Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012)

This article, the eighth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Ohio based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Ohio, seven are suburbs of Cincinnati and Dayton, seven are suburbs of Cleveland and Akron, five are suburbs of Columbus, and one is a suburb of Toledo. By county, seven of the best places to live in Ohio are located in Hamilton County, five in Cuyahoga County, two in Franklin County, one each in Delaware County, Geauga County, Licking County, Lucas County, and Summit County, and one straddles Delaware, Franklin, and Union Counties.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Ohio (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated if new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - The Village of Indian Hill, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 5,985

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $254,583
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 77.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.83

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 13 miles SW
Dayton, OH: 47 miles NNE
Columbus, OH: 98 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 113 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 117 miles NW

2. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Terrace Park, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 2,156

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $149,369
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 82.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.88

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 15 miles WSW
Dayton, OH: 52 miles N
Columbus, OH: 99 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 114 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 119 miles NW

3. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Gates Mills, OH (Cuyahoga County)

Population: 2,118

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $148,964
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 74.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.77

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 17 miles WSW
Akron, OH: 37 miles S
Columbus, OH: 150 miles SW
Pittsburgh, PA: 127 miles SE

4. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Pepper Pike, OH (Cuyahoga County)

Population: 5,734

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $152,504
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 70.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.76

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 13 miles W
Akron, OH: 32 miles S
Columbus, OH: 146 miles SW
Pittsburgh, PA: 124 miles SE

5. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - New Albany, OH (Franklin County)

Population: 6,771

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $150,439
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.72

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Columbus, OH: 15 miles SW
Dayton, OH: 88 miles WSW
Akron, OH: 116 miles NNE

6. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Moreland Hills, OH (Cuyahoga County)

Population: 3,091

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $129,018
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 72.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.01

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 16 miles WNW
Akron, OH: 32 miles S
Columbus, OH: 146 miles SW
Pittsburgh, PA: 120 miles SE

7. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Powell, OH (Delaware County)

Population: 11,961

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $124,763
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 70.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.3

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Columbus, OH: 17 miles SSE
Dayton, OH: 83 miles SW
Akron, OH: 118 miles NE

8. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Ottawa Hills, OH (Lucas County)

Population: 4,644

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $120,321
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.26

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Toledo, OH: 5 miles E
Columbus, OH: 137 miles SSE
Ann Arbor, MI: 47 miles N
Detroit, MI: 64 miles NNE

9. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Granville, OH (Licking County)

Population: 5,229

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,312
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 72.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.55

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Columbus, OH: 33 miles WSW
Dayton, OH: 107 miles WSW
Akron, OH: 102 miles NNE

10. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Amberley, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 3,550

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $121,403
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 71.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.08

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 10 miles SSW
Dayton, OH: 45 miles NNE
Columbus, OH: 99 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 110 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 110 miles WNW

11. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Montgomery, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 10,421

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $124,041
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 64.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.05

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 14 miles SSW
Dayton, OH: 45 miles NNE
Columbus, OH: 96 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 114 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 113 miles NW

12. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Dublin, OH (Franklin, Delaware, and Union Counties)

Population: 37,835

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $116,069
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 70.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.76

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Columbus, OH: 13 miles SSE
Dayton, OH: 77 miles ESE
Akron, OH: 123 miles NNE

13. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Hudson, OH (Summit County)

Population: 23,051

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $111,900
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.99

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 29 miles NNW
Akron, OH: 14 miles SSW
Columbus, OH: 134 miles SW
Pittsburgh, PA: 107 miles SE

14. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Evendale, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 3,027

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $115,792
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 58.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.04

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 12 miles SSW
Dayton, OH: 41 miles NNE
Columbus, OH: 96 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 113 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 111 miles WNW

15. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - South Russell, OH (Geauga County)

Population: 4,050

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $92,284
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 65.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.26

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 25 miles WNW
Akron, OH: 33 miles SSW
Columbus, OH: 154 miles SW
Pittsburgh, PA: 120 miles SE

16. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Upper Arlington, OH (Franklin County)

Population: 31,971

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $91,937
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 70.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.37

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Columbus, OH: 5.4 miles SE
Dayton, OH: 74 miles WSW
Akron, OH: 128 miles NNE

17. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Solon, OH (Cuyahoga County)

Population: 21,958

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,695
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 58.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.33

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 20 miles NW
Akron, OH: 26 miles S
Columbus, OH: 143 miles SSW
Pittsburgh, PA: 115 miles SE

18. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Wyoming, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 8,347

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $103,027
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.35

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 10 miles SSW
Dayton, OH: 43 miles NNE
Columbus, OH: 102 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 111 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 107 miles WNW

19. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Bay Village, OH (Cuyahoga County)

Population: 14,744

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $81,785
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 57.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.28

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cleveland, OH: 13 miles ENE
Akron, OH: 50 miles SSE
Columbus, OH: 131 miles SSW
Pittsburgh, PA: 144 miles SE

20. Best Places to Live in Ohio (2012) - Glendale, OH (Hamilton County)

Population: 2,236

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,698
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 51.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.35

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Cincinnati, OH: 15 miles SSW
Dayton, OH: 40 miles NNE
Columbus, OH: 100 miles NE
Louisville, KY: 114 miles SW
Indianapolis, IN: 110 miles NW

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Ohio," City-Data.com
" American Community Survey ," U.S. Census Bureau
" American Fact Finder ," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports - Ohio," Federal Bureau of Investigation