Life in Ohio
How is life in Ohio? Well, as an Ohioan in real life, I see Ohio as a place that genuinely offers a unique blend of urban and rural experiences, making it an intriguing place to reside. With its diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and generally friendly communities, Ohio provides a level of liveability that caters to various preferences.
This viewpoint is, of course, affected by—among many other things—my socioeconomic status. Others might say they hate living in Ohio. This divergence in opinion can often be traced back to differences in economic opportunities, access to quality education and healthcare, and personal experiences with local communities and services. While some residents may thrive, enjoying the benefits of Ohio’s growing job market, affordable housing, and rich cultural scene, others may encounter challenges such as job scarcity in certain regions, educational disparities, or limited access to healthcare.
These contrasting experiences highlight the importance of being aware of socioeconomic disparities (as well as differing opinions), which is the first and most basic step toward enhancing the overall liveability and appeal of Ohio for all its residents. This kind of awareness is one of the foundational goals we at Ohio Living Guide strive to achieve.
How big is Ohio? Plus other basic facts
Ohio is a Midwestern state of 44,825 square miles that’s home to 11.7 million residents, making it the nation’s seventh most populous state. It boasts a diverse landscape ranging from major urban centers to vast farmlands. With Lake Erie to the north and the Ohio River forming its southern border, water plays an integral role in the geography and culture of the state. Major cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati provide opportunities in industries like healthcare, finance, and technology, while smaller towns showcase Ohio’s quiet side and agricultural heritage.
Ohio’s climate brings four distinct seasons. Winters can be cold with lake effect snow while summers are warm and humid. Spring and fall are pleasant times of moderate temperatures. Many people in Ohio say they appreciate the seasons changing—winter sports and holidays, summer water activities, fall festivals, and spring blooms—but plenty complain about it, too.
With its combination of major metros, smaller towns, varied landscape, four seasons, and political diversity, Ohio offers a little bit of everything. There are opportunities for education, careers, entertainment, recreation, and more, and people who live here often express a sense of pride in the state (Ohio against the world, anyone?). Overall, I believe Ohio is a good place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.
Ohio's time zone: ET
With a geographic location that has shaped its history and economy, Ohio is entirely within the Eastern Time Zone. It has been since the standardized time zone system was established in 1918. Before that, Ohio actually had dozens of different local times.
Being in the Eastern Time Zone means Ohio is always one hour ahead of the Central Time Zone states to its west (Indiana and Illinois) and in the same time zone as major east coast cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. This unified time zone made travel and communication much easier as Ohio emerged as a national transportation hub in the early 20th century. It remains important for businesses and logistics today.
What is the cost of living in Ohio?
Calculating the cost of living, both in Ohio and in general, is a complex process that involves analyzing various factors to determine the overall expenses an individual or family is likely to incur. Factors typically taken into account when calculating cost of living include housing, food costs, transportation, healthcare, utilities, taxes, childcare and education, entertainment and recreation, and other miscellaneous expenses.
According to the US News Best States Data Explorer, Ohio is ranked #16 in the US for affordability and in the top 20 for opportunity, making it a strong contender among top places to live in the U.S.
Food in Ohio
includes grocery and dining out costs. Ohio produces a large amount of agricultural products which helps keep food costs reasonable statewide. However, grocery and food costs have increased nationwide with inflation. Supply chain issues, higher oil prices, labor shortages, and weather impacts raised input costs for food producers and restaurants. Ohio's large agricultural industry did not totally insulate us from these pressures.
Utilities in Ohio
include electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, and waste fees. Utility costs are near the national average in Ohio.
Healthcare in Ohio
includes health insurance premiums, co-pays, and other medical costs. Ohio has expanded Medicaid, but healthcare is still expensive. Plus, despite being home to some of the most renowned medical institutions in the U.S. and the world (such as Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, University Hospitals, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and many others), healthcare costs continue to outpace general inflation, unfortunately. An aging population and workforce shortages put pressure on Ohio's healthcare system costs.
Taxes in Ohio
are mixed. Ohio has moderately high income and property taxes compared to other states. By contrast, on the business side, Ohio has no state tax on corporate income or business equipment. This makes Ohio attractive for company investment and production facilities. Ohio relies more on business taxes like the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) based on gross receipts.
Also, Ohio has moderate sales tax rates around 5-7% depending on the county and city. The state rate is 5.75%. This is comparable to neighboring states.
Some Ohio metro areas like Akron, Dayton and Toledo have very average cost of living indexes. Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati have higher indexes but are still considered affordable for major metros. The most expensive parts of Ohio are suburbs with high housing costs.
You can explore what Ohio says about its cost of living here.