Best Cities for Families in Ohio
Ohio ranks #21 of 50 for families, with a families score of 67.5. Dublin is its best city for families at 72.9.
- Ohio, all states
- #21 of 50
- Population
- 49,294
Ohio for Families: The Full Picture
Ohio lands in the middle of the pack for families at #21 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — affordability scores excellent at 78/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. The 86.2% high school graduation rate leaves room for improvement, and a typical home value of $248,803 keeps homeownership within reach.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Ohio shows mixed results on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 86.2%, roughly in line with national norms. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 67/100. Center-based infant care runs $13,936 a year — a meaningful expense, close to the 50-state average.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Ohio performs reasonably well, with a violent crime rate below the 50-state average at 275.6 incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI estimate). With a cost-of-living index of 92.8, household expenses are close to the national norm — neither a major advantage nor a dealbreaker.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Families
| # City | Grade | Families score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Dublin | A+ | 72.9 | 71.5 | 64 | 95 | 56 | 49,294 |
| 2Lakewood | A | 70.0 | 64.9 | 61 | 95 | 77 | 50,007 |
| 3Kettering | B+ | 68.4 | 61.8 | 59 | 91 | 81 | 57,206 |
| 4Parma | B+ | 67.6 | 60.8 | 57 | 92 | 81 | 79,870 |
| 5Euclid | C+ | 63.1 | 52.9 | 48 | 90 | 84 | 48,823 |
| 6Cuyahoga Falls | B | 63.0 | 57.0 | 51 | 81 | 81 | 50,909 |
| 7Columbus | C+ | 60.5 | 54.5 | 57 | 64 | 74 | 914,802 |
| 8Elyria | C | 60.5 | 51.9 | 51 | 85 | 84 | 53,035 |
| 9Newark | C | 58.9 | 51.2 | 44 | 78 | 81 | 50,783 |
| 10Middletown | D | 56.9 | 48.4 | 33 | 84 | 81 | 51,617 |
| 11Hamilton | D | 56.2 | 47.9 | 44 | 71 | 81 | 63,468 |
| 12Lorain | D | 54.6 | 44.5 | 55 | 61 | 85 | 65,395 |
| 13Toledo | D | 53.3 | 42.9 | 57 | 33 | 87 | 267,463 |
| 14Cincinnati | D | 52.4 | 45.2 | 49 | 31 | 79 | 311,224 |
| 15Youngstown | F | 52.3 | 39.7 | 63 | 43 | 93 | 59,331 |
| 16Akron | D | 51.8 | 42.6 | 57 | 31 | 85 | 189,247 |
| 17Cleveland | F | 48.5 | 40.5 | 46 | 15 | 86 | 366,097 |
| 18Canton | F | 48.4 | 37.7 | 49 | 19 | 90 | 69,755 |
| 19Dayton | F | 47.0 | 38.5 | 41 | 14 | 87 | 136,579 |
| 20Springfield | F | 44.9 | 36.2 | 41 | 13 | 88 | 58,190 |
City families scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out. City scores for families also weigh the county's expected yearly building losses from natural hazards (FEMA), lower is better; the share of adults without health insurance (CDC PLACES), lower is better; the share of households with someone under 18 (Census ACS), higher is better.
Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings
Also See: Ohio for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ohio a good state for families?
Ohio ranks #21 out of 50 for families with a persona-weighted score of 67.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (78/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (10/100).
What is the best city for families in Ohio?
Dublin ranks #1 in Ohio for families with a score of 72.9/100, followed by Lakewood and Kettering.
What factors are most important for families in Ohio?
Rankings weighted toward education quality, public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and community livability — the factors that matter most to families with children.