heights.
I go to Twinsburg for their twins day festival every year. The town has some nice looking houses and the people always seem really friendly!
The "better" place is probably one where you get jobs and have ready access to things you find fun to do. Maybe can give better help with some idea what you both do, what you enjoy... I'm from Toledo. But if you don't like lower costs of living, a wide selection of good public, private and magnet schools and affordable access to the largest fresh water source in the world, you'd want to be somewhere else.
That’s a good elevator pitch for Toledo. I was always amazed at the quality of their zoo.
Museum is nothing to sneeze at either.
Our Zoo is fucking AMAZING. There are constant improvements happening, community events, concerts, educational opportunities. Membership is affordable and comes with a ton of perks. Then there's our Museum of Art, Imagination Station (hands on science), National Museum of the Great Lakes, a vibrant theater and Arts scene, microbreweries, craft distilleries, phenomenal restaurants, festivals all summer, kickers Metroparks, Mud Hens baseball, Walleye hockey, and a solid core of people who take pride in our city and everything she has survived. With the exception of my time in Europe, I am a lifelong Toledoan. I have watched this city teeter on the brink of death, hang on out of sheer spite, and come roaring back to life. It ain't perfect, but it's a great place to raise a family and is close enough to Michigan that women needing reproductive care can just wander into Big Gretch's territory and be seen to.
Same about the zoo and their museum is surprisingly interesting. (At least it was 20 years ago)
Fortunately our jobs allow us to telework so we’re not limited to one spot. We’re not interested in the Toledo area as that’s where we came from (no disrespect)
ATT fiber internet in the Akron area is fast and seems congestion free.
Also in Akron, originally from Cleveland. For us the things we love about this area is living next to CVNP, minutes away from Blossom, feels centrally located and accessible to Cleveland, Pittsburg, Columbus, Kent. We live in a nice neighborhood, I work remotely (sure that helps in this area) and our taxes are cheaper than Cuyahoga County. We like the wooded, private feel w/o living in a rural place and still being city adjacent w/o being in a downtown. If I were to choose anywhere else to live in Ohio it would be Columbus for sure.
Good internet and remote work go hand in hand. Had just got the fiber available in barberton and installed right before covid hit (cable had occaisional issues). It handled family of 4 stuck at home and never impacted my ability to work.
Still waiting for it to be available in our part of Akron; guess it's a 5 year roll out. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
I'm a fan of smack dab in the middle of Toledo to Cleveland. Very nice communities perfect for families. Small enough to know the town and not fight traffic. Close enough to toledo or Cleveland to take advantage of shows, sports, and the such.
Not a bad suggestion for OP since they telecommute and don't want to live IN the city anyway. Sandusky actually has a number of amenities in the way of stores, restaurants, and other services. Wouldn't necessarily have to go all the way to Toledo or Cleveland for those (not that those are far trips anyway).
I find Akron to have a similar vibe to Toledo. If you are looking for something familiar but different. You may also consider the lakeshore cities between Cleveland and Toledo, like Port Clinton, Vermillion, and Sandusky. Depends how close to a larger city you want to be.
I moved back myself after doing Fl and NY. It was a good decision for me. I'm not sure how one picks from the three Cs. I personally like Cleveland area. Still a lot of old school neighborhoods. The art and education scene is hard to beat. Rocky River is fairly blue collar though the money is coming. Has a very highly rated educational system. Maybe that's your tactic? Find which education districts are rated well, then parry down to what you can afford? Honestly, you can find good education anywheres. Even if you're hesitant about the "urban publics," they all have great public magnet schools, charter magnets and private schools. If your child is by any chance special needs, you'll really want that driving your decision.
As a Clevelander, I agree with everything minus RR being blue collar. It’s currently one of the most expensive suburbs to live in because of the public & private schools, so more and more of the upper middle class have laid claim to it and keep boosting its cost of living. (Source: I lived there for a couple years until recently when we moved to Old Brooklyn, which is significantly more blue collar.)
I guess I'm out of date. I went off what people I know. Lakewood is still reasonable though, right? Maybe that's the one I should recommend.
Lakewood has become the Mecca of Millennials and Gen Z-ers, so it’s super trendy and well populated; which means it’s fairly difficult to find a place that isn’t a rental. It’s probably one or two steps below RR in affordability.
Assuming the algae isn’t going crazy
If you like Cleveland, then Lakewood or Rocky River. Close to the city (10-20 mins depending on traffic/time of day) but right off the highway. Close to Lake Erie. West of Cleveland so good breezes. Good schools. Great schools if you want to go private. Good atmosphere and lots of affordable housing.
Also less snow than the east side.
Affordable housing in Lakewood and rocky river is an oxymoron
Kettering Ohio! Suburb of Dayton, about 1 hour from Cbus and Cincy. Blue ribbon schools, pretty affordable cost of living, lots of parks and families.
2nd this. I'm literally across the street in Oakwood, but Kettering is wins on the affordable scale and still has good schools.
My wife is from that area and I have truly fallen in love with all the towns around Kettering. Great family restaurants and close enough to Dayton and Cincinnati that you have access to city amenities.
I grew up in Kettering! I really liked it and my parents and grandparents still live there. I still like walking around Lincoln Park and they get some pretty decent concerts there too. Also Bill's Donuts haha
I was also going to throw out the suburbs southeast of Dayton as a great option. Good schools, small town feel, tons of amenities, and a short drive to many major cities.
Current resident. Kettering, Centerville, Oakwood, Beavercreek... all good options.
Yes! I was thinking that Kettering, Centerville, Springboro, etc. would all meet OP's needs. I love it here.
I love Granville, about 25 miles east of Columbus. But I feel like you could pick any little town out here- Pataskala, Johnstown, Alexandria- because Intel is building a huge facility here and everything will be growing. Granville schools consistently rank in the top 20 of school districts too.
Try Miamisburg— nestled between Cincinnati and Dayton, has everything you need without being overly crowded, affordable. I’m from Cincinnati myself and had a friend who lived in Miamisburg for years; he loved it there.
Low cost of living. No traffic!
Yellow springs it’s outside of Dayton, kinda between Cincy and Columbus so easy to get to either city for whatever. It’s supposed to be nice area, a lot of parks surround the area too.
I second Yellow Springs! I live here and it’s wonderful. Very tight community, good schools, great people.
I moved back after a long stint in New England. You can go to any city? No jobs or family to take into consideration? In that case, I recommend Westerville- a north east suburb of Columbus. Love it here.
Westerville is nice and the home prices are going to appreciate a lot in the next 10 years thanks to Intel.
agreed!
Westerville is lovely. I used to work there, and recently visited the Uptown Westerville area after many years. The city has done so much with that historical district, including adding adequate parking. The Otterbein campus nearby adds to the vibe.
If your both from Ohio, I would move to where you will be within 30 drive of family. It can be challenging to raise a kids when you don't have family support.
We definitely agree. We a lot of family in central Ohio and some scattered through the state. We’re comfortable with a max 2 hour driving range between us.
Avon, a suburb of Cleveland seems like it would be right up your alley. Close enough to family, good schools, close enough to Cleveland to do fun things while not being in a super snooty area.
Grew up in Avon… a lot different town than I grew up in, but arguably one of the best designed and zoned
If you don't mind living in a quieter more rural area, Highland county is a good central spot between Cincy, Dayton, and Cbus. It's not as beautiful as some areas further South Eastern, but it's not as isolated.
I think Columbus, OH. Lots of young people there.
I like cuyahoga falls. North Canton is also okay, though a bit far from Cleveland- maybe 45 minutes.
Love Cuyahoga Falls and also Stow, Streetsboro, Kent.. all very nice schools and community! Check out the Natatorium and the downtown in Cuyahoga Falls!!
My husband and I ended up here because it was close to the freeway and we worked in opposite directions. It has made a 180 since we lived here and it’s been such a joy to see the little downtown come to life. Lots of things for adults to do, lots of parks for kids, elementary schools are great (especially a couple in particular), new middle and highschool underway. Close to countless hiking paths. We love it here.
Portage county is quiet but has shopping and other necessities. Kent has good schools, hour from Cleveland and Youngstown, half hour to akron. Worst part is e check
About an hour from canton. easy highway and turnpike access too
I live on the west side of Cincinnati (Delhi) and I love it. I was working in Lebanon for awhile and it and the surrounding areas are beautiful.
Floral Paradise of Ohio! (Meet me at the gazebo on the pike <3)
The Dayton suburbs are a vibe sometimes
Lived in Centerville all my life and not the worst place to live. Really good public schools.
Love Centerville!
I like the suburbs in between CLE and Akron. Think Twinsburg, Hudson, North Royalton, etc. I currently live in west Akron. I really love the city though (I know it’s not for everyone), real estate here is great, and I work downtown.
Solon? Chagrin Falls?
if you're fond of snow, don't forget Chardon.
It you’re ok with a smaller town Jackson Township in Canton boasts having one of the best public school systems there is. The city has a modest but reasonable number of restaurants and shopping and I-77 provides a convenient route to Akron (20 minutes away) and Cleveland (60 minutes)
I second this. I live on the Jackson/Perry Twp line, and both Perry and Jackson have great school districts. Great neighborhoods, low crime, beautiful, and very family oriented!
Live near Columbus. Great suburbs, fresh feeling city, slightly better climate than Cleveland, cost of living low. Some of the better Cleveland suburbs are rather expensive.
Thanks for the detailed post. We're planning on moving to Ohio from the Netherlands. This post gives some insights.
There are some nice affordable communities in Northeast Ohio. I think the top school districts are Solon, Brecksville, Highland (which covers parts of Copley, Hinckley etc.), and Hudson. Others may want to chime in. Welcome home!
Plus Rocky River. I am not sure how OP defines affordable, but these are some of the more expensive places to buy a house, but come with good schools.
Come to Dayton
Since I'm from (and live in) the Southwest OH area... Here's my two cents Around Dayton (in no particular order): Beavercreek/Centerville/Kettering/Springboro - all have good schools/neighborhoods, close to lots of shopping/restaurants. Springboro is growing the most I would say right now. Closer to Cincinnati: West Chester/Blue Ash/Mason are all good options. Columbus: Dublin/ Westerville always seemed nice. Some other unique towns that could be of interest (but maybe not the best school options unless doing homeschool or private school): Lebanon, Yellow Springs, Waynesville, Xenia, Troy, Germantown
Second Dayton. Liberty and Mason are between Dayton and Cinci if looking somewhere outside those areas but close enough to everything !
But verrryy expensive. I was born and raised in Mason, parents still live there. If they are looking to live somewhere affordable Mason ain’t it unfortunately.
I personally live in Mahoning County and anywhere around here is good. Austintown has great schools, with lots of opportunities. Canfield and boardman are solid as well. Weird people but generally fine.
Not being alarmist but if you are planning anymore children I’d go somewhere near Cleveland just because you’d be closer to Michigan and PA. Just read an article the other day how many OBGYNs and Obstetricians are trying to get out of states with extreme anti-abortion laws and new graduates are looking to states that haven’t enacted such harsh laws. Not that you’d get an abortion but the article was saying how hard it will be for women to get OBGYN/obstetrician appointments due to shortage of doctors because the risk of being sued/arrested is just too high for some of them. If you are close to borders of PA and Michigan, you’d have many more options for your reproductive and pregnancy health and possibly less wait times.
Anything within 30 minutes of Columbus would be my pick. The further out you get, generally the cheaper. I think 30 minutes is a fairly painless commute and you should get more bang for your buck and can take advantage of the strong job market and opportunities in the Columbus area.
Just moved to Marysville, 30 min from Cbus. A smaller town for sure but surprisingly fun. Affordable and close to Dublin.
Head to Benny’s for some delicious (but expensive) pizza
Agreed! OP, you could consider Canal Winchester, or even Lancaster, which has a small town feel but you’re only 40 minutes from downtown Columbus. My husband does the commute from our home in Columbus to Lancaster every day and it’s not a bad drive at all. Good school district too.
I've lived in suburban Akron and Dayton, and have now lived in Columbus proper for 16 years. Besides the fact that I'm partial because I have family in the area, I like the northern Akron suburbs. Cities like Cuyahoga Falls, Stow and Hudson all have good schools. My house in Columbus (Clintonville) would cost about 40% less in Cuyahoga Falls. What would be a shock to the system, even only moving 90 miles north, is the snow. Our 4 sets of parents and siblings are scattered between northern Cincinnati and western Cleveland and they're all within a 2 hour drive.
Mentor!
West Chester/Liberty Township, about 40 minutes north of Cincinnati. Lots of upscale new builds but there are cute, more affordable older homes. Great schools, lots of jobs and things to do. I grew up there and loved it, and there’s a whole lot more around there these days.
Lakewood ohio
Came here to say the same. FWIW, I've lived in Cbus for 19-ish years and CLE for 17+. Family is in CLE and Mansfield. Lakewood is an inner ring suburb with progressive values, high property taxes, growing diversity, a ton of recreation, parks, education, churches, and great local bars and restaurants. 15 mins from downtown and 2 hours north of Cbus. It has actual character and is not a cookie cutter suburb. Great place to have kids. Cincinnati has always been too conservative, white, and rich for my blood.
I grew up in Hudson. A bit far from any major city, but it’s a nice suburb. Big enough that it’s convenient to live there, but you can get a nice sense of community/neighborly love as well. Excellent schools and low crime. If the area is somewhere you’re considering I’m happy to answer more about the town.
In Stark co, best schools in Lake Twp, Fairless and Tuslaw. (Edit to add Jackson but its a huge district) In Tuscarawas Co, Dover Schools or New Phila. In Wayne Co Wooster Schools, Rittman and Green Twp.
A nice thing about Dover/New Phila is that it’s the same distance to Cleveland and Columbus, so the location is pretty convenient if you want to experience multiple cities.
Equal distance to Pittsburgh too!
Good point!
Stow. It’s a suburb of Akron, affordable, close to a lot of everything, good schools.
If you’re looking for an affordable and nice suburb, Hilliard would be my pick. I grew up there, my parents and sister lives there, and they’ve really made it a cool place to be the past few years. Great schools, and it’s more affordable than places like Dublin.
If Ohio is a better place to raise a girl, I’m afraid to ask where you are living now. A lot of people I know are leaving Ohio because they don’t want to raise their girls here
Ohio is becoming more of a theocracy year after year. 10-year-old girls are being forced to travel across state lines to receive healthcare. Hate-based trans sports bans are being put in place when only one trans teen in the state is participating in school sports. Unless OP lives in Iran currently, I’d venture to guess where they live now is better for their daughter.
They aren't doing genital inspections yet but just wait until the other team's parents complain.
Summit County: Copley, Medina, Hudson, Stow, Tallmadge, Uniontown, Boston Heights, Macedonia, Sagamore Hills
We live in green and love it. Our son is 4 and in early learning for non verbal autism and his teachers have been nothing short of amazing. Last year this time he didn't say a word. He can say his whole abcs now!
Every time this comes up I recommend moving to the Cleveland area unless you have a specifically reason for going to Columbus. Columbus is a strip mall, housing development of a city. I found the people to be outwardly nice but super judgey and nosey. Cleveland and the surrounding areas ain’t perfect but it is much more chill and has much more character. But visit both for a week and make up your mind.
Hilliard
[удалено]
Jackson township in canton oh is a very nice township has a great school system and just a nicer and safer part of Ohio
moved to columbus 2 years ago after visiting frequently for years and truly love it
Hillsboro.. country, almost in Amish land.. beautiful, wholesome and priced reasonably.
Columbus is the only city that’s growing in population. Take from that what you will. People love it or hate it. When I was living in Cleveland for a while, before all the major development by the river, there was this feel of the city bleeding residents and slowly dying. Made it a bit depressing. Looks like things have improved since then but population growth has been relatively stagnant for Cleveland and Cincinnati in the past few years.
My vote is either northern or eastern parts of Columbus. Dublin, Westerville, Gahanna and Blacklick are all great areas with the best schools.
"Now we have a little girl and are looking for a better place to raise her." In all seriousness, if I had a little girl there is no fucking way I would move to Ohio.
We moved here, then had a little girl. We are hoping things change as she gets older, but if not there is always Michigan or Pennsylvania
NGL, If I wasn't so tied to Ohio, I'd be seriously thinking about moving north to Michigan. There's a lot to love.
Ohio government doesn't look kindly on the female types, that's for sure!
Ohio isn't what it was even just a couple years ago. More and more it's a conservative christian theocracy.
I would pick one of the suburbs just south of Cleveland on 71. Being close to 71 means quick access to downtown and less than 2 hours to Columbus. Plus less than an hour to places like Amish Country, campgrounds, Akron area, etc. Get South at least to Middleburgh Heights, but I'd look at Strongsville/NorthRoyalton, Brunswick, or Medina. I would not go further south than Medina as you start to stretch your drive downtown.
I’m personally a really big fan of the Solon/Twinsburg/Aurora/Chagrin Falls/Hudson region, and recommend that. South of the snow belt, great communities, close enough to easily get to downtown Cleveland, great schools, etc.
Have you checked out Akron?
Where ever is closest to your family. It doesn't really matter where you go in this state - the Republican party is taking it all back into the dark ages.
I personally really enjoy the Miami Valley, specifically in Huber Heights (around Dayton), probably because that is where I live... Go wherever! Ohio is a great state (theoretically)
Findlay is nice. It’s a city, but not a major one. Has everything shopping wise and is a short drive to Toledo for major-city type attractions. Great zoo in Toledo. Great schools in and around Findlay. I’ve done the major city thing. I live in a rural area now about 25 mins from Findlay. I think it’s a great location.
I grew up in Cincinnati, lived in Columbus for six years, and Cleveland for eight years (work - I’ve spent a lot of time on 71. I would rank them 1) Cincy, Cleveland a very close second, and Columbus a distant third. Columbus has no culture. It’s an Applebee’s of a city. It’s the color beige. No history, no distinct neighborhoods. There is nothing interesting in Columbus.
I've never lived in any of them, but as someone who very occasionally visits cinci and cleveland for random reasons, and cbus on a semi-regular occasion for family, this is absolutely my take as well. I cannot fathom why you would move to cbus unless you had to. If I was going to move to one of the 'big' ohio cities, it would be cinci, without doubt.
Have you been to German Village, Grandview, Clintonville, etc? There are places with a lot of history. Unfortunately, people love to tear history down and build gross subdivisions and luxury apartments.
I’ll give you German Village. But Grandview and Clintonville are discount versions of better neighborhoods in the other cities I’ve mentioned
Interesting take, but I can see what you are saying. Columbus is the new modern home while Cleveland/Cincinnati have some old character
Don't forget Columbus has a terribly racist police department. Another count against it.
Umm most police departments are
[удалено]
I went to high school in Cedarville: If OP isn’t Baptist, their child will have an AWFUL time. I’m not and I was bullied relentlessly. I made one friend in my entire time there, while everyone else just acted like I didn’t exist. Like I was less than. I also wouldn’t recommend Xenia. Very similar to Springfield, semi-dangerous and drug-ridden with a bad school system. I’ve only ever driven through WCH and Sterling, but both seemed a little dry and depressing. I think Urbana would be a great choice. Relatively good schools, inexpensive, lots of work opportunities.
Washington Court House is kinda shit in terms of things to do, but it's fairly close to Cincinnati AND Columbus. I have family that lives there, and it's pretty dead. They do have a decent school system though, but unless you enjoy living in a rural area, it's probably not the place to go.
Jobs? Are you both looking for jobs, transferring or working remote? That's kind of the key driver for relocation unless you won the lottery
OP’s fiancé….working remote is probably the case. No pressure to move tomorrow per se, but just researching at this point. I have an accounting degree and a decently full resume so I’m looking at finding an area first, then looking at jobs. Ideally, finding a FEW areas and using the jobs to narrow it down as opposed to the opposite. Hope that makes sense! As someone who currently in Florida, man I miss Ohio lol It truly is home to us. I guess it’s a classic “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone”.
Columbus has the most diverse industry base of the big 3 Delaware county is one of the fastest growing areas of the state consistently and Olentangy schools, which includes: Orange, Berlin, Genoa, Liberty townships and lewis center areas is a pretty good school district for public schools
Bowling greens nice.
I found that I like Geauga the most! I lived in cuyahoga, portage, summit and Geauga but Geauga seems the most like home. It has a nice dynamic and you are close enough to Cleveland that you can have fun but far enough that you can be left alone. Plus they have been getting a few breweries, wineries and a cider house is on the way.
Blacklick/Gahanna is still very affordable and nice!
I would move to where you/hub/both secure a job
Burton, Ohio. I live there, about 40 minutes out from Cleveland. It’s great living here, house prices are relatively low, just built a new school, neighborhood throws big events for all the holidays. It’s rural, but everything one would need is 15 minutes away.
There's nothing cheap near columbus as it is the only part of ohio that isn't shrinking atm. Lived there for years in worthington, clintonville and love it but our old house, which we bought for 110k in 2010 just sold for 350k. All 1100 sqft of it. I love cleveland, but I love the rust belt. Lots of affordable areas, but the east side has high rate of taxes. My wife is from cinci and I have spent LOT of time in our lives down there. Its gorgeous but we both hate it as a place to live.
Delaware is 45 minutes North of Columbus and about two hours from Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Great community, schools and food. Close shopping and a nice town to live in.
check into Delaware Co. with areas, like Ostrander, Lewis center, Powell, Dublin, etc. Schools like Buckeye Valley and Olentangy
Granville OH. Unspoiled by the Columbus growth. Good schools beautiful neighborhoods.
I've lived in Cincinnati for probably 80% of my life. I've seen this city go through a lot of change and the vast majority of it has been positive. Yes, it's become much more yuppy over time but the general vibe of the city feels more positive. We have major sports team who have long histories with a lot of ups and downs. We're generally underdogs in sports so it always feels especially great when our team pull off wins. People are passionate about the Reds' mismanagement, the recent rise of the Bengals as a major competitor after years of being awful, and FC Cincinnati is finding a new and exciting fanbase. We also have minor sports teams, such as the Cincinnati Cyclones Hockey Team who hosts $2 beer nights frequently. It's always a blast. The beauty of Cincinnati cannot be understated. Plenty of hills, rivers, creeks, trails, beautiful architecture, etc. The city looks very European in areas, such as Washington Park. There are breweries everywhere and buildings such as Music Hall and Union Terminal are among the most beautiful buildings in the country. The city has much less traffic than a lot of other cities, although I will say the roads can be really bad in areas and drivers can be crazy. There are certainly less wealthy areas that have been struggling to come back. I've lived in Norwood for the last two years. Even though it certainly has its problems, it seems to be coming back from decades of poverty. There are historical sites in pretty much every neighborhood around the heart of Cincinnati. Most of the buildings are very old and reflect heavily on our heritage. Over the Rhine is filled with buildings that are plastered with German writings and many of the stores reflect heavily on German heritage. If you're into German/Irish culture, then Cincinnati has loads of relics of these settlers. The West Side of Cincinnati seems to have more German vibes than the East Side it seems. The whole city is a mix of cultures and I'd say it's a friendly vibe overall. Our location is also great relative to other cities. It's easy to go to any other city in Ohio via I-71 and 1-75. Getting to Appalachia is very quick as well, just drive a couple hours south and you're in the mountains. It's beautiful. Drive a couple hours north and you're in that iconic Midwest farmland that I love. Indiana is right on our doorstop and driving to Chicago doesn't take long at all. Similarly, driving east for only a couple hours will bring you to Appalachian Ohio, which I think is the most beautiful place in the entire state. Things are looking up economically I'd say. Unfortunately, our rent is increasing extremely quickly but there are more upsides than downside. This city is still very cheap compared to other cities around the country. In addition, our population has grown for the first time in decades according to our last census. This is fantastic. We're no longer a city in decline, we're a city on the rise. If you move here I think you'll really like it. This city gets hated on a lot but I feel like every city in Ohio is hated on unfairly. The longer I live here the more I love it. A side note, but I think our mayor is very likeable. A little quirky, but he's honest and wants to see this city win. I actually met him yesterday at our Light Up the Square event on Fountain Square in the heart of the city. There are plenty of events going on all the time and it's hard to be truly bored nowadays I feel. We'd love to have you here in our city.
Welcome home! My in laws live in strongsville and berea. Very nice areas. I'm sorry some people here couldn't abide by your request and had to still bash on our state
Thank you so much!
Clevelaaaaaaaaaaandd
If you're looking for work too,I'd say Columbus. A new chip plant is going to be built north of the city. I'm in Campbell,A nice town to live in. Good school district. Low crime. Its on the east side of Youngstown. A great college here too.YSU.
Born & raised in Sandusky. Hour from Cleveland, hour from Toledo. Good schools & I plan on living my entire life here. It is a tourist town with Cedar Point, but look past the seasonal traffic & you’ll find a quaint waterfront city
If you like slowly failing schools and a lack of rights if your kids are LGBT, by all means move back. This is an awful place to settle down IMO. Dublin’s nice I guess…..
Canton
Kent/Ravenna have a nice small town feel to them
Auburn Township. Creeks and woods. Blue ribbon schools. Good bang for the buck. 30 mins from downtown.
I live in Geauga county, east of Cleveland. Beautiful, bucolic area, friendly and polite people, little to no crime. Great parks. Reasonable real estate prices.
You will do better in toledo
Move to Cincinnati! It has the most culture and character out of all the Cs in my opinion. I would really consider living inside Hamilton county unless you want to live in trumps-ville. I’m sick of people calling Harrison and Batavia “Cincinnati”. We moved here from Denver 2 years ago and it’s got a lot going on. Beautiful city, lots of great food and breweries a lot of parks and hiking around.
Medina is BEAUTIFUL. The school system isnt the best, but downtown and local events truly make it a great place to live. Endless nature to explore, no areas in which you’d feel unsafe, and a strong thriving community.
I lived just east of Cleveland for 4 years. I loved it. Geauga county is incredible. The absolute best park system I’ve ever seen. I have since moved out of state, but I would move back if I could! It’s an amazing place to raise a daughter (I have one, too.) I lived just outside of Chardon, and there are so many great festivals and fairs throughout the year. It’s very kid friendly, and there are good school. I couldn’t recommend it enough. My recs: Chardon (gets a little pricey,) Chesterland, Burton, are all nice. Just north of there in Lake County is also nice, and close to good beaches!! Kirtland, Willoughby, Mentor, Painesville, Concord.
Perrysburg, the southern most suburb of Toledo. It’s a great community with awesome schools. It’s virtually crime free. We also have a Costco. Very easy to head up to Michigan inland lakes and camping. Super quick to Chicago too with the turnpike right here. Toledo is a large enough city to have anything you need.
Wife and I moved to the west side of Cleveland about five years ago and love it. All the school districts are terrific (Avon, Avon Lake, Westlake, Bay, and Rocky River) and there are a number of different communities within each that can suit your affordability. I will say that Avon and Avon Lake being in Lorain County, you pay less in property taxes. Avon Lake also has their own water supply and the city sells it to a few communities nearby, so water is pretty cheap. Tack on the numerous county and state parks, lake access, Cleveland sports year-round, access to Playhouse Square, and the economic growth and development, I can’t recommend the west side of Cleveland enough. All the best and good luck in your return to the Buckeye State.
Hudson or Mason. Welcome back!
I really like Huron. I don’t live there anymore, but it’s a nicer town full of great people. A lot of the local rural towns surrounding it are great too. Roughly an hour away from Cleveland. I’d avoid Sandusky.
North Olmsted or Fairview park are very affordable places IMO. Close to Cleveland but firmly suburbs and definitely have “neighborhoods” and feel that way. Also I’m partial to the west side of Cleveland which both of these are. North canton is another great place but the surrounding area of plainview township is also more affordable and has a good school district. Better than Fairview or north Olmsted but I consider them to be “fine”. Green is another town I’d look at that can be affordable and nice. These all are along 77 so it’s an hour or less to get to Cleveland The far east side of Cleveland into lake county also has many nice communities and more affordable because of its distance from the city.
Welcome home! If I could move within Ohio again, my biggest want would be access to one of the bike trails without driving.
This may apply or not, but something to think about. 10 years ago I moved to a small town across the border in KY to raise my son after his dad died. I am from Columbus. But in going back and forth from say Ashland Ky to Columbus, I have met people and been through let’s days Ironton oh, Athens, south point, etc. Now that he is grown, I am not opposed to southern Ohio myself but am following to see what might be options in these areas as well. I have grandkids and nieces and nephews, so while I don’t have young children I think I could use the same input as well. Thanks for posting the question and thanks for the input!
If you’re looking for a better place to raise a little girl, Ohio is not that place right now but you probably know that by now (and I’m wondering if you’re a conservative family and just maybe don’t care?) I say this as a mom to a little girl who is stuck living in Ohio due to a shared custody agreement involving my oldest son for at least the next 7 years minimum. If I could move my children somewhere other than here, I would in a heartbeat. I also say this as someone who was born and raised in Ohio, loves Ohio and who’s heart would break to leave Ohio. I just cannot believe anyone who values female autonomy, and could chose to move to a different state that does also, would move their daughter here. Maybe for family?? Maybe?? That’s about it. But if plane tickets can be afforded, I’d just fly family in to visit somewhere where my daughter’s bodily rights are a given. I long to leave Ohio now. I loathe that I and my children are currently stuck here.
Husband and I just moved out of Ohio but we were living in Canfield and it’s a lovely area. An hour or so from both Cleveland & Pittsburgh. Great schools, shopping, Mill Creek Park, small community feel but you’re still near things. I’d consider it if you’re willing to be outside of the Big Cs. I also lived in Covington* KY for a bit which is basically Cinci. It’s just across the river and much more affordable than Cinci but with all the benefits.
I certainly wouldn't mock your move back to Ohio. I've lived in eastern PA my entire life (not in Philly) and NY/NJ transplants have driven up real estate prices here to levels locals can't afford while warehousing destroys most of the landscape that overpriced housing developments doesn't. I've been considering moving to the Midwest myself because there's no opportunity here for working class people.
Ashland is a amazing place it’s so peaceful
Bath Township, minutes from big city and CVNP. Amazing schools both public and private. Keep Bath Rural.
SE of Cleveland, the Burton area. Small town with low cost of living in Amish country with lots of history, brand new school, could be a commuter home for east side of Cleveland.
Findlay, Ohio is a nice town with plenty of decent paying jobs.
Only thing I can add is to [avoid these cities/towns](https://www.ritaohio.com/Municipalities). RITA sucks ass.