Best U.S. Cities To Live In: 3 Ohio Towns Town Makes List

BEACHWOOD, OH — Three Ohio cities recently made a list of the best U.S. cities in which to live, according to a ranking by 24/7 Wall St.

The list, released Tuesday by the financial news website, ranks the top 50 cities in states throughout the United States. To determine which cities made the list, 24/7 Wall St. ranked each one using more than two dozen metrics related to affordability, economy, standard of living and community attributes such as access to public transportation, cultural amenities and crime rates.

Beachwood is considered the 32nd best place to live in the United States, according to the ranking. With a population of 11,704, Beachwood made the list because of its low cost of living, its quick and easy access to parks and its high number of restaurants, museums, bars and other entertainment centers. Unemployment in Beachwood is 2.7 percent, and the population has dropped slightly over 5 years (by 1.7 percent).

Two other Ohio cities made the list of best places to live: Dover (No. 30) and New Albany (No. 25).

Dover was praised for its low cost of living and low crime rate. The average home price was $125,000, significantly lower than the national average (of about $200,000).

New Albany was singled out for its rapidly expanding population — the city has grown more than 33 percent in 5 years — and its high median household income (more than $200,000). Despite homeowners making more money than most, the cost of living in New Albany remains low, with goods and services costing 13 percent less on average.

The list, according to 24/7 Wall St., favors cities with conditions and amenities that have almost universal appeal. These include short commute times, walkability, reliable public transit, affordability, job availability, entertainment options, cultural attractions, low crime rates, and access to places such as grocery stores and hospitals.

Although many of the cities and towns on the list are relatively wealthy, 24/7 Wall St. did not use household income in developing the index.

A majority of the cities on the list have also seen population growth in the last five years, a signal that an area or city is attractive to new residents, the ranking says.

These are the top 10 best cities to live, according to this year’s list:

1. Manhattan Beach, California
2. Winnetka, Illinois
3. Hanover, New Hampshire
4. Highland Park, Texas
5. Piedmont, California
6. Paradise Valley, Arizona
7. Solana Beach, California
8. Newport Beach, California
9. Mercer Island, Washington
10. Greenwood Village, Colorado

See the full list of 50 best U.S. cities to live and read more about the ranking’s methodology on 24/7 Wall St.’s website.