Ohio isn’t just any flyover Midwest state, it’s actually one of the safest, most family friendly states in the USA.
Ask any Ohioan and they will tell you that there are a ton of family friendly activities everywhere you turn, here. The Buckeye State is just one big playground for little and big kids alike. If you’re looking for a state with affordable, family friendly staycations, Ohio is your place. There are 74 State Parks and 8 National Parks that dot Ohio’s landscape. Amusement parks like Kings Island and Cedar Rapids will keep your family entertained for an entire weekend. And if museums and zoos are more your style, check out the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Cumberland’s Wild Animal Safari Park, and/or the Akron Art Museum.
There are 253 breweries and 70 wineries in Ohio. So after you drop your kids at one of Ohio’s day or overnight summer camps, you and your significant other can enjoy a break as well. Summers never end in this Great Lake State. In all seriousness, Ohio has some of the best schools in the country. Blue Ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools, and colleges like Ohio State, Miami of Ohio, and Xavier, have been delivering the next generation to work at major Ohio companies like Procter & Gamble, Good Year, and AK Steel. Ohio is the 34th largest state and the seventh most populous state in the country. Needless to say, there’s a family friendly living situation for everyone in this state. There are port cities on Lake Erie that provide safe neighborhoods and suburban living. There are quaint, affluent cities like Worthington that look like they jumped out of a postcard. And cities like Sylvania, provide solitude and good ‘ol country livin’.
To take a closer look at the top ten places to live on our family friendly Ohio cities for 2025, grab your family, a Skyline Chili-dog, and head to a sunny spot on the Ohio River and read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Ohio For 2025
To narrow down the most family friendly cities in Ohio, we looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities and percent of households that currently have children. The cities also had to have a population of at least 10,000.
We ended up with 150 said family friendly cities. Needless to say, it was quite difficult to narrow down the most family friendly city in Ohio for 2025. What was the best place for families in Ohio? Drum roll… kudos to Perrysburg for being the best place for families in Ohio.
More importantly, if you care about your family living where crime is low, schools are awesome, great jobs are plentiful, and there’s a ton of stuff to do, look below at our top ten list to find your new family friendly Ohio city to call home.
More reading about Ohio and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Ohio
- Cheapest Places To Live In Ohio
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Ohio For 2025
/10
Population: 25,065
Median Income: $105,226
Average Home Price: $306,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 52
Closest Major City: Toledo
Households with kids: 34.1%
More on Perrysburg: Data
/10
Population: 36,319
Median Income: $150,993
Average Home Price: $568,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 37
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 35.3%
More on Upper Arlington: Data
/10
Population: 23,007
Median Income: $180,931
Average Home Price: $444,800
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 60
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 40.7%
More on Hudson: Data
/10
Population: 25,456
Median Income: $110,174
Average Home Price: $337,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 33.6%
More on Avon Lake: Data
/10
Population: 14,754
Median Income: $124,734
Average Home Price: $417,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 33.4%
More on Worthington: Data
/10
Population: 35,148
Median Income: $124,407
Average Home Price: $397,900
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 37.8%
More on Mason: Data
/10
Population: 23,828
Median Income: $116,645
Average Home Price: $309,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 46.9%
More on Pickerington: Data
/10
Population: 26,040
Median Income: $76,099
Average Home Price: $231,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 32.5%
More on Medina: Data
/10
Population: 13,656
Median Income: $126,888
Average Home Price: $360,100
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 28.5%
More on Brecksville: Data
/10
Population: 14,229
Median Income: $191,250
Average Home Price: $493,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 45.3%
More on Powell: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Ohio anyways?
To give you the places in Ohio that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Ohio, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Ohio, that meant a total of 150 cities.
We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in Ohio.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Ohio
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Ohio ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Ohio are Perrysburg, Upper Arlington, Hudson, Avon Lake, Worthington, Mason, Pickerington, Medina, Brecksville, and Powell.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Ohio according to the data:
- Trotwood
- Whitehall
- West Carrollton
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perrysburg, OH | 25,065 | $105,226 | $306,500 | 44 |
| 2 | Upper Arlington, OH | 36,319 | $150,993 | $568,200 | 44 |
| 3 | Hudson, OH | 23,007 | $180,931 | $444,800 | 50 |
| 4 | Avon Lake, OH | 25,456 | $110,174 | $337,200 | 52 |
| 5 | Worthington, OH | 14,754 | $124,734 | $417,700 | 60 |
| 6 | Mason, OH | 35,148 | $124,407 | $397,900 | 37 |
| 7 | Pickerington, OH | 23,828 | $116,645 | $309,700 | 54 |
| 8 | Medina, OH | 26,040 | $76,099 | $231,700 | 49 |
| 9 | Brecksville, OH | 13,656 | $126,888 | $360,100 | 50 |
| 10 | Powell, OH | 14,229 | $191,250 | $493,500 | 47 |