Best counties to live in Ohio
Written by:
February 18, 2021
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
Best counties to live in Ohio
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Ohio using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Lugevas // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Wayne County
- Population: 116,099
- Median home value: $148,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $735 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $58,300
- Median home value: $148,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $735 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $58,300
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Derek Jensen // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Allen County
- Population: 103,175
- Median home value: $118,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $703 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $53,131
- Median home value: $118,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $703 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $53,131
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Derek Jensen (Tysto) // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Lorain County
- Population: 307,670
- Median home value: $150,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $774 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $58,427
- Median home value: $150,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $774 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $58,427
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Art Anderson // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Putnam County
- Population: 33,911
- Median home value: $155,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $701 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $64,822
- Median home value: $155,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $701 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $64,822
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Defiance County
- Population: 38,160
- Median home value: $119,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $747 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $59,931
- Median home value: $119,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $747 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $59,931
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Pdepalma // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Lake County
- Population: 229,954
- Median home value: $156,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $897 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $64,466
- Median home value: $156,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $897 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $64,466
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Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Fairfield County
- Population: 154,457
- Median home value: $185,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $867 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $67,609
- Median home value: $185,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $867 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $67,609
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Rona Proudfoot // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Erie County
- Population: 74,780
- Median home value: $139,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $756 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $54,226
- Median home value: $139,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $756 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $54,226
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Alycat // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Stark County
- Population: 372,404
- Median home value: $134,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $741 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $53,860
- Median home value: $134,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $741 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $53,860
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Tysto // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Montgomery County
- Population: 531,670
- Median home value: $119,800 (61% own)
- Median rent: $793 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $51,542
- Median home value: $119,800 (61% own)
- Median rent: $793 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $51,542
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Ruhrfisch // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Hancock County
- Population: 75,837
- Median home value: $147,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $768 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $58,450
- Median home value: $147,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $768 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $58,450
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Canva
#14. Cuyahoga County
- Population: 1,247,451
- Median home value: $132,800 (58% own)
- Median rent: $809 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $50,366
- Median home value: $132,800 (58% own)
- Median rent: $809 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $50,366
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Jack Pearce // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Mahoning County
- Population: 229,961
- Median home value: $105,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $682 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $46,042
- Median home value: $105,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $682 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $46,042
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Andre Carrotflower // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Geauga County
- Population: 93,843
- Median home value: $240,900 (86% own)
- Median rent: $818 (14% rent)
- Median household income: $82,303
- Median home value: $240,900 (86% own)
- Median rent: $818 (14% rent)
- Median household income: $82,303
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Wiki Historian N OH // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Union County
- Population: 56,707
- Median home value: $203,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $982 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $86,715
- Median home value: $203,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $982 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $86,715
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Art Anderson // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Wood County
- Population: 130,150
- Median home value: $163,600 (65% own)
- Median rent: $800 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $62,390
- Median home value: $163,600 (65% own)
- Median rent: $800 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $62,390
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Greg Hume // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Butler County
- Population: 380,019
- Median home value: $172,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $883 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $66,117
- Median home value: $172,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $883 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $66,117
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Michael Shake // Shutterstock
#8. Lucas County
- Population: 431,102
- Median home value: $116,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $745 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $48,736
- Median home value: $116,600 (60% own)
- Median rent: $745 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $48,736
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Brenda // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Medina County
- Population: 177,980
- Median home value: $196,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $874 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $76,600
- Median home value: $196,300 (80% own)
- Median rent: $874 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $76,600
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Ken Ratcliff // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Greene County
- Population: 166,502
- Median home value: $173,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $910 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $68,720
- Median home value: $173,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $910 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $68,720
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Sleepydre // Wikicommons
#5. Summit County
- Population: 541,334
- Median home value: $146,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $823 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $57,181
- Median home value: $146,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $823 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $57,181
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Canva
#4. Hamilton County
- Population: 813,589
- Median home value: $155,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $810 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $57,212
- Median home value: $155,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $810 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $57,212
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#3. Franklin County
- Population: 1,290,360
- Median home value: $175,100 (53% own)
- Median rent: $974 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $61,305
- Median home value: $175,100 (53% own)
- Median rent: $974 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $61,305
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Warren County
- Population: 229,132
- Median home value: $222,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,061 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $87,125
- Median home value: $222,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,061 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $87,125
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Bwsmith84 // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Delaware County
- Population: 201,135
- Median home value: $308,800 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,069 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $106,908
- Median home value: $308,800 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,069 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $106,908
