Find a Job You Really Want In
When considering where to raise a family, the cost of living plays a crucial role in how far your salary can stretch. In Ohio, while many areas remain affordable, certain cities stand out for their higher living expenses. Understanding these costs is essential for families looking to make informed decisions about relocation.
This analysis, based on comprehensive data, highlights the locations in Ohio that pose a greater financial challenge for families. These cities are akin to the more expensive metropolitan areas around the country, where housing, childcare, and everyday expenses can significantly impact family budgets.
After analyzing the latest data, we’ve compiled a list of the most expensive places to raise a family in the Buckeye State:
- Pepper Pike
- Beachwood
- Brecksville
- Solon
- Highland Heights
- Avon
- Kirtland
- Westlake
- Shaker Heights
- Willoughby Hills
Continue reading to discover how we identified these high-cost areas that might strain your financial resources.
How We Identified the Most Expensive Places in Ohio
Regardless of where you live, there are essential expenses that families must cover. These include:
- Housing
- Food
- Gas
- Health Insurance
- Utilities
- Transportation
By comparing the costs of these necessities across various cities in Ohio, we can ascertain which locations are the most expensive to live in.
We utilized a “Cost of Living Index” that normalizes the average at 100 for the United States. Thanks to Sperling’s Best Places, we were able to access this index and rank all 285 Ohio cities with populations exceeding 5,000.
To clarify how the Cost of Living Index functions: a score of 100 denotes the average cost of living in the U.S. A score of 90 indicates costs are 10% lower than average, while a score of 120 means expenses are 20% higher. For perspective, San Francisco boasts a score of 243, indicating it is nearly 2.5 times more expensive than the national average.
1. Pepper Pike
Population: 5,985
2. Beachwood
Population: 11,908
3. Brecksville
Population: 13,576
4. Solon
Population: 23,160
5. Highland Heights
Population: 8,289
6. Avon
Population: 20,925
7. Kirtland
Population: 6,857
8. Westlake
Population: 32,519
9. Shaker Heights
Population: 28,289
10. Willoughby Hills
Population: 9,457
In conclusion, while Ohio offers many affordable living options, these ten cities represent the higher end of the spectrum. Families should carefully consider the financial implications of living in these areas to ensure their budgets can accommodate the cost of raising a family.
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.
