Where Is the Best Place to Live in Ohio?

Living in Ohio has many obvious advantages. Whether you choose to live here for work or for the easy access to the great outdoors, few places offer you the versatility of Columbus. With a population of nearly 790,000 people, Columbus is Ohio's largest city and boasts nearly 100 neighborhoods.

Here you can find the best of urban living, but still have easy access to nature trails, recreational facilities, education and more. After a great day shopping at one of the unique stores downtown, you can sit back and relax over a great meal and some live music at one of the many night spots. Best of all, you can be home in minutes.

Columbus has great access to major roadways with I-70 and I-71 offering you the open road in no time. With I-270 and I-670, you can find your way around Columbus even during the highest traffic times. Add to that four US highways and air access to major hubs and you can see that Columbus is business travel friendly.

Columbus is also very family friendly. In fact, Business Week named Columbus €best place in the country to raise a family in 2009.€ Why? The school system boasts 180 elementary schools, 39 middle schools and 38 high schools. There are also 27 other schools available in the city. Once you kids are through school, Columbus offers you numerous choices to further your education, whether you choose vocational training, college or graduate school.

Columbus is also very affordable. The median home price is just $88,800 with some surrounding communities even more reasonable. For example, Lewis Center has a median price of $75,500. Located between Columbus and Delaware, Ohio, it has a population of 8,463 people. There is great shopping available with both shopping centers and retail centers all around. Olentangy High School, home of the Braves, offers students both academic and athletic opportunities.
Gahanna, Ohio located just 9 miles northeast of Columbus and offers you the opportunity to live in a smaller community with a population of nearly 35,000. Lincoln High School, home of the Golden Lions creates an exciting learning atmosphere with plenty of opportunities for your student to grow academically and through extra-curricular activities like clubs and sports. Median home prices here are quite reasonable at about $160,000.

Outdoor opportunities abound in Gahanna with easy access to facilities such as: Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve, the Geroux Herb Gardens, the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course and Woodside Green Park.

No matter where you choose to live in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area, you will enjoy a great mix of urban convenience and natural wonder. There is so much to do and see. No wonder it has been named one of the best places in America to raise a family!