When we are in high school, we dream of college. In college, we dream of being in the workforce and having our dream jobs. But when we are finally living the work life, we dream about our retirement — in Ohio of course.
Retirement can be full of fun, adventure, and social life. The best cities for retirement in the “heart of it all” have everything you’re looking for at an affordable price.
To find the best places to retire, we considered things that retirees like to do, like visiting museums and libraries, affordable housing near major airports, and safety. From Columbus to Cincinnati, you can find a city that fits your retirement needs.
Ohio has everything you could want. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Ohio. Not to mention, you’ll find beautiful state parks near the places on our list.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Ohio For 2025
We analyzed over 150 places in Ohio using factors that help make retirement amazing, like affordability, to determine which cities are the best of the best for retirement in Ohio.
The best place to retire in Ohio? Parma is the best place to retire in Ohio.
Parma is located just outside of Canton. It is also not too far from Cleveland. So you’ll be able to have the upscale suburban life with the action of the city nearby.
Why did Parma take the top spot? And where are Columbus and Cleveland?
For more Ohio state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Ohio
- Cheapest Places To Live In Ohio
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Ohio
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Ohio For 2025
/10
Population: 80,131
Median Income: $67,425
Median Home Price: $157,600
Median Rent: $1,053
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Parma: Data
/10
Population: 17,746
Median Income: $72,193
Median Home Price: $194,200
Median Rent: $981
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on North Canton: Data
/10
Population: 10,585
Median Income: $45,694
Median Home Price: $112,400
Median Rent: $760
Distance to Closest Airport: 89 miles
More on Ironton: Data
/10
Population: 10,451
Median Income: $73,052
Median Home Price: $172,000
Median Rent: $1,123
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Vermilion: Data
/10
Population: 17,563
Median Income: $60,932
Median Home Price: $164,600
Median Rent: $866
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on New Philadelphia: Data
/10
Population: 12,796
Median Income: $93,043
Median Home Price: $222,700
Median Rent: $832
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Amherst: Data
/10
Population: 21,490
Median Income: $93,956
Median Home Price: $327,600
Median Rent: $1,155
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Rocky River: Data
/10
Population: 10,358
Median Income: $45,377
Median Home Price: $100,900
Median Rent: $741
Distance to Closest Airport: 51 miles
More on Galion: Data
/10
Population: 13,830
Median Income: $88,306
Median Home Price: $196,600
Median Rent: $1,101
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on New Franklin: Data
/10
Population: 18,359
Median Income: $67,178
Median Home Price: $158,300
Median Rent: $1,090
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Brook Park: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Buckeye State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Ohio to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Buckeye State — 1203 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 150 places from across the state.
For these 150, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 150, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Parma, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Ohio.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Ohio Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Ohio goes to Parma.
The best places to retire in Ohio are Parma, North Canton, Ironton, Vermilion, New Philadelphia, Amherst, Rocky River, Galion, New Franklin, and Brook Park.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Monroe
- Springdale
- South Euclid
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parma | 80,131 | $67,425 | $157,600 | $1,053 |
| 2 | North Canton | 17,746 | $72,193 | $194,200 | $981 |
| 3 | Ironton | 10,585 | $45,694 | $112,400 | $760 |
| 4 | Vermilion | 10,451 | $73,052 | $172,000 | $1,123 |
| 5 | New Philadelphia | 17,563 | $60,932 | $164,600 | $866 |
| 6 | Amherst | 12,796 | $93,043 | $222,700 | $832 |
| 7 | Rocky River | 21,490 | $93,956 | $327,600 | $1,155 |
| 8 | Galion | 10,358 | $45,377 | $100,900 | $741 |
| 9 | New Franklin | 13,830 | $88,306 | $196,600 | $1,101 |
| 10 | Brook Park | 18,359 | $67,178 | $158,300 | $1,090 |