3 Great Reasons and 6 Stunning Places to Raise Kids in Ohio
- Author:by The HOMEiA Team
- Category: City Living Guide
“Why oh, why-o, did I ever leave Ohio?” crooned Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett in the hit T.V. show, Glee, based in Lima. It’s a great question. For parents looking for a great place to raise kids, there’s no doubt about it — Ohio is home.
Table of Contents:
3 Reasons Why Ohio is the Best Place to Raise Kids
Ohio boasts lower-than-average home prices and crime rates, great public and private schools, close-knit communities, and something to do for everyone. That’s why it’s one of the top places to raise a family in the United States.
Music lovers can visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, catch a concert at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, or KEMBA Live! in Columbus and learn the art of music at the Dayton Live Creative Academy or Cleveland Institute of Music.
Active families will love the state’s dedication to youth and professional sports, with opportunities to train and compete at all levels in football, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball, wrestling, dance, gymnastics, golf, and more. From the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Guardians and Columbus Crew, professional sports teams in every corner of the state offer the perfect venue for a family night out.
From the Cedar Point and Kings Island Amusement Parks to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s panoply of Metroparks, the Mohican Valley, and Hocking Hills, adventure-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts will find rollercoasters, camping, hiking, kayaking, foraging, swimming, fishing, and more just a short drive from any locale. Science enthusiasts will get lost for hours at COSI: Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, and the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta.
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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…
There are award-winning public and private K-12 schools in every region, a robust network of 14 public universities, and over 100 private colleges and technical schools, offering affordable access to quality education without leaving the state.
Crime rates and the cost of living are low compared to national averages, with a median home price in the low $200,000s. The Lake Erie Islands and Shores, from Put-In-Bay to Kelleys Island and more, are favorite places for family vacations and less than a tank of gas away from any point in the state.
Ohio also boasts world-class hospital systems, with the Cleveland Clinic, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center attracting patients from around the world.
Cultural, historical, and agricultural attractions like Amish Country, numerous wine trails, Native American heritage sites, and stops along the Underground Railroad all add up to make Ohio a fascinating place to live, learn, work, and play, especially in the towns of Blue Ash, Canton, Cuyahoga Falls, Perrysburg, Wickliffe, and Wooster.
Top 6 Best Places to Raise a Family in Ohio
1. Canton
From Medina to Lima, Toledo to Milan, Ohio is known for referencing famous international locales and adding to its local flair. Founded in 1805, Canton was named for the capital of the Guangdong province in southern China. But Ohio’s Canton is best known for being home to the National Football League Hall of Fame, as well as excellent K-12 schools, affordable homes, and a stress-free family life.
In 2024, the median home price in Canton was $101,000, compared to the national average of $280,000. Canton also boasts lower than average food, healthcare, and transportation costs at -24%, -26%, and -14%, respectively.
Canton is a small but sprawling city of low buildings and cul-de-sacs. With 26% of the population under the age of 20, and plenty of aquatic adventures at nearby Clay’s Park, Canton combines the energy of youth with the rootedness of an established, welcoming home.
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Key Facts About Canton, Ohio
- Location: Stark County, near Akron
- Closest Airport: Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
- Population: 70,872
- City-Data Crime Index: 687 (compared to 246 national average)
- Mean Home Price: $132,535
- Median Household Income: $40,711
- City Website: Learn more at https://app.cantonohio.gov/
2. Cuyahoga Falls
With the downtown facelift recently completed, Cuyahoga Falls is the walkable community you are searching for. Bungalow-style houses line the numbered streets up and down Front, with all paths leading to “downtown Falls.” In its booming business district full of local-owned shops and restaurants — including the famed Pav’s Creamery — families, couples, and children of all ages enjoy each other’s company, the rushing water of the Cuyahoga River, and the many festivals the city hosts every year.
The Festa Italiana in July is a yearly tradition for the region’s Italian-Americans or anyone who simply enjoys a good “cavatel with meatballs” — the local shorthand for a southern Italian classic.
With mean home prices of $226,000 and 62% owner-occupied, the Falls is a stable, affordable, family-friendly community with plenty to explore on foot, bike, scooter, stroller, or wheelchair. Bordering Akron, with easy highway access, the Falls is a great place to call home for commuters to any of northeast Ohio’s larger cities.
It’s little wonder, then, that the Falls was named one of five “Best Hometowns” by Ohio Magazine in 2023.
Key Facts About Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
- Location: Summit County, bordering Akron
- Closest Airport: Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Population: 51,114
- City-Data Crime Index: 135 (compared to 246 national average)
- Mean Home Price: $226,263
- Median Household Income: $67,922
- City Website: Learn more at https://www.cityofcf.com/
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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…
3. Wooster
From the corn maze at Ramseyer Farms to bull riding at Buckin’ Ohio, farm and country life takes center stage in Wooster. The region is also known for its wineries, distilleries, and breweries — most of which are family-friendly and offer the perfect location for an afternoon in the sun.
Downtown is a gathering place for families, retirees, and students from the nearby College of Wooster, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. Filled with small, locally owned and operated businesses, including eclectic shops and restaurants, Wooster is a vibrant college and community town with a “welcome home” feel.
Key Facts About Wooster, Ohio
- Location: Wayne County, near Akron and Cleveland
- Closest Airport: Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Population: 27,232
- City-Data Crime Index: 234 (compared to 246 national average)
- Mean Home Price: $210,834
- Median Household Income: $61,608
- City Website: Learn more at https://www.woosteroh.com/
4. Blue Ash
A lush green suburban enclave, Blue Ash began as a pioneering community in 1791. Located in the shadow of Cincinnati, the town is home to one of the top 20 public high schools in all of Ohio, Sycamore High School, as well as one of the premier community colleges in the state, University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash.
The city is known for attracting thriving and innovative businesses, with more than 2,000 employers — including 50 “Fortune 500” companies — settling there. Nestled in the cradle of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, active families will spend a lot of time at the Blue Ash Sports Center, a pristine, 37-acre facility where baseball and soccer are king. Nights out enjoying professional sports are just a short drive from Blue Ash, at the home of the oldest team in Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds, and one of the top Major League Soccer expansion teams, FC Cincinnati.
With its thriving economy, smoothly paved streets, and low rates of crime, Blue Ash frequently tops the list of “best places to live” in the United States and Ohio.
Key Facts About Blue Ash, Ohio
- Location: Hamilton County, near Cincinnati
- Closest Airport: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Population: 13,394
- City-Data Crime Index: 142 (compared to 246 national average)
- Mean Home Price: $375,609
- Median Household Income: $113,558
- City Website: Learn more at https://www.blueash.com/
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11 Best Places to Live in Pennsylvania in 2024
Pennsylvania has it all: caves, mountains, waterfalls, culture and history. It is the 33rd-largest state by area and the fifth-largest by population. There are a lot of great places to live in the state. Below, you will find descriptions of 11 of them…
5. Perrysburg
The state of Ohio’s very name comes from the Iroquois “ohi:yo,” meaning “great river.” In 1795, the Treaty of Greenville established a twelve-mile square of land for United States settlement, and Perrysburg was built around it. Also home to the Fort Meigs historic site from the War of 1812, schoolchildren in Perrysburg don’t have to turn to books for their history lessons. They can simply explore their backyards.
Perrysburg is a quintessential small Ohio town, with an extremely low crime rate — far more than just a Toledo bedroom community. With a median household income of $98,000, a 4% poverty rate, and an average home price of $329,000, Perrysburg stylishly combines affluence with affordability. The academic, cultural, and sports institutions of Bowling Green State University are also just a twenty-minute drive away.
For families who love the outdoors, Perrysburg is a natural destination. From the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve to the Arrowood Archery Range and Cricket Frog Cove, Wood County boasts every type of outdoor fun you could desire, from fishing and kayaking to hunting, horticulture, and more.
Key Facts About Perrysburg, Ohio
- Location: Wood County, near Toledo
- Closest Airport: Toledo Airport (TOL) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
- Population: 25,041
- City-Data Crime Index: 38 (compared to 246 national average)
- Mean Home Price: $265,180
- Median Household Income: $98,419
- City Website: Learn more at https://www.ci.perrysburg.oh.us/index.php
6. Wickliffe
Wickliffe has a mean home price of $261,000, plenty of public parks and pools, one of the lowest crime rates in the state, and a family feel. In this smallish community, nestled between Mentor and Cleveland, sports and “Lake Life” reign. Summer nights at the baseball diamond, followed by soft serve ice cream at Jerry’s Dari-Pride, are the way childhood memories are made.
With compact houses in close-knit communities, neighbors watch out for neighbors and form life-long friendships. Set against the backdrop of Lake Erie, Wickliffe has a quintessential “hometown USA” feel and a strong local school system. The sunset over Headlands Beach State Park, one of the best locations on Lake Erie and a twenty-minute drive from Wickliffe, is breathtaking all four seasons of the year.
Key Facts About Wickliffe, Ohio
- Location: Lake County, near Mentor and Cleveland
- Closest Airport: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Population: 12,616
- City-Data Crime Index: 62 (compared to 246 national average)
- Mean Home Price: $260,731
- Median Household Income: $75,938
- City Website: Learn more at https://cityofwickliffe.com/
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Conclusion
If this combination of safe communities, reasonable home prices, good schools, and access to jobs, sports, nature, and a sense of community sounds like your family’s dream, consider any of these towns in Ohio.
