2023 Best Places to Raise a Family in Ohio

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 4.63 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: We have lived here about a year and came from a very populated suburb in Ohio. S. Russell is "semi-rural"...so quiet, extremely safe, plenty of amenities close by, charming Chagrin Falls minutes away, and a fantastic, small school district. The only negatives would be lack of diversity and major chains are 25-30 minutes away. I found that the city council/board is very curious about residential attitudes, and they actually listen and vote the direction that the majority of residents wish. The police force is always present and have a positive impact on the community - the kids love them. I have no complaints - only positives about our experience here so far.... Read 8 reviews

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• Population 3,962

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.46 out of 5  35 reviews

Current Resident: We moved to Madeira for the excellent schools. We thought we’d had our kids in excellent schools before we moved here but Madeira was far above anything school district we’ve ever experienced. So while the schools brought us here, the community will keep us! We live on a long cul de sac street and it’s been amazing to meet so many neighbors. The street is always getting together and everyone is so friendly—I guess that’s why they call it the friendly town! We adore Madeira and would recommend it to anyone but especially perfect for families with kids!... Read 35 reviews

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• Population 9,397

• Suburb of Dayton, OH

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  Rating 4.46 out of 5  26 reviews

Current Resident: I moved to Oakwood because it seemed like a safe, caring, and compassionate community. The houses are very close to one another, and you must be a people person to appreciate that. I like people, my neighbors are very nice, and I like feeling like I'm part of a community. It also supports a healthy lifestyle. I've never seen so many people walking in my life! Everyone is walking, running, or out with their children even when it's raining. I like that I can walk to the grocery store, a local restaurant, or a clothing store and feel safe. One of the best things about my community is that the houses are historic and unique. Every house in Oakwood is old and has character.... Read 26 reviews

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• Population 9,470

• Suburb of Toledo, OH

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  13 reviews

Former Resident: Great place to grow up as a kid. Safe, great (consistently top in Ohio) schools, teachers that care, friendly people and neighbors, nature, roads are maintained well, beautiful houses and trees at a fraction of the cost of many other affluent suburbs in the Midwest due to low cost of living in Toledo. Often residents are executives, lawyers, doctors, and most residents are well intelligent and very well spoken. Negatives are not near any large sports teams/events to go to for young adults, night life is ok in downtown, and high paying job opportunities are limited in the area. Spent many years in the village and always speak highly of the area.... Read 13 reviews

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• Population 4,762

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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• Population 3,589

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.73 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful, historic, walkable, quaint, safe community. Idyllic setting for raising a family. Exceptional amenities -- parks, recreation (public pool, tennis, South 80 trails). Small town charm. Personal touch. The good thing ...everyone knows everyone. The bad thing... everyone knows everyone. A good mix of predominantly owner-owned properties with the availability of affordable townhomes in the historic district. Architecturally beautiful, planned community, on the National Historic Register. Diverse viewpoints and backgrounds of its residents. A welcoming place.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 3,497

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  98 reviews

Current Resident: I just moved here, and boy can I tell you, what an amazing experience so far! Not only are the homes and neighborhoods so picturesque, the city seems like they genuinely care for the residents. I love how the trash personnel ride a little cart up your driveway and collect your trash in the back. It’s literally at your door service! They’ll even come back as a courtesy if you missed them! Unreal<3 It’s so crazy that a community like SH; if you dropped it in any other place across this nation, it would be a wildly expensive, unattainable community. I love that it IS affordable and attainable. What a great place to be. It’s very pretty! To enjoy nature surrounding you, yet also access city-like accommodations and perks. This is my favorite part; the small town, tight knit community feel, yet so many options. The mayor seems to be bright as well. I appreciate SH doing the work to be and continue to be a diverse community and embrace multitude cultures & people. As every place should be!... Read 98 reviews

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• Population 29,197

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  26 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in the Cleveland area for 35 years and moved to Pepper Pike 7 years ago. Pepper Pike is extremely beautiful, quiet, and the schools are highly rated. It is located near the best shopping on the east side of Cleveland--including the best grocery store that I have ever seen (Heinen's of Pepper Pike). Its phenomenal location is its greatest strength. It is minutes from the Cleveland MetroParks, scenic Chagrin Falls, major highways, great restaurants, and all of the big box stores. If you are moving to Cleveland, I highly recommend taking a close look at this suburb before making a decision to live anywhere else.... Read 26 reviews

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• Population 6,743

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  110 reviews

Current Resident: Solon, OH offers a good standard of living, a variety of retail outlets, and an above-average public school education for its residents.... Read 110 reviews

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• Population 24,070

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: Wyoming is a beautiful city with amazing people! Not only is our high school amazing for academics but we also are known for sports. Our athletics program is like no other and it helps to build hard-working, motivated, non-stop individuals.... Read 18 reviews

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• Population 8,691

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.89 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: One of the best places to live in the midwest. Owner occupied residences (including many built in the 1800s), farms, parks, recreation, schools, & churches. About a third of the land in the Village is preserved undeveloped forests and meadows. Extraordinary public infrastructure - Fire, Police, Water, Waste/Recycling, Roadways, Planning, and Administration. No commerce (or even a traffic light) but plenty of outstanding options in the neighboring communities of Madeira, Mariemont, Milford, Loveland, & Montgomery. Welcoming neighbors and well received Norman Rockwell-esque community celebrations. Minimal property/income taxes. Bicycle, equestrian, and pedestrian friendly. Clean and quiet rural nature. Safe and offers the best public and private school options in Ohio. Close proximity to a network of Healthcare systems ranked top 25 in the US.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 6,017

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: Just moved here a few months ago and I am so impressed. Blue Ash is a diverse area with great schools and a real community feel. I love all the great services and activities for families. The rec center is nice and there are plenty of places to walk. There are some parts that could be improved (like downtown, and really, they could use a few more parks. That said, there is a downtown improvement project that recently broke ground and I am sure there is more to come). I couldn't be happier with where I live.... Read 40 reviews

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• Population 13,229

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.38 out of 5  24 reviews

Current Resident: We moved to Montgomery from another Ohio town and we are glad we did! The schools are great, lots of restaurants to choose from and the parks are lovely. However, the homes here are very PRICEY and the taxes are very HIGH.... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 10,796

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Former Resident: Terrace Park is an amazing community where kids are sure to succeed and families are sure to make life-long friends.... Read 8 reviews

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• Population 2,012

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: There's a lot of local stores nearby and there's a lot of space to walk around and hike. The local nature parks are beautiful and offer a place to cool down and explore while still being close to a city. A great middle ground between rural and city.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 3,436

• Suburb of Columbus, OH

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: Bexley is a welcoming, inclusive, progressive, and gradually diversifying city. Residents span the socio-economic spectrum, although it leans upper middle class. While about 80% white, it is diversifying ethnically. Bexley is a safe haven for multi-cultural and LGBTQ families, of which there are many. One-third of the population is Jewish. Bexley is heavily democratic - about 80% of the yard signs for the 2020 Presidential election were for Biden. The public schools are extremely well funded and very highly ranked. During the pandemic, all students with unreliable home wifi were given free wifi mobile hotspots; and free ipads are offered to students in need. The location is very convenient to downtown and the airport (10 minutes), adjacent to I-70, and close to Easton (under 15 minutes). Downtown (Main St) businesses are easily accessible by walking for more than half the residents. Most residents take good care of their properties - many of which are historic homes.... Read 37 reviews

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• Population 13,820

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  113 reviews

Current Resident: We moved to Hudson from East Coast two years ago for work. Before we moved here, Hudson seemed like a nice town that is perfect for raising a family. After two years, I would say the experience is mixed at best, as our background doesn't fit the "majority" of the residents here. When we walk into a store, there will be people looking at us and the restaurant staff addressed the family as "you three". I had a similar experience in another part of the country but was certainly surprised by the same treatment here. In my humble opinion, the town is a "nice piece of land" for the majority and the attractive cover of the book doesn't quite align with its content, or maybe it does, but that only extends to "the majority". The town is certainly perfect for a certain group of people and so is the underlying intention that took us two years to fully comprehend. We still love First&Main, the parks, the restaurants, but we'll probably move to another city to make room for other people.... Read 113 reviews

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• Population 23,001

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  17 reviews

Niche User: In the part of town I live in, there is very little major crime. The cops, though you don't always see them perusing the streets, when they get a call, they are on it. I once called 911 when I thought my house was being broken into and within 3 minutes of making the phone call, two cops were in my driveway.... Read 17 reviews

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• Population 7,457

• Suburb of Columbus, OH

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  64 reviews

Current Resident: Powell Ohio has been the place I have called home since I was born. It was not very developed back then but overtime has quickly become extremely developed with so many job opportunities, neighborhoods and new schools. Powell is home to amazing schooling systems with many top state ranked schools. I can defiantly say that I am so grateful to have grown up in such an amazing area with great opportunities; especially in the classroom!... Read 64 reviews

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• Population 13,879

• Suburb of Columbus, OH

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  160 reviews

Current Resident: Living in Dublin, Ohio, has been a delightful experience. This charming city combines a small-town feel with modern amenities. Dublin's green spaces, like the beautiful parks and bike trails, are perfect for outdoor activities, and the annual Irish Festival is a cultural highlight, bringing a unique blend of music and fun. The community is welcoming and friendly, making it easy to feel at home. The city's focus on art, visible in public artworks and community events, adds to its vibrant atmosphere. Dining options are diverse, offering everything from cozy cafes to fine dining. One area for improvement would be public transportation. Expanding and enhancing these services could make the city even more accessible. Overall, Dublin is a great place to live, offering a safe, community-oriented environment with a mix of cultural experiences. Whether you're raising a family or looking for a peaceful place to reside, Dublin fits the bill beautifully.... Read 160 reviews

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• Population 48,613

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.24 out of 5  182 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mason my whole life and I’ve never felt unsafe. Later on, I realized that Mason is a contender for one of the best cities to live in, in the ENTIRE U.S. because it is incredibly safe and clean. We are constantly improving and expanding and it is wonderful to be a part of that. The majority of people are nice, at least that’s what it feels like, and you always see people at parks or walking in downtown. Speaking of downtown Mason, it is so cute and I love it. My favorite restaurant is Tony’s, obviously, the garlic knots there are literally and genuinely to die for. If you live in the area, go right now. Also if you want to take knitting classes, you only have to buy the book and the people at Main Street Yarns will teach you for free. And the LIBRARY- don’t get me started. It’s so large for not being one of a community, the resources are amazing! And Kings Island is right down the road, so that’s cool too. Overall, a wonderful community. I would highly recommend 10/10.... Read 182 reviews

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• Population 34,337

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: This neighborhood is very welcoming, and a great environment for families with kids. I've made plenty of friends here, and long-lasting connections with other residents. It is very safe overall and I feel comfortable living here. I also enjoy the amount of people who walk the neighborhood. I would however like to see more diversity.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 8,143

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Anderson Township, overall is a nice area to live. The schools are wonderful, It is easy to get on the highway and close to downtown Cincinnati.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 5,710

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  15 reviews

Niche User: Where I lived, the people were really kind and generous and so very welcoming when my family moved in. The school district was rated excellent every year by the state and I didn't see it changing any time soon. My high school, Turpin High School, won the silver award for being one of the highest ranked schools in the nation. Children definitely receive a high quality of education in a safe and inviting environment. There was also very many choices for entertainment and fun things to do. My family personally loved to go to the Reds games and I loved to go to Newport and look around and visit the aquarium. There were many safe and beautiful parks and many fun school events. There were also many opportunities to give back to the community and serve others which I absolutely loved. I am very grateful that I grew up in Anderson township. I always felt safe and at home and happy. I received an excellent education that is helping me now through college. I would do it all over and move to Anderson with my family if I got the chance. The future only looks brighter.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 3,485

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  36 reviews

Current Resident: Bay Village is an idyllic place for family life. It's primarily residential, yet most major stores are within a 10 minute drive. The Public Education in Bay is extraordinary. From K-12. This is a safe place for everyone from young children to senior citizens. There are many parks and playgrounds and extensive recreational programs. Bay Village is a very rare community, both nurturing and lovely.... Read 36 reviews

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• Population 16,051