Best counties to retire to in Ohio
Best counties to retire to in Ohio
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Ohio based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Ohio.
#25. Van Wert County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 28,824
- Median household income: $65,344
- Median home value: $137,300
- Top places to live: Van Wert (B), Ridge Township (B+), Union Township (B+)
#24. Montgomery County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 535,528
- Median household income: $64,403
- Median home value: $167,400
- Top places to live: Oakwood (A+), Centerville (A+), Kettering (A)
#23. Richland County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 125,138
- Median household income: $57,649
- Median home value: $154,000
- Top places to live: Ontario (B+), Lexington (B), Shelby (B)
#22. Columbiana County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 101,203
- Median household income: $58,474
- Median home value: $139,100
- Top places to live: Columbiana (A-), Calcutta (B), Salem (B)
#21. Crawford County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 41,767
- Median household income: $55,477
- Median home value: $123,600
- Top places to live: Crestline (B), Galion (B-), Bucyrus (B-)
#20. Delaware County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 221,160
- Median household income: $130,088
- Median home value: $419,500
- Top places to live: Powell (A+), Delaware (A-), Galena (A-)
#19. Clark County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 135,445
- Median household income: $60,846
- Median home value: $155,900
- Top places to live: Enon (B-), New Carlisle (B-), Crystal Lakes (C+)
#18. Geauga County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (D+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 95,479
- Median household income: $100,783
- Median home value: $305,100
- Top places to live: South Russell (A+), Chardon (A), Bainbridge (A-)
#17. Medina County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 183,049
- Median household income: $92,660
- Median home value: $268,000
- Top places to live: Wadsworth (A-), Medina (A-), Brunswick (B+)
#16. Warren County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 246,364
- Median household income: $107,843
- Median home value: $319,700
- Top places to live: Mason (A+), Landen (A+), Loveland Park (A)
#15. Auglaize County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 46,209
- Median household income: $76,454
- Median home value: $182,000
- Top places to live: New Bremen (A), Minster (A), St. Marys (B+)
#14. Stark County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 373,764
- Median household income: $65,740
- Median home value: $177,700
- Top places to live: Uniontown (A), Greentown (A), North Canton (A)
#13. Mercer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 42,438
- Median household income: $78,036
- Median home value: $208,600
- Top places to live: Coldwater (A), Celina (B), St. Henry (A-)
#12. Defiance County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 38,258
- Median household income: $73,615
- Median home value: $150,900
- Top places to live: Hicksville (B+), Defiance (B+), Richland Township (A-)
#11. Miami County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 109,549
- Median household income: $74,175
- Median home value: $209,200
- Top places to live: Tipp City (A), Troy (A-), Covington (B)
#10. Hamilton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 827,878
- Median household income: $70,816
- Median home value: $225,700
- Top places to live: Blue Ash (A+), Mariemont (A+), Madeira (A+)
#9. Trumbull County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 201,367
- Median household income: $55,088
- Median home value: $128,100
- Top places to live: Cortland (B+), Howland Center (B+), Mineral Ridge (B+)
#8. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 232,101
- Median household income: $77,952
- Median home value: $199,900
- Top places to live: Kirtland (A), Mentor (A), Willoughby (A-)
#7. Summit County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 538,087
- Median household income: $71,016
- Median home value: $195,700
- Top places to live: Hudson (A+), Fairlawn (A+), Reminderville (A)
#6. Greene County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 168,531
- Median household income: $85,218
- Median home value: $238,000
- Top places to live: Yellow Springs (A+), Beavercreek (A+), Bellbrook (A+)
#5. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 59,318
- Median household income: $61,355
- Median home value: $174,100
- Top places to live: Marietta (B), Devola (B), Belpre (B-)
#4. Mahoning County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 227,063
- Median household income: $55,576
- Median home value: $141,100
- Top places to live: Canfield (A+), Poland (A), Austintown (B+)
#3. Noble County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 14,252
- Median household income: $55,360
- Median home value: $149,300
- Top places to live: Caldwell (B-), Olive Township (B), Sharon Township (B)
#2. Ottawa County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 40,161
- Median household income: $75,728
- Median home value: $200,700
- Top places to live: Port Clinton (B+), Genoa (B+), Oak Harbor (B)
#1. Erie County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 74,938
- Median household income: $68,431
- Median home value: $183,900
- Top places to live: Huron (A-), Milan (B+), Sandusky (B+)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
