Finding an affordable abode in Ohio is as easy as catching a breeze off Lake Erie in the heart of the heartland.
The cheapest places to live in Ohio are proof positive of the Buckeye State’s reputation for providing quality living at an affordable cost. You don’t need to be raking in the big bucks like the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback to afford a home in these cities.
Our methodology for researching the most affordable cities in Ohio combines Saturday Night Science with Census data on home prices, cost of living, and incomes. We discovered you’ll find affordable places around cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, to smaller towns.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Ohio
What is the most affordable place to live in Ohio? The most affordable place to live in Ohio is Youngstown after crunching data from the US Census in terms of median housing costs, median income, and overall cost of living for cities with over 5,000 residents.
So grab some Skyline Chili and a cold Yuengling, and read on to learn more about Ohio’s cheapest places to live.
Check out some more reading about Ohio and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Ohio For 2026
/10
Population: 59,331
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 76
Median Income: $34,408
Median Home Price: $70,003
Median Rent: $728
Youngstown, halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh in Northeast Ohio, ranks as the cheapest city in Ohio. With an average home price of $70,003, the cost of living index comes in at 76.
Affordable things to do in Youngstown include Mill Creek Wick Recreation Area and Wick Park to fill up a weekend.
More on Youngstown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I’ve lived in youngstown or it’s suburbs all my life. I am happy with youngstown but is it just I do not know a different way or is there problems any place you go.
Home is what we made it along with many of success stories came from youngstown also.
/10
Population: 9,783
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $34,009
Median Home Price: $102,529
Median Rent: $785
East Liverpool is a city in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,195 at the time of the 2010 census. It is located along the Ohio River and borders the states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. East Liverpool is a major city in the Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, approximately 40 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.
More on East Liverpool: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 366,097
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $40,801
Median Home Price: $115,536
Median Rent: $945
It’s always great to see a major city on the list of the most affordable, and Cleveland takes the third spot in Ohio. Cleveland offers a ton of economic opportunities mixed with affordable home prices. According to Zillow, the average home price is the seventh lowest in the state at $115,536.
Free things to do in the city include the Cleveland Museum of Art, Public Square, and Edgewater Beach.
More on Cleveland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I love the city i live in because of the people and the schools system are good for my children.
My city have the rock&roll hall of fame and tower city. Also we have lake erie where i go fishing.
/10
Population: 7,784
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $42,909
Median Home Price: $106,435
Median Rent: $688
More on Campbell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 136,579
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $45,247
Median Home Price: $136,592
Median Rent: $918
Dayton is the sixth-largest city in the state of Ohio and is the county seat of Montgomery County. A small portion of the city extends into Greene County. In the 2010 census, the population was 141,527, and the Dayton metropolitan area had 799,232 residents, making it Ohio’s fourth-largest metropolitan area, after Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus and the 63rd-largest in the United States. The Dayton-Springfield-Greenville Combined Statistical Area had a population of 1,080,044 in 2010, making it the 43rd-largest in the United States. Dayton is within Ohio’s Miami Valley region, just north of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area.
More on Dayton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 38,912
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $37,887
Median Home Price: $122,599
Median Rent: $766
Warren is a city in and the County seat of Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. Located in northeastern Ohio along the Mahoning River, Warren is approximately 14 miles northwest of Youngstown and 15 miles west of the Pennsylvania state border.
More on Warren: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 35,010
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $46,240
Median Home Price: $148,676
Median Rent: $903
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately 72 miles north of Dayton and 78 miles south-southwest of Toledo.
More on Lima: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I am from Lima Ohio, born and raised there. Moved to Tennessee 29 years ago. Lima was a thriving place to live when I grew up there. Lots of mid to high blue color jobs and industry. I was and still am a member of lu 776 plumbers and pipe fitters local. Things started going to h**l after Clinton signed the Nafta act. Lots of co. Closed down and went to China and Mexico, only good jobs there now are Ford motor engine plant and the Lima petrochemical and refinery complex.
I worked at all of them at one time or another in the eighteen years I worked at the construction trades there. Still have family there who are doing well, but we are definatley glad we left there in 1987.
/10
Population: 13,534
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $22,116
Median Home Price: $75,766
Median Rent: $776
East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, and is the first suburb of Cleveland. The population was 17,843 at the 2010 census. East Cleveland is bounded by the city of Cleveland to its north, west, and a small section of its southwestern edge, and by Cleveland Heights to the east and the majority of its southern limits.
More on East Cleveland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,344
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $54,151
Median Home Price: $139,392
Median Rent: $809
Situated between Toledo and Columbus, Fostoria is a lot more affordable than either of the bigger cities. If you’re interested in the local heritage, Fostoria has a rich history of glass production — natural gas was discovered there during the 19th century, something you can learn more about at the local Glass Museum.
Fostoria also has several great local parks, chief among them being Fostoria Railpark, a favorite for train-watching.
The overall cost of living in Fostoria is 18% lower than the national average, but housing in Fostoria costs 42% what your average American city does. The median home price in Fostoria is only $139,392, and rent is under $700 in most places.
Not to mention that with a median household income of $54,151, these housing costs are relatively easy to keep pace with.
More on Fostoria: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,339
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $52,176
Median Home Price: $170,644
Median Rent: $803
Galion, Ohio’s tenth cheapest city, has a competitive $170,644 average home price and a cost of living index at 81. Located at the junction of Crawford, Morrow, and Richland counties, this city of 10,339 people has an average rent of $803.
Galion’s blend of low expenses and community events like Oktoberfest offers residents cost-conscious camaraderie.
More on Galion: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in Ohio FAQs
The county in Ohio with the lowest cost of living is Gallia County. The average living wage in Gallia County is $80,340 according to MIT data. Gallia County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Ohio as a whole. Childcare costs $12,687 a year in Gallia County for two children compared to the Ohio average of $19,242. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in Gallia County compared to $10,291 on average in Ohio.
The cost of living in Ohio is 0.3% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Ohio is $89,500 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Ohio household is $58,116.
The cheapest housing market in Ohio is Youngstown. The average home value in Youngstown is $46,900, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Ohio is $151,400, almost 3.2 times higher than Youngstown.
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The county in Ohio with the lowest cost of living is Gallia County. The average living wage in Gallia County is $80,340 according to MIT data. Gallia County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Ohio as a whole. Childcare costs $12,687 a year in Gallia County for two children compared to the Ohio average of $19,242. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in Gallia County compared to $10,291 on average in Ohio.
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The cost of living in Ohio is 0.3% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Ohio is $89,500 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Ohio household is $58,116.
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The cheapest housing market in Ohio is Youngstown. The average home value in Youngstown is $46,900, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Ohio is $151,400, almost 3.2 times higher than Youngstown.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Buckeye State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Ohio boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Ohio using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Ohio to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 247 places in Ohio that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Ohio with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Youngstown.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Ohio.
Ohio Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Ohio for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Ohio.
The cheapest cities in Ohio are Youngstown, East Liverpool, Cleveland, Campbell, Dayton, Warren, Lima, East Cleveland, Fostoria, and Galion.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Ohio according to the data:
- The Village of Indian Hill
- New Albany
- Pepper Pike
For more Ohio reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Ohio
- Best Places To Buy A House In Ohio
- Best Places To Live In Ohio
Cheapest Places To Live In Ohio
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown | 59,331 | 76 | $34,408 | $70,003 | $728 |
| 2 | East Liverpool | 9,783 | 78 | $34,009 | $102,529 | $785 |
| 3 | Cleveland | 366,097 | 80 | $40,801 | $115,536 | $945 |
| 4 | Campbell | 7,784 | 80 | $42,909 | $106,435 | $688 |
| 5 | Dayton | 136,579 | 81 | $45,247 | $136,592 | $918 |
| 6 | Warren | 38,912 | 81 | $37,887 | $122,599 | $766 |
| 7 | Lima | 35,010 | 81 | $46,240 | $148,676 | $903 |
| 8 | East Cleveland | 13,534 | 81 | $22,116 | $75,766 | $776 |
| 9 | Fostoria | 12,344 | 81 | $54,151 | $139,392 | $809 |
| 10 | Galion | 10,339 | 81 | $52,176 | $170,644 | $803 |
| 11 | Struthers | 9,923 | 81 | $53,447 | $132,300 | $850 |
| 12 | Lorain | 65,395 | 82 | $48,685 | $150,828 | $887 |
| 13 | Mansfield | 47,663 | 82 | $44,540 | $149,108 | $814 |
| 14 | Barberton | 24,844 | 82 | $52,267 | $152,664 | $848 |
| 15 | Trotwood | 23,041 | 82 | $50,113 | $135,963 | $1,031 |
| 16 | Ashtabula | 17,856 | 82 | $44,120 | $151,257 | $793 |
| 17 | Salem | 11,758 | 82 | $47,073 | $181,905 | $763 |
| 18 | New Carlisle | 5,544 | 82 | $64,443 | $251,583 | $840 |
| 19 | Canton | 69,755 | 83 | $43,188 | $168,514 | $850 |
| 20 | Euclid | 48,823 | 83 | $50,285 | $144,364 | $1,025 |
| 21 | Sandusky | 24,606 | 83 | $50,139 | $146,646 | $905 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 17,728 | 83 | $34,713 | $89,702 | $747 |
| 23 | Warrensville Heights | 13,545 | 83 | $49,669 | $134,770 | $1,044 |
| 24 | Greenville | 12,741 | 83 | $47,237 | $195,222 | $765 |
| 25 | Girard | 9,505 | 83 | $52,550 | $144,397 | $769 |
| 26 | Bellevue | 8,187 | 83 | $53,875 | $184,461 | $744 |
| 27 | Kenton | 7,663 | 83 | $56,033 | $174,693 | $625 |
| 28 | Wellston | 5,452 | 83 | $56,193 | $117,953 | $534 |
| 29 | Uhrichsville | 5,189 | 83 | $41,846 | $138,742 | $935 |
| 30 | Akron | 189,247 | 84 | $48,076 | $137,894 | $955 |
| 31 | Marion | 35,669 | 84 | $47,951 | $165,586 | $856 |
| 32 | Zanesville | 24,740 | 84 | $43,280 | $199,153 | $821 |
| 33 | Riverside | 24,435 | 84 | $61,352 | $171,956 | $1,050 |
| 34 | Alliance | 21,478 | 84 | $56,106 | $158,557 | $836 |
| 35 | Niles | 18,287 | 84 | $50,953 | $130,765 | $798 |
| 36 | Steubenville | 18,124 | 84 | $48,172 | $128,221 | $775 |
| 37 | Bucyrus | 11,594 | 84 | $54,349 | $158,594 | $765 |
| 38 | Ravenna | 11,274 | 84 | $59,971 | $215,181 | $947 |
| 39 | Coshocton | 11,068 | 84 | $48,731 | $161,328 | $768 |
| 40 | Van Wert | 10,790 | 84 | $55,113 | $179,630 | $765 |
| 41 | Ironton | 10,768 | 84 | $47,648 | $119,422 | $782 |
| 42 | Cambridge | 10,060 | 84 | $42,946 | $167,595 | $788 |
| 43 | Willard | 6,164 | 84 | $53,542 | $162,170 | $889 |
| 44 | Toledo | 267,463 | 85 | $49,724 | $129,626 | $901 |
| 45 | Springfield | 58,190 | 85 | $47,143 | $186,986 | $851 |
| 46 | Garfield Heights | 29,269 | 85 | $54,593 | $133,200 | $1,129 |
| 47 | Xenia | 25,689 | 85 | $56,029 | $252,478 | $931 |
| 48 | Tiffin | 17,818 | 85 | $56,198 | $185,604 | $890 |
| 49 | Defiance | 17,276 | 85 | $61,439 | $181,260 | $853 |
| 50 | Fremont | 15,835 | 85 | $47,024 | $173,490 | $775 |
| 51 | Washington Court House | 14,439 | 85 | $55,998 | $225,284 | $771 |
| 52 | West Carrollton | 12,976 | 85 | $61,619 | $175,406 | $1,028 |
| 53 | Brooklyn | 11,158 | 85 | $69,346 | $201,508 | $971 |
| 54 | Bedford Heights | 10,847 | 85 | $50,269 | $190,890 | $1,009 |
| 55 | Wapakoneta | 9,894 | 85 | $65,570 | $232,734 | $811 |
| 56 | Shelby | 8,865 | 85 | $58,351 | $184,565 | $780 |
| 57 | Cheviot | 8,660 | 85 | $53,132 | $182,475 | $878 |
| 58 | Upper Sandusky | 6,558 | 85 | $67,071 | $205,346 | $804 |
| 59 | Geneva | 5,886 | 85 | $53,557 | $203,227 | $808 |
| 60 | Hamilton | 63,468 | 86 | $55,166 | $299,684 | $1,007 |
| 61 | Middletown | 51,617 | 86 | $57,102 | $255,694 | $1,007 |
| 62 | Piqua | 20,646 | 86 | $67,796 | $180,114 | $922 |
| 63 | Painesville | 20,548 | 86 | $51,516 | $222,957 | $1,036 |
| 64 | Bedford | 12,931 | 86 | $57,308 | $152,981 | $1,059 |
| 65 | Sheffield Lake | 8,966 | 86 | $69,632 | $203,338 | $1,054 |
| 66 | Eaton | 8,339 | 86 | $51,467 | $245,407 | $764 |
| 67 | Delphos | 7,143 | 86 | $61,037 | $195,169 | $812 |
| 68 | Moraine | 6,536 | 86 | $48,788 | $160,288 | $1,035 |
| 69 | Martins Ferry | 6,140 | 86 | $37,467 | $96,618 | $800 |
| 70 | Port Clinton | 5,970 | 86 | $60,909 | $272,319 | $934 |
| 71 | Toronto | 5,293 | 86 | $55,972 | $133,234 | $748 |
| 72 | Elyria | 53,035 | 87 | $54,945 | $181,556 | $906 |
| 73 | Maple Heights | 23,258 | 87 | $53,414 | $131,579 | $1,338 |
| 74 | Ashland | 18,911 | 87 | $60,029 | $229,714 | $893 |
| 75 | New Philadelphia | 17,520 | 87 | $58,547 | $204,370 | $897 |
| 76 | Conneaut | 12,357 | 87 | $61,741 | $141,035 | $772 |
| 77 | Franklin | 11,712 | 87 | $58,587 | $263,565 | $981 |
| 78 | North College Hill | 9,555 | 87 | $64,655 | $173,602 | $1,064 |
| 79 | Napoleon | 8,802 | 87 | $76,639 | $209,534 | $819 |
| 80 | Bryan | 8,631 | 87 | $52,865 | $190,323 | $806 |
| 81 | Hubbard | 7,598 | 87 | $62,593 | $164,705 | $799 |
| 82 | Hillsboro | 6,527 | 87 | $55,521 | $207,887 | $770 |
| 83 | Clyde | 6,331 | 87 | $50,574 | $188,837 | $739 |
| 84 | Jackson | 6,231 | 87 | $53,538 | $171,305 | $759 |
| 85 | Rittman | 6,044 | 87 | $60,154 | $199,066 | $814 |
| 86 | Northwood | 5,193 | 87 | $77,268 | $177,941 | $965 |
| 87 | Massillon | 32,338 | 88 | $56,446 | $212,708 | $862 |
| 88 | Sidney | 20,501 | 88 | $60,668 | $210,537 | $869 |
| 89 | Whitehall | 20,019 | 88 | $51,759 | $198,430 | $1,145 |
| 90 | Bellefontaine | 13,807 | 88 | $58,806 | $240,467 | $857 |
| 91 | Englewood | 13,356 | 88 | $80,030 | $234,831 | $953 |
| 92 | Marietta | 13,203 | 88 | $47,873 | $187,373 | $861 |
| 93 | Urbana | 11,204 | 88 | $68,003 | $201,188 | $935 |
| 94 | Celina | 10,903 | 88 | $62,849 | $234,400 | $760 |
| 95 | Logan | 6,993 | 88 | $57,882 | $262,040 | $726 |
| 96 | Mount Healthy | 6,919 | 88 | $54,565 | $190,028 | $1,075 |
| 97 | Belpre | 6,654 | 88 | $54,592 | $185,227 | $867 |
| 98 | Rossford | 6,323 | 88 | $71,199 | $193,165 | $898 |
| 99 | Parma | 79,870 | 89 | $69,295 | $210,913 | $1,087 |
| 100 | Chillicothe | 21,902 | 89 | $54,086 | $196,991 | $887 |