Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Ohio a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Ohio.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Buckeye State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Ohio, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 88 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Ohio For 2026
Union County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Ohio. And you should avoid Meigs County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Ohio. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Ohio and the cheapest places to live in Ohio.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Ohio For 2026
1. Union County
Biggest Place: Dublin
Population: 67,324
Median Income: $112,322 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $405,894 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (7th best)
More on Union County: Data
2. Delaware County
Biggest Place: Columbus
Population: 226,834
Median Income: $133,540 (best)
Median Home Price: $513,080 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0% (14th best)
More on Delaware County: Data
3. Warren County
Biggest Place: Middletown
Population: 250,008
Median Income: $110,132 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $404,923 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (15th best)
More on Warren County: Data
4. Putnam County
Biggest Place: Ottawa
Population: 34,314
Median Income: $84,928 (10th best)
Median Home Price: $250,355 (28th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8% (3rd best)
More on Putnam County: Data
5. Medina County
Biggest Place: Brunswick
Population: 183,660
Median Income: $94,968 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $341,333 (7th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (11th best)
More on Medina County: Data
6. Mercer County
Biggest Place: Celina
Population: 42,484
Median Income: $76,782 (17th best)
Median Home Price: $267,726 (20th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6% (2nd best)
More on Mercer County: Data
7. Auglaize County
Biggest Place: Wapakoneta
Population: 46,125
Median Income: $78,660 (15th best)
Median Home Price: $235,444 (36th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7% (9th best)
More on Auglaize County: Data
8. Ottawa County
Biggest Place: Port Clinton
Population: 39,994
Median Income: $76,101 (19th best)
Median Home Price: $264,412 (22nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (17th best)
More on Ottawa County: Data
9. Licking County
Biggest Place: Newark
Population: 181,837
Median Income: $84,426 (11th best)
Median Home Price: $334,547 (8th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (2best)
More on Licking County: Data
10. Greene County
Biggest Place: Kettering
Population: 169,688
Median Income: $87,309 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $298,139 (13th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3% (46th best)
More on Greene County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Ohio county is the best?
To give you the best county in Ohio, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Ohio across each of the criteria from one to 88, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Ohio.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Buckeye State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best counties to live in Ohio.
Read on to see why Union County is the best county, while Meigs County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Ohio.
Summary: The Best Counties In Ohio To Call Home For 2026
Living in Ohio can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Ohio are Union County, Delaware County, Warren County, Putnam County, Medina County, Mercer County, Auglaize County, Ottawa County, Licking County, and Greene County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Ohio according to the data:
- Meigs County
- Adams County
- Coshocton County
For more Ohio reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In Ohio
- Best Counties To Live In Ohio
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Ohio
- Safest Places In Ohio
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Ohio
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union County | 67,324 | $112,322 | $405,894 |
| 2 | Delaware County | 226,834 | $133,540 | $513,080 |
| 3 | Warren County | 250,008 | $110,132 | $404,923 |
| 4 | Putnam County | 34,314 | $84,928 | $250,355 |
| 5 | Medina County | 183,660 | $94,968 | $341,333 |
| 6 | Mercer County | 42,484 | $76,782 | $267,726 |
| 7 | Auglaize County | 46,125 | $78,660 | $235,444 |
| 8 | Ottawa County | 39,994 | $76,101 | $264,412 |
| 9 | Licking County | 181,837 | $84,426 | $334,547 |
| 10 | Greene County | 169,688 | $87,309 | $298,139 |
| 11 | Miami County | 110,296 | $76,817 | $265,731 |
| 12 | Fairfield County | 163,453 | $90,966 | $362,867 |
| 13 | Wyandot County | 21,598 | $69,768 | $191,041 |
| 14 | Lake County | 232,216 | $80,925 | $243,189 |
| 15 | Geauga County | 95,481 | $107,860 | $371,494 |
| 16 | Hancock County | 74,866 | $73,141 | $236,200 |
| 17 | Wood County | 132,064 | $74,216 | $235,802 |
| 18 | Fulton County | 42,240 | $72,864 | $222,666 |
| 19 | Van Wert County | 28,826 | $67,917 | $182,732 |
| 20 | Clermont County | 211,181 | $85,510 | $325,433 |
| 21 | Henry County | 27,567 | $80,099 | $205,992 |
| 22 | Portage County | 161,956 | $75,766 | $275,006 |
| 23 | Shelby County | 47,929 | $73,978 | $239,886 |
| 24 | Pickaway County | 60,131 | $74,040 | $325,199 |
| 25 | Madison County | 44,423 | $87,045 | $313,614 |
| 26 | Champaign County | 38,804 | $75,556 | $245,709 |
| 27 | Logan County | 46,089 | $71,551 | $251,083 |
| 28 | Preble County | 40,765 | $69,223 | $228,983 |
| 29 | Butler County | 392,876 | $81,590 | $309,232 |
| 30 | Lorain County | 317,129 | $73,347 | $255,220 |
| 31 | Stark County | 373,713 | $67,934 | $211,655 |
| 32 | Holmes County | 44,418 | $76,140 | $359,504 |
| 33 | Knox County | 63,142 | $73,878 | $281,685 |
| 34 | Morrow County | 35,404 | $75,283 | $270,107 |
| 35 | Paulding County | 18,791 | $67,731 | $158,349 |
| 36 | Clinton County | 42,012 | $70,407 | $251,222 |
| 37 | Erie County | 74,581 | $71,993 | $229,732 |
| 38 | Seneca County | 54,770 | $66,025 | $172,763 |
| 39 | Hamilton County | 830,774 | $72,470 | $269,324 |
| 40 | Summit County | 537,864 | $71,622 | $223,182 |
| 41 | Darke County | 51,594 | $64,486 | $209,196 |
| 42 | Wayne County | 116,588 | $73,574 | $259,403 |
| 43 | Ashland County | 52,256 | $69,860 | $237,527 |
| 44 | Franklin County | 1,333,048 | $75,176 | $294,250 |
| 45 | Williams County | 36,719 | $61,048 | $179,075 |
| 46 | Washington County | 58,978 | $63,603 | $184,231 |
| 47 | Defiance County | 38,343 | $73,064 | $181,385 |
| 48 | Huron County | 58,319 | $67,878 | $192,855 |
| 49 | Sandusky County | 58,778 | $62,295 | $182,946 |
| 50 | Highland County | 43,517 | $65,785 | $199,629 |
| 51 | Noble County | 14,282 | $56,098 | $189,175 |
| 52 | Cuyahoga County | 1,245,873 | $64,468 | $214,914 |
| 53 | Perry County | 35,535 | $67,460 | $222,987 |
| 54 | Allen County | 101,348 | $64,038 | $186,338 |
| 55 | Lawrence County | 56,819 | $58,325 | $141,898 |
| 56 | Montgomery County | 536,096 | $66,139 | $200,254 |
| 57 | Muskingum County | 86,411 | $60,780 | $207,867 |
| 58 | Brown County | 43,845 | $71,270 | $258,445 |
| 59 | Tuscarawas County | 92,385 | $65,044 | $209,231 |
| 60 | Carroll County | 26,659 | $64,835 | $199,602 |
| 61 | Jefferson County | 64,518 | $59,055 | $125,161 |
| 62 | Crawford County | 41,711 | $58,044 | $157,661 |
| 63 | Fayette County | 28,876 | $63,275 | $235,451 |
| 64 | Ross County | 76,492 | $61,303 | $198,403 |
| 65 | Morgan County | 13,651 | $59,351 | $157,569 |
| 66 | Hocking County | 27,799 | $62,960 | $277,646 |
| 67 | Hardin County | 30,475 | $62,484 | $184,307 |
| 68 | Lucas County | 428,018 | $62,224 | $172,542 |
| 69 | Belmont County | 65,473 | $57,017 | $131,165 |
| 70 | Mahoning County | 226,491 | $56,942 | $170,915 |
| 71 | Richland County | 125,099 | $59,509 | $192,905 |
| 72 | Clark County | 135,158 | $63,132 | $198,660 |
| 73 | Marion County | 65,020 | $59,371 | $178,151 |
| 74 | Trumbull County | 200,929 | $56,435 | $163,244 |
| 75 | Columbiana County | 100,704 | $58,180 | $156,743 |
| 76 | Gallia County | 29,068 | $56,830 | $167,290 |
| 77 | Pike County | 27,044 | $52,736 | $164,445 |
| 78 | Athens County | 61,737 | $56,001 | $180,404 |
| 79 | Jackson County | 32,650 | $57,106 | $143,144 |
| 80 | Monroe County | 13,227 | $60,134 | $150,978 |
| 81 | Harrison County | 14,306 | $54,414 | $136,446 |
| 82 | Scioto County | 72,627 | $50,609 | $139,344 |
| 83 | Guernsey County | 38,223 | $58,478 | $161,322 |
| 84 | Vinton County | 12,630 | $55,336 | $175,603 |
| 85 | Ashtabula County | 97,167 | $57,728 | $177,181 |
| 86 | Coshocton County | 36,744 | $55,577 | $184,349 |
| 87 | Adams County | 27,540 | $50,264 | $186,157 |
| 88 | Meigs County | 21,896 | $46,873 | $111,645 |