The 5 Best Places in Ohio to Live for Young Adults

For many years, the hot spots for young people in the United States were found in the biggest cities and states, with New York and California attracting those recent college graduates and up-and-coming professionals. However, more recently, due to rising taxes, housing costs, and safety concerns in the big cities, young adults have begun to look elsewhere for a town where they can start their careers.

It’s no wonder why a midwestern state like Ohio has become a highly sought-after location for these young professionals who would like not only affordability but also opportunities to kickstart their careers. From the excitement of sporting events to the rich nature reserves, Ohio has so much to offer for young adults. This doesn’t even mention the opportunities for career growth at companies like Nationwide, Progressive, and Marathon — all of which have their headquarters in the state.

 It may not be easy to narrow down a list of the best places for young people to live in Ohio, but we think this is a pretty good start. As someone who has lived in Ohio my entire life, I am glad to see such interest in the state I’ve known as home. As a young professional, I am also excited to present these 5 places, each offering opportunities for fun, affordability, and opportunity for young adults.

Related article

23 Family-Friendly Things to do in Akron, Ohio

Over 190,000 people call Akron home, making it the fifth-largest city in Ohio. The greater Akron area has over 703,500 people in total! With such a large population, Akron is steeped in local history and deep heritage. It’s the birthplace of American food staples like hamburgers, oatmeal, and processed cereal…

1. Over-the-Rhine

If you like art, history, and plenty of breweries, then Over-the-Rhine might be the place for you.

Located just north of Downtown Cincinnati, Over-the-Rhine offers a wide variety of places for young adults to live in and enjoy. While many today who live in Over-the-Rhine are far removed from its German heritage, that culture can be seen throughout this neighborhood, making Over-the-Rhine one of the largest, most intact urban historic districts in the United States.

The name itself is even a source of interest, especially for those young adults who enjoy a little history. It comes from the German population around the city, mainly from the Rhineland region of Germany, which lies on the Rhine River. When Germans from this region moved to the Cincinnati area in the mid-1800s, many crossed the Miami and Erie Canal, separating Over-the-Rhine from Downtown Cincinnati. The people who moved to the area began to nickname landmarks like they were in Germany. For example, they nicknamed the Miami and Erie Canal “the Rhine,” just like the river from their home region in Germany. Thus, when people crossed this water moving north, Over-the-Rhine was born!

Beyond the name, the German heritage is also embedded in another reason why the area is so special for young adults — the breweries. So much so that Over-the-Rhine boasts an entire brewery district featuring big names in craft beer like Rhinegeist Brewing, Northern Row Brewery, and the city’s largest beer company, Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.

Additionally, Over-the-Rhine sits just down the road from the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Taft Museum of Art for those interested in the arts. If you’d rather spend time walking and just being outside, Washington Park, located in the center of this neighborhood, offers a great space to unwind in nature, either with others or on your own.

Despite the rich, cultured history of the area and these intriguing offerings, Over-the-Rhine offers some very affordable housing, with the average rent in the area being consistently under the Cincinnati average.

All of these combined to show why the average age of a person in Over-the-Rhine is just over 30 years old. Young people are flocking to this southern Ohio gem — and I haven’t even mentioned all the rest that nearby Downtown Cincinnati has to offer. Keep that in mind, but for now, just know that Over-the-Rhine is a great place for those recent college graduates and young adults looking to start their careers. 

2. Clintonville

We’re heading slightly northeast for this second spot, just north of downtown Columbus. There, you’ll find a vibrant community of mostly young adults who enjoy 

As mentioned, Clintonville has many young adults already living there, so for those young people looking for a place to move to make new friends their age, this town has you covered.

Once you do make those friends, there’s Clintonville to explore together. If you’d like to do some shopping, try the Clintonville Farmer’s Market, which is filled with unique foods and craft vendors. To cap off the night, try going to one of the many bars in the area or see a movie at Studio 35 — a single-screen theater that holds events like beer tastings and throwback film showings.

Beyond the more urban center of Clintonville lies many opportunities to connect with the vibrant nature of the area. Try hiking through the ravines like Glen Echo or Overbrook, each containing a diverse and intriguing range of plant and animal life.

Perhaps the most striking area of Clintonville’s outdoor life is located in the Park of Roses. This popular destination is commonly used for weddings and other photo-taking opportunities — and it’s easy to see why. All across this magnificently constructed park lie beautifully organized rose bushes, which are, especially in the spring, a reason enough to at least visit the area if you’re ever in Ohio.

On top of this, Clintonville is just down the road from Ohio State University, which offers several different attractions of its own for young people. Those who want to spend some time with nature can take a walk around Oval and Mirror Lake, which are right in the heart of the university. Or, if you’re into sports, feel free to grab some tickets to see the world-famous Ohio State Buckeyes football team at the nearby Ohio Stadium.

Clintonville is a hot spot for young people today, but what else does Ohio have to offer? Well, as we will find out — a whole lot more.

Related article

27 Best Things to do in Canton, Ohio for Families

Canton, Ohio, a city of 70,000 located about 60 miles south of Cleveland, is often overlooked among the rest of the more significant Ohio locations. As the seat of Stark County, though, there are plenty of aspects of Canton that warrant a closer look…

3. Ohio City

When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was go to the arcade with my friends and play the games there. Whether it was PacMan, Skee-Ball, or pop-a-shot, that place offered all the fun a kid like me could ask for. As I grew older, I was never able to go back to the arcade as much, but other places filled the arcade’s spot as a place for relaxation and fun with friends. That’s exactly what Ohio City is.

Just slightly on Cleveland’s west side, Ohio City offers perhaps the most diverse range of opportunities for people to experience on this list yet. Along West 25th Street, the main road in the neighborhood, lie several bars and restaurants designed with young people in mind. Take Pins Mechanical company — a bar with plenty of room to sit and socialize with friends, and dozens of free-to-play arcade games that bring back the nostalgia of childhood for so many in the town. After you’re done playing video games, try getting a scoop or two from Mitchell’s Ice Cream factory, where you can enjoy delicious ice cream while looking into how the sweet treats are made.

Of course, I cannot mention Ohio City without perhaps mentioning its most famous location: Cleveland’s West Side Market. This more than 100-year-old historic landmark is the oldest operating indoor/outdoor market space in the city. It became so famous throughout the years that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. While the location may have many years behind it, the food sellers have fresh meats and produce, bakery, wine, and plenty more available every single day. With so much to offer, this market alone makes Ohio City a hotspot in which to live.

Related article

20 Affordable Free Things to do in Port Clinton, Ohio

It boasts a cost of living that’s 20% lower than the U.S. average. While Ohio does have some generally desirable cities, Port Clinton is one of the more attractive places to visit. Along with nearby Sandusky and the easily-accessible Lake Erie Islands, the area is fondly known as “Vacationland.”

4. Clifton

We’re heading back to Cincinnati for this fourth spot on our list, this time covering the young professional hotspot of Clifton. This neighborhood lies a short drive north of Over-the-Rhine, so it similarly gives young people the ability to have a more urban mix of restaurants and nightlight life without the business and traffic at the heart of Downtown Cincinnati.

Now, remember earlier when I mentioned that just living in the Cincinnati area has some perks of its own? Well, I can tell you that’s certainly true of Clifton. If you like sports, the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, the Bengals football team, or the Cincinnati FC soccer team have you covered. Beyond this, the Riverfront, which lies right on the banks of the Ohio River toward the south of the city, features several different walking areas for the public to enjoy.

Clifton, in particular, had many locations that helped make all of Cincinnati an intriguing place for up-and-coming professionals. This includes the world-famous Cincinnati Zoo, renowned for its wide and diverse range of land and sea animals, from white tigers to manatees.

A short drive from the zoo would bring you to the Ludlow Avenue business district, making up Clifton’s Main Street. This area nicknamed the “Gaslight District,” contains a variety of independent shops, restaurants, and a movie theater that specializes in showing foreign films. Down the street, for wine lovers, there is also Ludlow Wines, which is the oldest winery in the city.

Additionally, much like Over-the-Rhine, Clifton is very affordable, with median rent prices capping out at under $900 and more than $300 lower than the national average.

We’re nearing the end of our list now, but truly, we are just scratching the surface of all Ohio has to offer to young people. These five cities are a great start but know there are so many other locations that would suit young adults well in this great state.

Related article

The 10 Best Places to Live in Kentucky for Families

Kentucky, located in the heart of the American South, might not be the first state that springs to mind when you’re considering a move to a family-friendly location, but the truth is that Kentucky has many features and characteristics that make it ideal for families…

5. Tremont

Rounding out our list, we will be traveling up to Northeast Ohio again to talk about another place many young professionals are flocking to already.

Like Clintonville, many people from the surrounding universities, such as Cleveland State and John Carroll University, move to Tremont after graduation, meaning that Tremont is already flooded with young adults.

Tremont also sits just across the Cuyahoga River from Downtown Cleveland, meaning it’s just a short drive to see a baseball game at Progressive Field or a football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cleveland Cavs also play at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, which is also nearby and hosts some of the most prominent artists in the world for concerts. So, whether you’re into sports or music, this area has you covered.

Tremont itself has a lot to offer for nightlife, as well. Edison’s and Lincoln Park Pub are two of the most popular places for young people in the evening. During the day, much like Over-the-Rhine, Tremont has a booming art scene built from an influx of musicians, painters, and other artists moving to the area during the 1990s and early 2000s. This has led to a number of art galleries, walks, and studios lining the town, open to all the young art lovers who’ve just moved to Tremont.

Conclusion

Much like the other members of our list, the rent prices in Tremont are also very affordable, making it easy to understand why so many young people live there already.

As a young person from Ohio, I may be a bit biased, but this state is filled with areas of intrigue and opportunity for people just starting their careers. With a combination of various kinds of activities, both indoor and outdoor, both in the evening or during the day, Ohio has something for everyone to enjoy.

As I’ve said, these five locations are a great start for any young person looking for a place to move to in Ohio. However, so many other cities and towns in the state are also great places for young people to live in. So, feel free to do your own research and find whatever seems best to you.

I can’t wait to see you here!