2019 Best Places to Retire in OhioAbout this List

Bellbrook

• Suburb of Dayton, OH
• 18

Current Resident: Very safe Community. Great school system, sidewalks everywhere. Very little night life and the cost of living in Bellbrook is extremely high. Their are many different clubs and activities to enjoy in Bellbrook like the Sugar Maple Festival and the Lions Club Festival. Great Place to live!
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A+

• 7,103 Population

Centerville

• Suburb of Dayton, OH
• 47

Former Resident: Centerville, Ohio is a beautiful town with an old classic feel. It is safe for people of all ages and offers monthly downtown walks. These walks have artwork, sales, and events! The holiday season is beautiful with trees laced with solar-powered lights. I have always felt welcomed in Centerville, Ohio.
Read 47 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 23,847 Population

Beachwood

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 35

Current Resident: Terrific public schools, city services, Police & Fire Departments. Home values have recovered & surpassed the 2008 crash. Very diverse residents and inclusive community. Love it in Beachwood!
Read 35 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 11,743 Population

Mulberry

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 3

Niche User: I believe Milford / Miami Township area has great schools, affordable housing, low crime rate and just an overall wonderful place to live. If I had kids I feel this is a place where I'd want them to grow up. Family friendly atmosphere.
Read 3 Reviews

• A-

• A

• A+

• 3,761 Population

Wetherington

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 13

Niche User: I would choose Wetherington to live over and over. Especially with the mall being built in walking distance, the area is becoming beautiful and we bought at the perfect time!
Read 13 Reviews

• A

• A

• A+

• 1,398 Population

Westlake

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 50

Current Resident: Such a safe place to live, with so many nice shops and resturants! I've lived here for almost three years and have the ability to walk to so many areas. Westlake is so close to the lake and such a clean and safe area. I moved here with the intention of staying here for one year and loved it so much I ended up staying! Such a great place for any age and definitely a safe and wonderful place to raise a family.
Read 50 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 32,387 Population

Kenwood

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 11

Current Resident: Kenwood is a lovely city in Cincinnati. I personally love it because it's in the middle of some of the larger areas of Cinci, like downtown or Mason/West Chester, so it makes for easy access anywhere. I attend college near downtown, and my husband works near Mason, and our commute time is almost the same.
Finally, it's just cute! The neighborhoods are well maintained, whether the area has wealthier houses or not, and the school districts are good (opinions from friends, I attended school elsewhere).
I know my husband and I plan to buy a house here--it's quiet, accessible, and can accommodate any price range.
Read 11 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 7,313 Population

Fairlawn

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 12

Parent: Fairlawn is one of the best places I've lived. It is a very well kept area, people take good care of their lawns and the roads are in good condition. The atmosphere is a peaceful one, yet it is extremely convenient to a wide variety of shopping and restaurants. The city services are fantastic! Our neighborhood side street is plowed by 5:00AM when it we experience a heavy snowfall. The police force is courteous and helpful, and they do a great job of patrolling. I used to live in West Akron and the city services were practically non existent. The snow had to melt off of the street, regardless how much accumulation there was, the police would only come right away of there was a gang related problem, otherwise they would come assist you in two hours. The panhandlers would harass you at practically every intersection.

Fairlawn, to the contrary, has a very good city government where reason prevails and the police genuinely want to help people. I believe this area will remain vital and vibrant for years to come!
Read 12 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A

• 7,463 Population

Sylvania

• Town in Ohio
• 42

Current Resident: I loved growing up in Sylvania. The schools and the neighborhood is great. We live in a neighborhood where everyone looks out for each other and we have a lot of fun having neighborhood parties. The Sylvania school system is a great place to grow up in and attend. The teachers are great and very helpful. Whenever you need help with something, they always made time to be available for you. There is always something to do in Sylvania like sporting events, shopping and parks. We have one of the nicest parks called Wildwood Preserve Park. It is very clean and beautiful. I would recommend it for anyone visiting Sylvania!
Read 42 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 18,857 Population

Lyndhurst

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 24

Current Resident: We moved here last year from the West Coast. Bought a shockingly affordable house in a nice, quiet and very safe neighborhood. Immediate access to amenities is good, and we're just a short drive to all sorts of interesting activities. It's an older, sleepy suburb. Schools are decent. Some great park options close by. Overall, pretty good for families.
Read 24 Reviews

• A

• B-

• A

• 13,678 Population

Blue Ash

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 34

Former Resident: A great place to raise children! Great schools, friendly neighbors, extremely safe! Very diverse in terms of religion and ethnicity resulting in a great melting pot community.
Read 34 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 12,096 Population

Upper Arlington

• Suburb of Columbus, OH
• 46

Current Resident: Upper Arlington is a small and safe town that is a suburb of Columbus, OH. It has given me an extraordinary base of education and core values that are second to none. Upper Arlington High School has a vast variety of opportunities to explore from varsity athletics, shop classes, school magazine/yearbooks, to a world-class concert orchestra and drama club. All of these opportunities have been a starting point for notable alumni Beverly D'Angelo – Actress, George Smoot - Nobel Prize Winner, Erin Moriarty - News correspondent for 48 Hours, and all-time great golfer Jack Nicklaus. Upper Arlington is a town that gives you opportunities to succeed in any path you choose.
Read 46 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 34,943 Population

Montgomery

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 14

Current Resident: I grew up living in Montgomery and going to school here and I loved the neighborhood. There are a lot of families in the area and lots of forests, parks, and greenery so it is a very welcoming and friendly neighborhood. This also means there's a lot of wildlife so beware that deer, raccoons, squirrels, birds, and the occasional fox will be around the yards and woods. The area is very expensive to live in if you're looking to buy a house, however there are a few apartment complexes nearby which are more affordable.
Read 14 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 10,587 Population

Ottawa Hills

• Town in Ohio
• 10

Current Resident: Great schools, great neighborhoods. A lovely, walkable community, with many beautiful, historic homes; large meadows with a creek winding through; village police force and services (trash & recycling).
Read 10 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 4,469 Population

St. Clairsville

• Town in Ohio
• 20

Nearby Resident: Safe and quaint town. Everyone knows everyone! Family oriented area. Saint Clairsville highschool is great. The downside is lack of activities... bowling, mall, movie theatre is all!
Read 20 Reviews

• B+

• B-

• A

• 5,092 Population

Forestville

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 35

Niche User: I rank my current residence as a great place to live. I live in a nice suburban area, with a good school district, and a safe and comfortable place to live. If I were to go back in time are relive my first 18 years of life I would definitely choose to live where I grew up and currently live. I have enjoyed my hometown and have been blessed with an amazing community to grow up around. My community is very generous, caring, and involved. People of my hometown come around for high school sporting events and have great pride of where they came from. Compared to the rest of the country, I live in a pretty average community where people have two stories, four bed room homes, and nice sized yards. However, my community also has some lower end neighborhoods that give out area diversity and character. In the future I see my residence growing more and becoming a place where people seek to live. Even today I can tell the interest that is arising given the new neighborhoods being built and the new restaurants and businesses emerging. I truly believe that my area will continue to grow and become an even better place to live.
Read 35 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 10,829 Population

Worthington

• Suburb of Columbus, OH
• 35

Current Resident: I like a lot about Worthington. Although it is not perfect, there is a lot of things to like about it. It has everything you would want to live a peaceful, normal life. It is nearby a lot of good things to do. It feels constantly growing and is a great place to live. I think the schools are good. They are great places to go to school because they have good teachers and are overall safe. The houses are going up in price in some areas, but you can find affordable places. I see a lot of job openings so you should be able to find work pretty easy.
Read 35 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 14,442 Population

Rocky River

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 68

Current Resident: Rocky River is a great city that once use to be filled with residents that have had generations live there, but now there is a younger family crowd starting to come in. This is great for the community to see how the city is changing with time because it is shifting from so called "old money only" to a younger, fresh crowd of residents. The public schools are awesome, nightlife is usually in Lakewood, Ohio, but there could always be more diversity. It is a predominately white middle to upper middle class, so there could more diversity with the new families and couples that are moving to the area.
Read 68 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 20,273 Population

Sharonville

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 15

Current Resident: I like that there are a lot of great stores and restaurants in the area. Housing is somewhat limited, but the pricing is consistently the same as other neighbouring areas. The school district is very good and it is a quiet suburb of Cincinnati. I love the fact that major highways are close so it is easy to get to other areas quickly. There is not much of nightlife in this area. It is mainly geared to the working families.
Read 15 Reviews

• A

• B

• A

• 13,974 Population

Chagrin Falls

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 18

Current Resident: When I see a Norman Rockwell painting, I feel that he captures the essence of Chagrin Falls. The sense of community, neighborhood and tradition is everywhere here. It’s a beautiful place to live and thrive. People in Chagrin Falls are kind and respectful. It’s a safe and beautiful place to raise a family or simply take your dog for a walk. Downtown people enjoy fine dining, lovely boutiques, high quality professional medical care, spas and the lovely waterfalls. Outside of downtown there are excellent schools, easy access to nearby neighborhoods and freeways. Driving away from downtown you will see gorgeous farmland and lovely homes and parks. There really is nothing more beautiful than experiencing the spring and fall in the country side of Chagrin. There is something for everyone to enjoy year round living in breathtaking Chagrin Fall, Ohio.
Read 18 Reviews

• A

• A+

• A

• 4,081 Population

Huron

• Town in Ohio
• 8

Former Resident: Beautiful lakes and great country living. It is filled with a wide range of diverse locals ranging from Amish to Quakers, to very friendly neighbors and visiting entertainers such as actors, actresses, comedians, and so much more. There are very good colleges such as Bowling Green nearby. The cost of living is very low, and one can enjoy the generous amounts of employment available for both skilled and unskilled workers. It is a great place to visit but even a better place to work and live.
Read 8 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A

• 6,988 Population

Ontario

• Town in Ohio
• 10

Current Resident: Very safe, very accepting, great schools, great parks, great housing opportunities! No better place to live and raise a family.
Read 10 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• A

• 6,105 Population

Devola

• Town in Ohio
• 3

• B+

• C+

• A

• 2,589 Population

Shaker Heights

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 68

Current Resident: I moved to Shaker Heights from another suburb when I was 10 with my mother and older sister. We moved due to a nasty divorce; our father was abusive, and our mother wanted my sister and me to grow up feeling safer than we did in our house. She bought a condo, settled us in to our new home, and we began making new memories. Each year in Shaker brings something new and exciting. From the daily peaceful sounds of birds chirping outside my window to the runners and walkers with dogs in tow, Shaker is home. Our lakes are serene, the wildlife is divine, and the people are as friendly as can be. The policemen are amiable and make the community feel secure and cared for. Of course every neighborhood has its pros and cons, but to me, there’s no better (or safer!) place than Shaker Heights.
Read 68 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 27,749 Population

Beavercreek

• Suburb of Dayton, OH
• 135

Current Resident: I've lived in Beavercreek for the 12 years. After a childhood of bouncing around, it became my family's forever home. Attending the public school system, I gained a well-rounded & thorough education. The area is conservative & it shows in the education system reform and curriculum. It isn't the most diverse town & the community has been known to resist the discussion of racial conflict, an example being the response to the incident at the Walmart off I-675. The area itself is safe, with many watch programs to keep illegal activity at a constant low. A sleepy town & pricey to live in, most businesses don't stay open past 8:00/9:00pm & the ones that do are bars or restaurants, so there's not as much for young couples to do. Despite that, it lies just outside of Dayton & is also a 1-1.5 hr drive away from Cincinnati & Columbus, respectively. Beavercreek is more than just a place to live, it's a place one could call home & it has become one for me over time. That means something.
Read 135 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 46,255 Population