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 2026, 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 2026
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 2026. 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 2026
/10
Population: 25,181
Median Income: $111,643
Average Home Price: $330,761
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Toledo
Households with kids: 31.9%
More on Perrysburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 23,039
Median Income: $171,427
Average Home Price: $542,264
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 33
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 39.8%
More on Hudson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 36,293
Median Income: $155,167
Average Home Price: $632,819
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 35.9%
More on Upper Arlington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,752
Median Income: $115,567
Average Home Price: $422,130
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 37
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 31.2%
More on Avon Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,692
Median Income: $135,000
Average Home Price: $437,032
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 28.5%
More on Brecksville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,938
Median Income: $127,382
Average Home Price: $478,890
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 33.1%
More on Worthington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 35,509
Median Income: $125,401
Average Home Price: $510,361
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 36.0%
More on Mason: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 44,589
Median Income: $99,786
Average Home Price: $407,929
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 42
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 38.6%
More on Delaware: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,855
Median Income: $150,995
Average Home Price: $677,976
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Cincinnati
Households with kids: 36.7%
More on Montgomery: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,950
Median Income: $77,385
Average Home Price: $374,183
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 67
Closest Major City: Cleveland
Households with kids: 28.9%
More on Medina: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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 2026. This is our eleventh 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, Hudson, Upper Arlington, Avon Lake, Brecksville, Worthington, Mason, Delaware, Montgomery, and Medina.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Ohio according to the data:
- Trotwood
- East Cleveland
- Austintown
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 | 25,181 | $111,643 | $330,761 | 64 |
| 2 | Hudson, OH | 23,039 | $171,427 | $542,264 | 37 |
| 3 | Upper Arlington, OH | 36,293 | $155,167 | $632,819 | 56 |
| 4 | Avon Lake, OH | 25,752 | $115,567 | $422,130 | 42 |
| 5 | Brecksville, OH | 13,692 | $135,000 | $437,032 | 58 |
| 6 | Worthington, OH | 14,938 | $127,382 | $478,890 | 63 |
| 7 | Mason, OH | 35,509 | $125,401 | $510,361 | 32 |
| 8 | Delaware, OH | 44,589 | $99,786 | $407,929 | 69 |
| 9 | Montgomery, OH | 10,855 | $150,995 | $677,976 | 58 |
| 10 | Medina, OH | 25,950 | $77,385 | $374,183 | 44 |