2019 Best Places to Retire in OhioAbout this List

Bellbrook

• Suburb of Dayton, OH
• 19 reviews

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 19 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A+

• 7,103 Population

Centerville

• Suburb of Dayton, OH
• 53 reviews

Current Resident: Centerville is such a safe, fun, and beautiful environment to live in. It is very safe because we have many police departments to help with everyone’s needs. They are always ready to help save someone without a doubt. Centerville is also very fun and unique because we have Main Street, which has a lot of shopping and food. When you first arrive into Centerville you feel like you have arrived at home which is always nice. Centerville is also kept very clean and it is not considered a dirty place. I guarantee if you are looking for somewhere to live where your kids can grow up with a safe childhood, Centerville is the place for you.
Read 53 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 23,847 Population

Beachwood

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 39 reviews

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 39 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 11,743 Population

Mulberry

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 3 reviews

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 reviews

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
• 55 reviews

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 55 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 32,387 Population

Kenwood

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 12 reviews

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 12 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 7,313 Population

Fairlawn

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 13 reviews

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 13 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A

• 7,463 Population

Sylvania

• Town in Ohio
• 42 reviews

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
• 29 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Lyndhurst all of my life (except for college) and I would not want to call another place my home. We live right around the corner from my grade school so we walked every day to school. This was common for many families that we are still friends with to this day. There is always a great community feel about this city because of everyone living so close to each other and the affordiability. While this is a great community for families, there is not much to do for young adults. The night life is barely existent and you have to drive almost 15 minutes to find some place that has this. The job market is also not the best. Most people commute outside of the suburb and into the city or other popular work areas. Overall, Lyndhurst is a great suburb to live in. In the future, I would love to raise a family here just like my parents did with me and my two siblings.
Read 29 Reviews

• A

• B-

• A

• 13,678 Population

Blue Ash

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 37 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to raise a family! Amazing new Summit park with dog park, concerts, restaurants, nature trails, and playgrounds! Free outdoor concerts and exercise programs too. Love the blue ash recreation center too.
Read 37 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 12,096 Population

Upper Arlington

• Suburb of Columbus, OH
• 50 reviews

Nearby Resident: One of the best Columbus suburbs! Excellent schools with great athletics, tons of shops and restaurants with a close proximity to downtown! Only downside is the real estate market is competitive and easily finding housing can be tough to come by. Would recommend for any family to move to!
Read 50 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 34,943 Population

Montgomery

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 14 reviews

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
• 9 reviews

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 9 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 4,469 Population

St. Clairsville

• Town in Ohio
• 23 reviews

Current Resident: Saint Clairsville is overall a very decent place to live. There are plenty of historic monuments (Saint Clairsville Court House, Bike Trail, Underground Railroad Houses), and housing is available nearby both the high school and many small, unique shops. It is nearby Ohio University Eastern as well. There is a drive (about 5-10 minutes) to Walmart, Kroger, most restaurants, etc... so I recommend you have a car. There is no public transportation aside from an occasional taxi.
Read 23 Reviews

• B+

• B-

• A

• 5,092 Population

Forestville

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 35 reviews

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
• 39 reviews

Current Resident: We moved here from Powell and have never looked back. We love the walkability of Old Worthington, the sense of community, the diversity and the amazing Farmer's Market. Our kids have had a great experience in the schools, finding a much more accepting atmosphere for those who don't quite fit the mold. Overall, love Worthington!
Read 39 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 14,442 Population

Rocky River

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 69 reviews

Current Resident: My childhood was shaped by Rocky River and it's an ideal place for children. I went to a Catholic grade school and currently am in a Catholic high school which has helped me develop my faith. It's provided me with great educational opportunities! The diversity is low and could easily be improved, but it is getting a little better. There is a lot to do for such a small town which makes it a fun place to live!
Read 69 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 20,273 Population

Sharonville

• Suburb of Cincinnati, OH
• 17 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Sharonville my entire life and it's been a good place to grow up. The neighborhoods and area are very walkable, with everything you need very close nearby. The homes tend to be older, but there has been a lot of development lately (i.e., new sidewalks). It's a safe area and there a lot of parks, a library, and community center and pool. The weather is pretty unpredictable as far as seasons go and can vary greatly from year to year or even day to day. We're lucky to not get the hurricanes and earthquakes other regions face. The only cons I can think of are that our mail system isn't always the best and there isn't a terribly strong sense of community among neighbors. Overall, it's a nice, quaint, and affordable place. The majority of people here are families with kids (and pets) and retirees.
Although I've enjoyed my time here, I'll will likely leave the Midwest for college. I hope this review has been helpful in giving you a picture of Sharonville!
Read 17 Reviews

• A

• B

• A

• 13,974 Population

Chagrin Falls

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 18 reviews

Current Resident: Very safe area. Lots of good spots for teenagers to hang out and the adults to eat. Chagrin Falls is home to some of the best school systems in Ohio so academics are taken very seriously here. The only issue is Chagrin Falls is not diverse. Chagrin Falls sends those residents of color to another school nearby. This is unacceptable.
Read 18 Reviews

• A

• A+

• A

• 4,081 Population

Huron

• Town in Ohio
• 8 reviews

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
• 14 reviews

Current Resident: My home town of Ontario is great! There are many restaurants, stores, and activities that you can do. It is right between Columbus and Cleveland, which are only an hours away. Ontario is not like Columbus, but for a small town Ontario is great.
Read 14 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• A

• 6,105 Population

Devola

• Town in Ohio
• 3 reviews

• B+

• C+

• A

• 2,589 Population

Shaker Heights

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH
• 75 reviews

Current Resident: Like living in a dream! We moved to Shaker from Texas and everything (except the taxes) has been better than we could have imagined. Gorgeous tree lined streets with well kept and stately homes. Family friendly and more diverse than other communities in the greater Cleveland area. Commuting to downtown relativity easy. Close to all major shopping. We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
Read 75 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 27,749 Population

Beavercreek

• Suburb of Dayton, OH
• 150 reviews

Current Resident: It’s a very safe community, great preK-12 schools, has a growing school district with great programs for children with disabilities, has three colleges in the city and a nearby university, very low average commute times, easy access to highways and interstates, good incomes vs housing values, has over 50 churches, located adjacent to a major military installation there are many well-paying defense-industry related jobs, lowest unemployment rate of any city in this region, third largest city in this region with a population approaching 48,000, lots of retail shopping and restaurant choices, has over 25 parks and greenspaces, good walking/bicycle trails, the lowest violent crime rate of any major city in this region.

All-in-all a very great place to settle and raise a family. We’re retired now, and have grandkids in the Beavercreek school system. No complaints.
Read 150 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 46,255 Population