Ohio offers a wide range of landscapes, ranging from lively cities like Columbus and Cleveland to charming small towns and landscapes like the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the coast of Lake Erie. If Ohio sounds like a state to you, you may also be interested in what cities fit into your budget. As of April, the median home sales price for Ohio was $241,200.
If that price doesn’t fit your budget, don’t worry. To help you find the best place to buy a home, Redfin has gathered a list of 14 of the most affordable locations to live in Ohio. And they all have a median home selling price under the state average. See which cities have created the list.
#1: Youngstown
Median home price: $83,500
Average selling price per square foot: $85
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $827
Median household income: $30,129
Nearest Major Metro: Akron (50 miles)
Youngstown, Holmes, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio Apartments
Youngstown is number one on the list of affordable cities to live in Ohio. When you live in the city of 60,100 people, you can check out Mill Creek Park’s valleys, waterfalls and hiking trails, visit museums such as the Butler Institute of American Art and the J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad, and explore the downtown area.
#2: Toledo
Median home price: $113,250
Average selling price per square foot: $103
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $802
Median household income: $39,155
Nearest Major Metro: Detroit, Michigan (60 miles)
Home sales in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio Apartments Rentals
The second in our list of affordable locations to live in Ohio is Toledo. With a population of around 270,900 people, living in Toledo is a great option for anyone looking for a medium-sized city to call a Toledo home.
#3: Dayton
Median home price: $129,900
Average selling price per square foot: $107
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $995
Median household income: $34,457
Nearest Major Metro: Cincinnati (55 miles)
Homes in Dayton, Ohio
Apartments for Dayton, Ohio Apartments
If you live in Ohio, you’ve probably heard of Dayton, the third city on our list. Approximately 137,600 people live in Dayton. Discover one of many museums, including the US Air Force National Museum, the Dayton Institute of Art, and the Packard Museum in America. Spend the day at Eastwood Metro Park or Island Metro Park and explore the downtown where you lived in Dayton.
>>Read: Popular Dayton, Ohio, Neighborhood
#4: Akron
Median home price: $131,950
Average selling price per square foot: $102
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $847
Median household income: $30,129
Nearest Major Metro: Cleveland (40 miles)
Akron, Oh Homes for Sale
Akron, Oh Apartments for Rent
Akron city is a little more expensive than Dayton. With around 190,500 residents in Akron, visit Stan High Wet Hall & Gardens, the historic Tudor Revival home, and explore parks such as Sandran Lang Metro Park and Goodyear Heights Metro Park, as well as check out downtown museums and local attractions.
>>Read: Popular Akron, Ohio, Neighborhood
#5: Cleveland
Median home price: $134,900
Average selling price per square foot: $90
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,501
Median household income: $30,129
Nearest Major Metro: Columbus (145 miles)
Homes in Cleveland, Ohio
Apartments for Cleveland, Ohio Apartments
It’s Cleveland that you’re considering moving to another affordable city. With 372,600 residents, this affordable town is a great option to add to your list. Living in Cleveland you can discover the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and check out the historic Westside Market where you can find local food vendors and producers. You can also watch the theatre show at Playhouse Square and enjoy views of Lake Erie from Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve.
>>Read: Popular Cleveland, Ohio, Neighborhood
#6: Canton
Median home price: $134,950
Average selling price per square foot: $99
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,067
Median household income: $32,735
Nearest Major Metro: Akron (25 miles)
Home sales in Canton, Ohio
Apartments for Canton, Ohio Apartments
The sixth in the list of affordable locations in Ohio is Canton, with the median home selling price being around $105,000 less than the state average. With around 70,900 people calling Canton into their homes, this is the perfect area to consider buying a home this year. Walk along the trails and parks like Stadium Parks at the West Branch, check out museums such as the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, or visit downtown Canton. No matter which neighborhood you travel in Canton, you won’t get bored of exploring the city.
#7: Lorraine
Median home price: $140,000
Average selling price per square foot: $108
Median household income: $40,486
Nearest Major Metro: Cleveland (30 miles)
Lorraine, Ohio home sale
Apartments for Lorraine, Ohio Apartments
Approximately 65,200 people live in Lorraine. The median home selling price is $140,000, which is about $100,000 less than the median home selling price in Ohio. Visit Lakeview Beach, The Mile Long Pier, Lorain Harbor Lighthouse and check out Black River Reservation Days Dam and enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants if you’re heading to the 8th most affordable city.
#8: Springfield
Median home price: $153,700
Average selling price per square foot: $131
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $885
Median household income: $39,344
Nearest Major Metro: Dayton (30 miles)
Sales in Springfield, Holmes, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio Apartments Rental
The median home selling price was $153,700, and Springfield won the eighth spot on the list of affordable locations in Ohio. The medium-sized city has approximately 58,700 residents. Living in Springfield, you can take a self-guided tour of Heartman Rock Garden, explore art and architecture at Springfield Museum of Art and the Westcott House in Frank Lloyd Wright, or hike, bike or boat at Buck Creek State Park.
#9: Middletown
Median home price: $190,500
Average selling price per square foot: $154
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $800
Median household income: $42,290
Nearest Major Metro: Cincinnati (38 miles)
Homes in Middletown, Ohio
Middletown, Ohio Apartments Rental
Next on the list is Middletown. The city has a population of 50,900 and offers access to Smith Park and explore the charming downtown area with shops and restaurants. There are plenty of activities to explore during your free time living in Middletown.
#10: Elyria
Median home price: $195,000
Average selling price per square foot: $143
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $700
Median household income: $43,816
Nearest Major Metro: Cleveland (30 miles)
Elyria, Ohio home sale
Elyria, Ohio Apartments
With a population of around 52,700 in Elyria, it is a great place to consider living in Ohio. Popular things to do in Elylia include strolling the East Falls Riverwalk, exploring downtown Elylia, and visiting museums like the Hickory’s Museum.
#11: Parma
Median home price: $200,000
Average selling price per square foot: $169
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,304
Median household income: $58,011
Nearest Major Metro: Cleveland (10 miles)
Home sales in Palma, Ohio
Apartments for Palma, Ohio Apartments
With the median home selling price in Palma is $200,000, it’s another great city to consider moving to this year. The city is home to around 81,000 people, giving Parma a city-like atmosphere without any fuss. If Palma is the city for you, explore the trails or have a picnic at West Cree Reservation and grab a meal at a local restaurant.
#12: Hamilton
Median home price: $203,000
Average selling price per square foot: $161
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,285
Median household income: $47,937
Nearest Major Metro: Cincinnati (35 miles)
Hamilton, Ohio home sale
Apartments for Hamilton, Ohio Apartments
Hamilton has a median home price of $203,000 and a median home selling price of 63,400 people, and there are many reasons why they might convince them to move to Hamilton. There are also many activities to do, including checking out the sculpture park and museums in Pyramid Hill, exploring natural areas along the river, and visiting downtown Hamilton.
#13: Cuyahoga Falls
Median home price: $209,000
Average selling price per square foot: $162
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $817
Median household income: $60,280
Nearest Major Metro: Akron (5 miles)
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh Homes for Sale
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh Apartments for Rent
Cuyahoga Falls City is ranked 13th on our list. For those who want to buy a home, the median selling price is $209,000. If you want to visit the nearest major cities, Akron is about 5 miles from Kuyahoga Falls. Cuyahoga Falls has plenty to do, like checking out the riverfront area where restaurants and shops can be found, exploring the riding area, and picnicking at Waterworks Park.
#14: Kettering
Median home price: $227,950
Average selling price per square foot: $178
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $940
Median household income: $61,974
Nearest Major Metro: Dayton (6 miles)
Kettering, Ohio home sales
Kettering, Ohio Apartments Rental
It’s Kettering that takes the 14th final spot on the list of the most affordable places to live in Ohio. The Kettering area has approximately 57,900 residents. Whether you’re outdoors or inside, there’s a lot to do in town. For example, you can play golf on one of the courses or watch live music on Fraze Pavilion.
Methodology: Every city must have more than 50,000 residents per US census and have a median home selling price under the average Ohio median home selling price. Median home sales prices and median sales prices per square foot from Redfin Data Center in April 2025. Average rental data from April 2025. Median household income data from the population and US Census Bureau.
