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 2026
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? North Canton is the best place to retire in Ohio.
North Canton 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 North Canton 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 2026
/10
Population: 17,727
Median Income: $72,544
Median Home Price: $283,608
Median Rent: $1,029
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on North Canton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 79,870
Median Income: $69,295
Median Home Price: $210,913
Median Rent: $1,087
Distance to Closest Airport: 6 miles
More on Parma: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,343
Median Income: $69,701
Median Home Price: $260,645
Median Rent: $1,099
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Vermilion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,520
Median Income: $58,547
Median Home Price: $204,370
Median Rent: $897
Distance to Closest Airport: 38 miles
More on New Philadelphia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,903
Median Income: $62,849
Median Home Price: $234,400
Median Rent: $760
Distance to Closest Airport: 48 miles
More on Celina: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 21,490
Median Income: $94,026
Median Home Price: $393,092
Median Rent: $1,175
Distance to Closest Airport: 4 miles
More on Rocky River: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,768
Median Income: $47,648
Median Home Price: $119,422
Median Rent: $782
Distance to Closest Airport: 89 miles
More on Ironton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,284
Median Income: $71,332
Median Home Price: $191,187
Median Rent: $1,122
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Brook Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,856
Median Income: $44,120
Median Home Price: $151,257
Median Rent: $793
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Ashtabula: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,843
Median Income: $90,244
Median Home Price: $241,577
Median Rent: $1,132
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on New Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Buckeye State for 2026
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 North Canton, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 North Canton.
The best places to retire in Ohio are North Canton, Parma, Vermilion, New Philadelphia, Celina, Rocky River, Ironton, Brook Park, Ashtabula, and New Franklin.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Monroe
- Forest Park
- Springdale
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Canton | 17,727 | $72,544 | $283,608 | $1,029 |
| 2 | Parma | 79,870 | $69,295 | $210,913 | $1,087 |
| 3 | Vermilion | 10,343 | $69,701 | $260,645 | $1,099 |
| 4 | New Philadelphia | 17,520 | $58,547 | $204,370 | $897 |
| 5 | Celina | 10,903 | $62,849 | $234,400 | $760 |
| 6 | Rocky River | 21,490 | $94,026 | $393,092 | $1,175 |
| 7 | Ironton | 10,768 | $47,648 | $119,422 | $782 |
| 8 | Brook Park | 18,284 | $71,332 | $191,187 | $1,122 |
| 9 | Ashtabula | 17,856 | $44,120 | $151,257 | $793 |
| 10 | New Franklin | 13,843 | $90,244 | $241,577 | $1,132 |