
Ohio is a fantastic Midwestern state for retirees. If you enjoy having all four seasons in your life, and humidity that doesn’t hit double digits, like a certain state that starts with an F, then Ohio could be the perfect place to retire.
NewHomeSource has found the top five cities for retirees in Ohio. You can find an Ohio city that fosters your ideal lifestyle, the perfect retirement community and a new home for your new life.
Top 10 Cities to Retire in Ohio
1. Youngstown

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.9%
Median Home Value: $44,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 428
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 2,285
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 8
Youngstown, OH is the perfect retirement destination for people who want to enjoy urban living at an affordable price point. This great Ohio city lets you enjoy city living, thanks to a host of great restaurants, shops, and museums, without forcing you to endure a ridiculous cost of living or high home prices.
2. Eastlake

Percentage of the Population Over 65:18.1%
Median Home Value: $54,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 7
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 399
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 13
If you’re in the mood for lakeside living during your retirement, you’ll love life in Eastlake, OH. This affordable town on the Great Lakes gives retirees beautiful views of Lake Erie, with numerous local parks to let you take full advantage of the city’s natural beauty. Nearby Cleveland lets you enjoy city amenities and entertainment.
3. Warren

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 17%
Median Home Value: $61,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 245
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,500
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
Warren, OH lets retirees enjoy the best of small town living during their golden years. You can finally kick back and relax when you head to Warren for your retirement. This lovely town has plenty of local museums and parks to keep active adults entertained and engaged with their community.
4. Lima

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12.5%
Median Home Value: $66,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 240
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 740
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 4
Reconnect with nature during your retirement when you call Lima, OH your home. Even though it isn’t the Lima in Peru, the Lima of the Midwest has striking natural scenery, including tranquil lakes and the Lippincott Bird Sanctuary. Lima’s parks make it easy for active adults to stay healthy thanks to miles of trails and plenty of boating opportunities in the town.
5. Maple Heights
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 13.7%
Median Home Value: $68,100
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 79
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 584
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 16
Maple Heights is a delightful suburb of Cleveland, OH that gives retirees the best of all possible worlds. When you retire in Maple Heights, you have easy access to Cleveland’s urban amenities and lakeside entertainment at Lake Erie. Within Maple Heights, you can call a bucolic and peaceful community your home.
6. Ashtabula

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.6%
Median Home Value: $70,100
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 14
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 132
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2
Ashtabula gives active adults the best of lakeside living at an affordable price. This delightful community on the shores of Lake Erie lets you enjoy life on the Great Lakes, full of boating, swimming, and beautiful views. If you’re not in the mood to surround yourself with breathtaking scenery, Ashtabula isn’t the right retirement destination for you.
7. Garfield Heights
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.9%
Median Home Value: $71,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 94
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 717
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 16
You can invest in the retirement you dreamed about at the office in Garfield Heights, OH. This peaceful Cleveland suburb lets you kick back and enjoy good times with good company thanks to its low cost of living and bucolic setting. Easy access to big Cleveland and Akron as well as the Great Lakes mean you’ll always have something new to try.
8. Canton

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14%
Median Home Value: $70,000
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 845
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 3,790
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3
Canton, OH is a charmingly historic urban area. This lovely community surrounds retirees with some of the most picturesque scenery in the Midwest, while still providing them with a wealth of urban amenities. Local art and history museums ensure that you will always have something to explore when you retire to Canton.
9. Trotwood
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 20.3%
Median Home Value: $72,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 165
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 894
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 6
Nature lovers will love retired life in Trotwood, OH. This scenic Dayton suburb features beautiful scenery full of local wildlife. Miles of hiking trails wind through the town, ensuring that you can stay active and healthy. In addition to community and state parks, Trotwood is home to the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, and scenic gardens.
10. Portsmouth

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 19.9%
Median Home Value: $75,800
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 31
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 630
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 7
Portsmouth is a lovely town in Southern Ohio that welcomes all new residents. Retired life in Portsmouth means surrounding yourself with beautiful architecture and scenery. Local museums and a local orchard give even the most active adult a year round range of exciting activities.
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.
Yes, Ohio is a good state for retirees. Its low cost of living and fun cities mean that you can enjoy your favorite hobbies during your retirement at a price point that works for your budget.
While Social Security benefits are exempt from Ohio state income tax, income from pensions or retirement accounts are taxed like normal income.
City Name | People Over 65 | Violent Crimes | Property Crimes | Access to Doctors | Median Home Price |
Youngstown | 16.9% | 428 | 2,285 | 8 | $44,500 |
Eastlake | 18.1% | 7 | 399 | 13 | $54,500 |
Warren | 17% | 245 | 1,500 | 6 | $61,200 |
Lima | 12.5% | 240 | 740 | 4 | $66,300 |
Maple Heights | 13.7% | 79 | 584 | 16 | $68,100 |
Ashtabula | 16.6% | 14 | 132 | 2 | $70,100 |
Garfield Heights | 16.9% | 94 | 717 | 16 | $71,400 |
Canton | 14% | 845 | 3,790 | 3 | $70,000 |
Trotwood | 20.3% | 165 | 894 | 6 | $72,900 |
Portsmouth | 19.9% | 31 | 630 | 7 | $75,800 |
Mansfield | 16.8% | 237 | 2,087 | 3 | $76,300 |
Cleveland | 13.5% | 5,587 | 17,010 | 16 | $68,500 |
Springfield | 16.8% | 336 | 3,141 | 5 | $78,900 |
Zanesville | 16.4% | 120 | 946 | 1 | $80,000 |
Alliance | 17.7% | 43 | 515 | 5 | $81,400 |
Euclid | 17% | 292 | 1,229 | 15 | $81,400 |
Sandusky | 17.1% | 71 | 920 | 3 | $83,000 |
Niles | 19.5% | 43 | 505 | 7 | $84,200 |
Akron | 14.2% | 1,714 | 7,280 | 7 | $81,400 |
Toledo | 13.9% | 2,341 | 10,390 | 7 | $79,900 |
Piqua | 16.7% | 45 | 806 | 2 | $85,600 |
Lorain | 15.9% | 250 | 1,845 | 5 | $85,400 |
Riverside | 15.4% | 25 | 288 | 9 | $86,700 |
Barberton | 18.1% | 99 | 833 | 7 | $86,600 |
Steubenville | 20.8% | 55 | 958 | 4 | $87,200 |
Xenia | 18.2% | 71 | 789 | 10 | $97,100 |
Elyria | 15.2% | 157 | 1,342 | 7 | $97,100 |
Middletown | 15.2% | 230 | 2,682 | 10 | $97,000 |
Massillon | 18.6% | 75 | 747 | 5 | $98,100 |
South Euclid | 15.7% | 31 | 520 | 16 | $98,800 |
Painesville | 9.3% | 28 | 331 | 5 | $100,300 |
Hamilton | 15.3% | 315 | 2,686 | 12 | $102,900 |
Marion | 14.4% | 101 | 940 | 2 | $104,600 |
Ashland | 18.3% | 20 | 369 | 3 | $105,200 |
Perrysburg | 14.7% | 9 | 240 | 8 | $107,600 |
Hubers Heights | 15.5% | 57 | 918 | 10 | $107,400 |
Sidney | 14.4% | 54 | 688 | 2 | $108,000 |
Parma Heights | 20.3% | 37 | 448 | 18 | $112,100 |
Parma | 18.1% | 127 | 854 | 18 | $112,100 |
Chillicothe | 19.6% | 104 | 1,622 | 2 | $112,400 |
Forest Park | 13.4% | 10 | 112 | 15 | $113,800 |
Brook Park | 19.9% | 36 | 396 | 10 | $114,100 |
Newark | 16.4% | 152 | 2,166 | 1 | $119,500 |
Lancaster | 17.7% | 116 | 1,687 | 3 | $121,300 |
Cuyahoga Falls | 16.7% | 57 | 1,040 | 6 | $122,500 |
Cleveland Heights | 15.7% | 94 | 715 | 16 | $127,100 |
Norwood | 10.3% | 55 | 739 | 15 | $129,200 |
Kettering | 18.5% | 54 | 840 | 8 | $129,700 |
Troy | 15.8% | 33 | 535 | 3 | $130,300 |
Findlay | 16.7% | 90 | 1,043 | 1 | $131,000 |
Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.
After graduating in 2016 from The University of Texas with a degree in English, Sanda Brown became a content writer for the BDX with a focus on website copy and content marketing.
At the BDX, Sanda helps write and edit articles on NewHomeSource.com, writes website copy for builders, and manages a team of freelancers that work on additional content needs.