You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Ohio. Best sururbs in Ohio. Best counties in Ohio.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Buckeye State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Ohio based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Ohio ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Ohio For 2025
- Mariemont
- St. Henry
- Coldwater
- Ottawa Hills
- Minster
- Sherwood
- Sixteen Mile Stand
- Kings Mills
- New Bremen
- Chagrin Falls
- Fort Loramie
- Fruit Hill
- Amberley
- Wetherington
- Loveland Park
What’s the best small town in Ohio? Mariemont is the best small town in Ohio based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Mariemont, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Buckeye State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Ohio For 2025
1. Mariemont
/10
Population: 3,477
Median Income: $153,507 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $584,400 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
2. St. Henry
/10
Population: 2,812
Median Income: $113,629 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $273,100 (48th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.3%
3. Coldwater
/10
Population: 4,387
Median Income: $77,730 (112th Best)
Median Home Value: $215,700 (92nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%
4. Ottawa Hills
/10
Population: 4,796
Median Income: $177,656 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $306,300 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
5. Minster
/10
Population: 3,213
Median Income: $91,250 (69th Best)
Median Home Value: $258,000 (56th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
6. Sherwood
/10
Population: 3,259
Median Income: $132,653 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $273,900 (47th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.3%
7. Sixteen Mile Stand
/10
Population: 3,735
Median Income: $128,177 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $635,800 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%
8. Kings Mills
/10
Population: 1,080
Median Income: $152,829 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $312,100 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
9. New Bremen
/10
Population: 2,650
Median Income: $81,250 (99th Best)
Median Home Value: $227,000 (80th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
10. Chagrin Falls
/10
Population: 4,209
Median Income: $96,914 (56th Best)
Median Home Value: $414,500 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
11. Fort Loramie
/10
Population: 1,460
Median Income: $88,194 (76th Best)
Median Home Value: $245,000 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
12. Fruit Hill
/10
Population: 4,094
Median Income: $105,000 (43rd Best)
Median Home Value: $251,600 (60th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
13. Amberley
/10
Population: 3,838
Median Income: $143,289 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $457,100 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
14. Wetherington
/10
Population: 1,317
Median Income: $196,167 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $607,300 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
15. Loveland Park
/10
Population: 1,697
Median Income: $116,919 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $243,600 (68th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Ohio
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Ohio possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 375 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 375, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Ohio. Top of that list — Mariemont.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Ohio.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Ohio are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Ohio are Mariemont, St. Henry, Coldwater, Ottawa Hills, Minster, Sherwood, Sixteen Mile Stand, Kings Mills, New Bremen, and Chagrin Falls.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Ohio:
- Manchester
- Ripley
- Jeffersonville
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mariemont, OH | 3,477 | $153,507 | 2.1% | |
| 2 | St. Henry, OH | 2,812 | $113,629 | 0.3% | |
| 3 | Coldwater, OH | 4,387 | $77,730 | 0.5% | |
| 4 | Ottawa Hills, OH | 4,796 | $177,656 | 5.1% | |
| 5 | Minster, OH | 3,213 | $91,250 | 1.2% | |
| 6 | Sherwood, OH | 3,259 | $132,653 | 5.3% | |
| 7 | Sixteen Mile Stand, OH | 3,735 | $128,177 | 1.1% | |
| 8 | Kings Mills, OH | 1,080 | $152,829 | 2.0% | |
| 9 | New Bremen, OH | 2,650 | $81,250 | 0.0% | |
| 10 | Chagrin Falls, OH | 4,209 | $96,914 | 3.8% | |
| 11 | Fort Loramie, OH | 1,460 | $88,194 | 1.8% | |
| 12 | Fruit Hill, OH | 4,094 | $105,000 | 3.8% | |
| 13 | Amberley, OH | 3,838 | $143,289 | 4.2% | |
| 14 | Wetherington, OH | 1,317 | $196,167 | 0.0% | |
| 15 | Loveland Park, OH | 1,697 | $116,919 | 0.0% | |
| 16 | Minerva Park, OH | 2,095 | $125,802 | 2.4% | |
| 17 | Arlington, OH | 1,446 | $87,831 | 2.8% | |
| 18 | Fairfax, OH | 1,615 | $76,157 | 2.7% | |
| 19 | Silver Lake, OH | 2,514 | $142,083 | 3.3% | |
| 20 | Terrace Park, OH | 2,282 | $206,705 | 3.6% | |
| 21 | Choctaw Lake, OH | 2,145 | $146,850 | 1.0% | |
| 22 | Doyle, OH | 3,052 | $75,000 | 2.3% | |
| 23 | Granville South, OH | 1,241 | $129,716 | 0.0% | |
| 24 | Greentown, OH | 3,714 | $120,417 | 4.7% | |
| 25 | Coldstream, OH | 1,483 | $224,722 | 3.8% | |
| 26 | New California, OH | 1,810 | $159,188 | 1.2% | |
| 27 | Huber Ridge, OH | 4,311 | $95,141 | 2.8% | |
| 28 | Dillonvale, OH | 3,354 | $81,591 | 2.8% | |
| 29 | Elmore, OH | 1,524 | $85,474 | 0.0% | |
| 30 | Miami Heights, OH | 4,718 | $119,709 | 1.9% | |
| 31 | Cherry Grove, OH | 3,940 | $127,558 | 2.3% | |
| 32 | Hunter, OH | 4,108 | $121,438 | 2.6% | |
| 33 | Lake Darby, OH | 4,323 | $94,743 | 1.2% | |
| 34 | Bratenahl, OH | 1,433 | $159,250 | 0.3% | |
| 35 | Kalida, OH | 1,711 | $84,679 | 0.0% | |
| 36 | Brooklyn Heights, OH | 1,492 | $92,639 | 1.7% | |
| 37 | Evendale, OH | 2,656 | $154,896 | 2.4% | |
| 38 | Glendale, OH | 1,977 | $118,438 | 4.2% | |
| 39 | Plain City, OH | 3,712 | $87,018 | 3.4% | |
| 40 | Moreland Hills, OH | 3,442 | $206,818 | 3.9% | |
| 41 | Beechwood Trails, OH | 2,765 | $118,125 | 0.6% | |
| 42 | Taylor Creek, OH | 4,004 | $93,268 | 1.7% | |
| 43 | Versailles, OH | 2,934 | $69,103 | 0.7% | |
| 44 | South Russell, OH | 3,972 | $166,481 | 2.9% | |
| 45 | Fort Recovery, OH | 1,863 | $66,833 | 2.0% | |
| 46 | Elida, OH | 2,017 | $74,798 | 4.9% | |
| 47 | North Zanesville, OH | 2,836 | $104,725 | 4.3% | |
| 48 | Five Points, OH | 1,928 | $146,424 | 6.0% | |
| 49 | Gates Mills, OH | 2,192 | $175,833 | 4.4% | |
| 50 | Mayfield, OH | 3,330 | $120,682 | 9.1% | |
| 51 | Richfield, OH | 3,711 | $78,426 | 1.0% | |
| 52 | New Baltimore, OH | 1,257 | $129,766 | 0.0% | |
| 53 | Bluffton, OH | 3,799 | $77,382 | 6.3% | |
| 54 | Ne, OH | 2,677 | $97,917 | 3.9% | |
| 55 | St. Bernard, OH | 3,998 | $74,911 | 2.5% | |
| 56 | Smithville, OH | 1,339 | $70,750 | 2.3% | |
| 57 | Mogadore, OH | 3,737 | $74,313 | 2.1% | |
| 58 | Blue Jay, OH | 2,059 | $117,391 | 0.0% | |
| 59 | Pleasant Run Farm, OH | 4,390 | $78,053 | 0.9% | |
| 60 | Mcdonald, OH | 3,150 | $73,625 | 1.6% | |
| 61 | Commercial Point, OH | 3,106 | $96,154 | 0.0% | |
| 62 | Hiram, OH | 1,363 | $93,199 | 5.5% | |
| 63 | Milan, OH | 1,591 | $95,566 | 3.1% | |
| 64 | Etna, OH | 1,341 | $120,089 | 0.0% | |
| 65 | Boston Heights, OH | 1,436 | $127,083 | 4.1% | |
| 66 | Hartville, OH | 3,355 | $65,625 | 0.0% | |
| 67 | Sheffield, OH | 4,287 | $102,384 | 3.3% | |
| 68 | Curtice, OH | 1,533 | $94,342 | 0.0% | |
| 69 | Lucasville, OH | 1,714 | $70,489 | 0.0% | |
| 70 | Devola, OH | 2,617 | $96,375 | 4.4% | |
| 71 | Poland, OH | 2,415 | $90,281 | 3.8% | |
| 72 | Yellow Springs, OH | 3,655 | $67,477 | 5.8% | |
| 73 | Mount Repose, OH | 4,032 | $95,353 | 5.0% | |
| 74 | Ottawa, OH | 4,439 | $66,268 | 0.0% | |
| 75 | Pandora, OH | 1,606 | $66,830 | 1.8% | |
| 76 | Pemberville, OH | 1,374 | $84,375 | 1.6% | |
| 77 | Enon, OH | 2,503 | $82,500 | 2.7% | |
| 78 | Glandorf, OH | 1,161 | $98,750 | 0.9% | |
| 79 | Lake Lorelei, OH | 1,497 | $109,427 | 1.3% | |
| 80 | Botkins, OH | 1,018 | $78,750 | 2.4% | |
| 81 | Thornport, OH | 1,157 | $131,458 | 2.6% | |
| 82 | Harbor Hills, OH | 1,639 | $87,396 | 3.0% | |
| 83 | Holland, OH | 1,444 | $66,250 | 3.4% | |
| 84 | Four Bridges, OH | 3,407 | $133,079 | 4.2% | |
| 85 | Haskins, OH | 1,297 | $108,000 | 4.0% | |
| 86 | Dalton, OH | 1,748 | $60,938 | 2.6% | |
| 87 | Shadyside, OH | 3,458 | $55,081 | 1.9% | |
| 88 | Lake Mohawk, OH | 1,372 | $81,538 | 0.0% | |
| 89 | Orange, OH | 3,448 | $167,148 | 8.3% | |
| 90 | Whitehouse, OH | 4,757 | $89,375 | 2.6% | |
| 91 | Mulberry, OH | 3,850 | $75,223 | 3.5% | |
| 92 | Greenhills, OH | 3,693 | $74,337 | 2.2% | |
| 93 | Rossmoyne, OH | 1,414 | $49,028 | 2.2% | |
| 94 | Woodville, OH | 1,940 | $82,813 | 5.5% | |
| 95 | Thornville, OH | 1,608 | $100,000 | 2.6% | |
| 96 | Richville, OH | 2,971 | $70,274 | 2.0% | |
| 97 | Waynesville, OH | 2,723 | $72,569 | 4.1% | |
| 98 | Lake Lakengren, OH | 3,404 | $89,295 | 0.9% | |
| 99 | Lagrange, OH | 2,736 | $84,943 | 3.8% | |
| 100 | Day Heights, OH | 2,556 | $80,125 | 10.6% |