Find a Job You Really Want In
Ohio has long been recognized as a hub of opportunity in America. It’s a place where hard work and dedication can lead to a better life for individuals and their families. As we navigate the evolving job landscape in 2026, the Buckeye State stands out as a prime example of a workforce committed to excellence.
While the work ethic is strong throughout Ohio, certain regions exemplify this commitment to hard work more than others. These are the hardest working places in Ohio, where residents embody the spirit of diligence and perseverance.
Leading the charge is Grandview Heights, earning the title of the hardest working place in Ohio, where the commute itself can feel like a job in its own right. But what other towns are pushing the limits in the quest for success? If you’re aiming for a promotion, be prepared to put in the extra effort to outshine these hardworking communities:
- Grandview Heights
- Powell
- Dublin
- New Albany
- Bexley
- Wyoming
- Oakwood
- Highland Heights
- Granville
- Loveland
Ohio’s hardest working towns serve as a lesson in dedication. Let’s take a closer look at how we compiled this ranking to understand the metrics behind the hard work.
How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in the Buckeye State
At Zippia, we dive deep into data to tackle the pressing questions about the workforce. Our analysis draws from the latest American Community Survey data, ensuring our findings are relevant and up to date.
In crafting our ranking, we examined various criteria to identify what makes a community hardworking:
- Average hours worked
- Average commute time
- Workers per household (employed labor force divided by the number of households)
- Labor force participation rate
- Adults with a college degree
Our rationale is straightforward: communities where individuals invest years in education, actively seek employment, work extensive hours, and endure long commutes earn the Zippia hardworking stamp of approval.
After analyzing data from all 255 places in Ohio, we ranked each location based on the criteria, ultimately creating a hardworking index. The place with the lowest score was crowned the “Hardest Working Place in Ohio” — and Grandview Heights emerged victorious.
Explore the detailed chart below to see why each community earned its ranking.
1. Grandview Heights
Population: 6,836. College Graduates: 69.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.5
Workers Per Household: 1.6
2. Powell
Population: 12,012. College Graduates: 72.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.9
Workers Per Household: 1.5
3. Dublin
Population: 42,378. College Graduates: 73.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.2
Workers Per Household: 1.5
4. New Albany
Population: 8,169. College Graduates: 76.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 44.8
Workers Per Household: 1.5
5. Bexley
Population: 13,286. College Graduates: 71.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 36.1
Workers Per Household: 1.6
6. Wyoming
Population: 8,404. College Graduates: 72.0%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.2
Workers Per Household: 1.4
7. Oakwood
Population: 9,150. College Graduates: 67.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.2
Workers Per Household: 1.4
8. Highland Heights
Population: 8,324. College Graduates: 54.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.2
Workers Per Household: 1.5
9. Granville
Population: 5,689. College Graduates: 63.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 30.5
Workers Per Household: 2.1
10. Loveland
Population: 12,425. College Graduates: 42.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5
Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in Ohio
The chart below provides insights into the population, percentage of college graduates, average hours worked per week, and the number of full-time workers per household in each city.
| Grandview Heights | 1 |
| Powell | 2 |
| Dublin | 3 |
| New Albany | 4 |
| Bexley | 5 |
| Wyoming | 6 |
| Oakwood | 7 |
| Highland Heights | 8 |
| Granville | 9 |
| Loveland | 10 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
