9 Pros and Cons of Living in Ohio
Ohioans may be plagued by harsh weather and infamous sports fans, but a low cost of living, great beer, and loads of natural beauty may make up for it.
Written by Abbey Orzech
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Table of Contents
- Pro: Super low cost of living
- Con: Tough summers, tougher winters
- Pro: Thrills and chills
- Con: You’re stuck if you don’t have a car
- Pro: Travel is easy
- Con: Intense sports fans
- Pro: Incredible beer and food scenes
- Con: Pollen pains for allergy sufferers
- Pro: A booming job market
- Is Ohio a good state to live in?
- How to upgrade your car insurance in Ohio
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
Ohio is most loved for its low cost of living, beautiful lakes, abundance of theme parks, and great beer scene. Its downfalls, though, are harsh weather, and wanting public transportation systems.
To help you sort through some major pros and cons of living in Ohio,
Jerry
, the trusted brokerage app
and your go-to home and car owner’s resource, has gathered the Buckeye State’s best and worst in this handy guide. We’ll also offer some expert tips to save on your Ohio car insurance cost
, should you decide to make the move. RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Pro: Super low cost of living
First and foremost, Ohio is one of the cheapest states in the country to live in—the 9th cheapest, in fact. The Ohio cost of living index comes in at 82.6.
Compare that to the national average of 100—or the cost of living index of more expensive states like
New York
(148.2) or Hawaii (193.3) and you and your pocketbook will be happy you picked Ohio. The state’s median household income is $58,116 annually, but a single adult will be able to live on about $25,000 less than that. The average home value in Ohio is $150,000, a gallon of gas costs $3.66, and you can find cheap groceries and food out throughout the state.
Con: Tough summers, tougher winters
Though Ohio can generally enjoy a nice stay in all four seasons, it experiences some extreme weather—particularly in the summers and winters.
Ohio in the summer is hot and humid with daytime highs reaching triple digits. The intense heat mixing with all that moist air also makes it the perfect environment for severe thunderstorms.
Some places can experience devastating flood events, so before you decide to move to an area, do some research on its flood zones.
On the other hand, winter in Ohio is a different kind of beast. Frigid temperatures and snow reach the whole state, but northern Ohio gets the brunt of it. With blizzard-level snow rolling in from Lake Erie, you may end up with a few snow days a year.
Pro: Thrills and chills
Ohio has loads of fun things to do ranging from heart-pounding, hair-raising thrill rides in one of its many theme parks to easy-going island paradises. That’s right. Island paradise. In Ohio.
Many know and love
Put-in-Bay
, an island off the shores of Lake Erie. Hop on the ferry to get there, then cruise around with golf carts or mopeds to take in the incredible beauty of its shores and exciting buzz of the restaurant and shopping areas. When you’ve finished lounging on the beach or scaling the rock wall at Put-in-Bay, head over to Sandusky, the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World”.
Cedar Point
is a national treasure with over 70 rides in total, a few handfuls of genuinely thrilling ones included. You can also travel down the street to America’s largest indoor waterpark Kalahari
.Not really into rides? That’s okay! Ohio has tons of state parks and natural beauty to behold. A popular favorite is
Hocking Hills
in Logan. Go for a guided night hike, attend nature programs, or wander around its many trails on your own—just be sure to take a map and all your hiking safety essentials! Con: You’re stuck if you don’t have a car
Ohio has plenty to see, sure, but if you don’t own a car you’ll be hard-pressed to see much at all.
Unless you’re living in a major metro area like
Columbus
or Cleveland
, your access to public transportation is abysmal. In the rural areas of the state especially, you need a car to get around.
Ohio has a lot of geographic diversity and a large land area that is worth exploring…but without a car, you’ll be exploring little else but your own neighborhood. Pro: Travel is easy
Ohio is not called the “Heart of It All” simply because its actual geographic shape resembles a cartoon heart. It’s also smack dab in the center of many major travel routes and centrally located in the country itself. Sitting right between New York City and Chicago, Ohio has eight commercial airports.
All things considered, it would be relatively easy to hop on a flight to, basically, anywhere. Spontaneous trip-takers rejoice!
The Buckeye State also has the tenth largest highway network in the country that can take you through or out of the state quite easily—assuming, again, that you have a car.
MORE: Ohio road closures
Con: Intense sports fans
Forgive me, Ohio State fans! If there is an Ohio complaint that rings loudest throughout the country, it’s the conduct of its sports fans. Often described as almost cult-like, Ohio’s sports fans, for football in particular, are dedicated to their teams…but maybe a little overly dedicated.
While there are two professional football teams in Ohio, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals, the majority of the hardcore support is for the Buckeye university, Ohio State. It’s not uncommon for rowdiness at Ohio State games to turn into brawls and if you’re for the opposing team, you may be a target.
This is not to say, though, that you should expect to be attacked at every football game you attend! There are plenty of Ohio sports fans that support their team with a healthy mixture of rivalry and sportsmanship.
Pro: Incredible beer and food scenes
You may not immediately consider this humble Midwestern state to be a beer buff, but Ohio is actually the sixth largest producer of craft beer in the US. Over 300 breweries dotting the Ohio landscape produce a huge variety of craft beers that range from commercial heavy-hitters to small-batch specialties.
After your cheeks are rosy and your belly is warm from your beer flight, enjoy some fine Ohio cuisine. Cincinnati chili, Amish country pies, and Cleveland-style Polish Boys are some of the most sought-after Ohio delicacies, but there is no shortage of fine dining or hole-in-the-wall joints either. Central Ohio has so many food trucks that there’s a
Central Ohio Food Truck Association
! Perhaps overlooked on the large scale but never underappreciated at home, Ohio’s food scene is certainly worthwhile.
Con: Pollen pains for allergy sufferers
As beautiful as all of Ohio’s natural landscapes are, they can really cause a ruckus in your sinuses.
Between April and May each year, the pollen count skyrockets. All the trees, grass, and other foliage that contribute to the blooming beauty of Ohio’s spring release tons of pollen that can significantly aggravate allergy havers.
Of course, if your allergies aren’t too severe some allergy medication in the springtime months could probably do you wonders. If you are plagued by horrible allergies, though, the high pollen count is something to consider.
Pro: A booming job market
Ohio’s economy used to be heavily reliant on industrial manufacturing. Then, like many of its Midwestern state peers, was unceremoniously dubbed a part of The Rust Belt during the hardship of industrial decline.
However, the Buckeye state is steadily moving away from The Rust Belt abandonment. The unemployment rate today is at 3.9%, which is still higher than the US average of 3.5% but eons better than about a decade earlier when it was 11.1%.
The major industries in Ohio today are medicine, IT, tourism, and manufacturing, but it also has the most fashion designers in the country outside of New York City and Los Angeles. The
Columbus College of Art & Design
is highly renowned as one of the best private arts and design colleges in the country. Is Ohio a good state to live in?
Ohio is definitely a good state to live in, but like anywhere else, it has its drawbacks. Before you pack up and hit the road towards the Buckeyes or before you dismiss this state altogether, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons.
Ohio is a great state for:
- Amusement-park lovers
- Outdoorsy types
- Food and beer connoisseurs
You may find Ohio tough to live in, though, if you don’t like intense weather, relying on personal vehicles, rowdy sports fans, or seasonal allergens.
How to upgrade your car insurance in Ohio
Since Ohio residents are for the most part totally reliant on their personal vehicles, it’s crucial that those vehicles be protected. Ideally, you want as much car insurance coverage as possible for what your budget will allow, and
Jerry
is the #1-rated insurance comparison app
that is designed to help you find just that. Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.
After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They can even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?
“Jerryhandles everything from finding quotes to signing on new policies right in the app. No more filling out hundreds of forms! Thank you, Jerry, for helping my move to a new state feel hassle-free.” —Dolores T.
RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
FAQs
Does Ohio have tornadoes?
Yes, Ohio occasionally has tornadoes. On average, the Buckeye state sees three to four tornadoes a year and the most active tornado time is in June.
What are the winters like in Ohio?
Winters in Ohio can be quite harsh, especially if you live near Lake Erie. All of the state gets snow and below-freezing temperatures, but the northern parts of Ohio near the Great Lake experience a large amount of lake effect snow.
Is Ohio racially diverse?
The racial diversity of Ohio varies from place to place, but on the whole, Ohio residents are 80.47% white according to the 2022 World Population Review.
Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance
Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!
4.7
.webp&w=64&q=75)
