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 2026
- Mariemont
- St. Henry
- Sherwood
- Minster
- Chagrin Falls
- Coldwater
- Coldstream
- Ottawa Hills
- Silver Lake
- Dillonvale
- Sixteen Mile Stand
- New Bremen
- Terrace Park
- Wetherington
- Fort Loramie
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 2026
1. Mariemont
/10
Population: 3,474
Median Income: $152,273 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $684,939 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
2. St. Henry
/10
Population: 2,741
Median Income: $115,653 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $370,749 (47th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
3. Sherwood
/10
Population: 3,808
Median Income: $125,729 (27th Best)
Median Home Value: $344,158 (59th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
4. Minster
/10
Population: 3,182
Median Income: $88,000 (82nd Best)
Median Home Value: $324,834 (72nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
5. Chagrin Falls
/10
Population: 4,201
Median Income: $99,672 (57th Best)
Median Home Value: $493,591 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%
6. Coldwater
/10
Population: 4,191
Median Income: $68,009 (177th Best)
Median Home Value: $282,879 (109th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%
7. Coldstream
/10
Population: 1,540
Median Income: $231,538 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $957,743 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
8. Ottawa Hills
/10
Population: 4,798
Median Income: $167,917 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $401,865 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
9. Silver Lake
/10
Population: 2,515
Median Income: $139,934 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $359,405 (52nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
10. Dillonvale
/10
Population: 3,514
Median Income: $79,318 (115th Best)
Median Home Value: $279,099 (113th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
11. Sixteen Mile Stand
/10
Population: 3,666
Median Income: $126,118 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $701,736 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
12. New Bremen
/10
Population: 2,787
Median Income: $82,019 (104th Best)
Median Home Value: $300,022 (86th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
13. Terrace Park
/10
Population: 2,295
Median Income: $197,750 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $769,546 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
14. Wetherington
/10
Population: 1,138
Median Income: $167,625 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $688,998 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
15. Fort Loramie
/10
Population: 1,467
Median Income: $93,750 (70th Best)
Median Home Value: $334,079 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%
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 2020-2024 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 eleventh 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, Sherwood, Minster, Chagrin Falls, Coldwater, Coldstream, Ottawa Hills, Silver Lake, and Dillonvale.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Ohio:
- Urbancrest
- Manchester
- Ripley
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mariemont, OH | 3,474 | $152,273 | 1.9% | |
| 2 | St. Henry, OH | 2,741 | $115,653 | 0.0% | |
| 3 | Sherwood, OH | 3,808 | $125,729 | 1.4% | |
| 4 | Minster, OH | 3,182 | $88,000 | 1.2% | |
| 5 | Chagrin Falls, OH | 4,201 | $99,672 | 3.0% | |
| 6 | Coldwater, OH | 4,191 | $68,009 | 0.5% | |
| 7 | Coldstream, OH | 1,540 | $231,538 | 1.9% | |
| 8 | Ottawa Hills, OH | 4,798 | $167,917 | 5.7% | |
| 9 | Silver Lake, OH | 2,515 | $139,934 | 1.4% | |
| 10 | Dillonvale, OH | 3,514 | $79,318 | 1.4% | |
| 11 | Sixteen Mile Stand, OH | 3,666 | $126,118 | 1.9% | |
| 12 | New Bremen, OH | 2,787 | $82,019 | 0.0% | |
| 13 | Terrace Park, OH | 2,295 | $197,750 | 3.9% | |
| 14 | Wetherington, OH | 1,138 | $167,625 | 0.0% | |
| 15 | Fort Loramie, OH | 1,467 | $93,750 | 2.2% | |
| 16 | Granville South, OH | 1,146 | $131,307 | 0.0% | |
| 17 | Amberley, OH | 3,826 | $154,688 | 5.5% | |
| 18 | Minerva Park, OH | 2,446 | $130,878 | 3.2% | |
| 19 | Plain City, OH | 3,829 | $117,972 | 2.7% | |
| 20 | New California, OH | 1,672 | $161,908 | 1.1% | |
| 21 | Choctaw Lake, OH | 1,985 | $141,500 | 1.4% | |
| 22 | Fort Recovery, OH | 1,729 | $66,563 | 1.4% | |
| 23 | Huber Ridge, OH | 4,111 | $97,039 | 2.8% | |
| 24 | South Russell, OH | 3,956 | $171,875 | 2.0% | |
| 25 | Turpin Hills, OH | 4,875 | $141,346 | 3.4% | |
| 26 | Gambier, OH | 2,126 | $93,365 | 4.2% | |
| 27 | Ne, OH | 2,685 | $99,434 | 2.1% | |
| 28 | Doyle, OH | 3,048 | $79,181 | 3.3% | |
| 29 | Evendale, OH | 2,651 | $148,500 | 2.1% | |
| 30 | Moreland Hills, OH | 3,456 | $185,592 | 2.7% | |
| 31 | Loveland Park, OH | 1,700 | $118,636 | 2.1% | |
| 32 | Five Points, OH | 2,031 | $144,293 | 4.4% | |
| 33 | Gates Mills, OH | 2,207 | $231,250 | 3.1% | |
| 34 | Greentown, OH | 2,993 | $114,355 | 3.3% | |
| 35 | Kings Mills, OH | 1,175 | $139,643 | 2.0% | |
| 36 | Fairfax, OH | 1,566 | $75,000 | 3.3% | |
| 37 | Bratenahl, OH | 1,452 | $137,500 | 0.8% | |
| 38 | Versailles, OH | 2,715 | $70,717 | 0.3% | |
| 39 | Fruit Hill, OH | 4,200 | $107,254 | 4.0% | |
| 40 | Lake Darby, OH | 4,608 | $97,404 | 2.0% | |
| 41 | Milan, OH | 1,774 | $97,973 | 1.5% | |
| 42 | Glandorf, OH | 1,162 | $110,580 | 1.6% | |
| 43 | Elmore, OH | 1,643 | $84,554 | 0.0% | |
| 44 | Brooklyn Heights, OH | 1,501 | $96,786 | 2.4% | |
| 45 | Glendale, OH | 1,974 | $111,932 | 5.1% | |
| 46 | Elida, OH | 2,163 | $81,083 | 5.1% | |
| 47 | Cherry Grove, OH | 4,176 | $117,994 | 3.6% | |
| 48 | New Baltimore, OH | 1,585 | $158,750 | 0.0% | |
| 49 | Kalida, OH | 1,526 | $87,500 | 0.0% | |
| 50 | Hunter, OH | 3,551 | $127,411 | 4.2% | |
| 51 | Mogadore, OH | 3,806 | $82,557 | 1.1% | |
| 52 | Holland, OH | 1,438 | $64,868 | 2.1% | |
| 53 | Boston Heights, OH | 1,381 | $121,250 | 4.2% | |
| 54 | Taylor Creek, OH | 4,253 | $99,323 | 2.2% | |
| 55 | Ostrander, OH | 1,008 | $159,375 | 2.5% | |
| 56 | Beechwood Trails, OH | 3,133 | $110,887 | 0.0% | |
| 57 | Mayfield, OH | 3,321 | $125,962 | 8.8% | |
| 58 | Sheffield, OH | 4,380 | $107,837 | 2.8% | |
| 59 | Munroe Falls, OH | 5,000 | $81,214 | 3.7% | |
| 60 | Whitehouse, OH | 4,642 | $93,229 | 1.7% | |
| 61 | Commercial Point, OH | 3,141 | $107,868 | 1.3% | |
| 62 | Mount Repose, OH | 3,798 | $102,031 | 4.4% | |
| 63 | Hartville, OH | 3,377 | $69,648 | 0.6% | |
| 64 | Thornville, OH | 1,818 | $102,237 | 1.1% | |
| 65 | Yellow Springs, OH | 3,711 | $85,982 | 6.0% | |
| 66 | Pleasant Run Farm, OH | 4,524 | $73,725 | 0.7% | |
| 67 | Devola, OH | 2,688 | $99,702 | 5.6% | |
| 68 | Westfield Center, OH | 1,211 | $109,625 | 5.0% | |
| 69 | Columbus Grove, OH | 1,532 | $68,750 | 3.2% | |
| 70 | Smithville, OH | 1,330 | $71,944 | 1.8% | |
| 71 | Etna, OH | 1,440 | $114,365 | 0.0% | |
| 72 | Bluffton, OH | 3,859 | $75,694 | 9.3% | |
| 73 | Richfield, OH | 3,721 | $82,560 | 3.8% | |
| 74 | Waynesville, OH | 2,777 | $79,048 | 2.6% | |
| 75 | Haskins, OH | 1,291 | $108,828 | 4.3% | |
| 76 | Orange, OH | 3,485 | $170,063 | 4.1% | |
| 77 | Ottawa, OH | 4,441 | $69,950 | 1.7% | |
| 78 | Arlington, OH | 1,675 | $77,450 | 2.8% | |
| 79 | Four Bridges, OH | 3,417 | $121,764 | 4.2% | |
| 80 | St. Bernard, OH | 3,983 | $67,083 | 3.2% | |
| 81 | Carey, OH | 3,622 | $75,069 | 1.0% | |
| 82 | Ashville, OH | 4,648 | $66,522 | 5.1% | |
| 83 | Lagrange, OH | 2,800 | $94,922 | 3.0% | |
| 84 | West Liberty, OH | 1,494 | $52,031 | 2.1% | |
| 85 | North Zanesville, OH | 2,758 | $83,904 | 4.6% | |
| 86 | Pleasant Hill, OH | 1,526 | $72,330 | 4.2% | |
| 87 | Greenhills, OH | 3,702 | $70,250 | 2.5% | |
| 88 | Poland, OH | 2,357 | $92,417 | 3.9% | |
| 89 | Silverton, OH | 4,860 | $72,143 | 2.5% | |
| 90 | Blue Jay, OH | 1,797 | $117,859 | 0.0% | |
| 91 | Walton Hills, OH | 2,010 | $106,055 | 4.1% | |
| 92 | Berlin, OH | 1,232 | $82,589 | 0.0% | |
| 93 | Mount Carmel, OH | 4,890 | $70,000 | 1.7% | |
| 94 | Anna, OH | 1,699 | $80,788 | 10.5% | |
| 95 | Valley View, OH | 1,925 | $110,125 | 8.9% | |
| 96 | Hiram, OH | 1,201 | $75,313 | 5.5% | |
| 97 | Pandora, OH | 1,603 | $64,942 | 1.8% | |
| 98 | West Alexandria, OH | 1,340 | $59,973 | 1.1% | |
| 99 | Shawnee Hills, OH | 2,534 | $108,750 | 10.7% | |
| 100 | Enon, OH | 2,587 | $96,912 | 5.3% |