Ohioincome tax up to 3.5%, 12th highest property tax, median home $235K
R+12 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
3.5%
Income Tax
303
Violent Crime / 100K
75.4
Life Expectancy
$235K
Median Home
$1,100
Childcare / Mo
Ohio in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Ohio
Ohio has a graduated income tax that tops out at 3.5% and exempts Social Security. Cities and school districts can add their own income taxes, so the total rate depends on the municipality. Home prices are well below the national average in all three major metros. Ohio has allowed permitless concealed carry since June 2022 and legalized recreational marijuana by ballot in 2023.
What Ohio taxes, and what it doesn't
Ohio levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 3.5%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 1.8%, about $1,346 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 2.6%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Ohio has the 2nd lowest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 1.37% of home value a year, roughly $3,220 on the state's median home of $235K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Ohio has the 12th highest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.22%, the 20th highest in the country (the state portion is 5.75%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is partly exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Housing and the cost of living in Ohio
Ohio's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average; that is the 10th cheapest of the 50 states.
The median home costs $235K, 23% below the national figure and the 10th lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,050 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $1,200 a year, flood coverage adds about $550 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,280.
Budget $140 a month for electricity and gas, $450 a month in groceries for two, $1,100 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 303 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Ohio is the 20th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,081 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 75.4 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 6.9% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Ohio's health system 22nd of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 28th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Ohio is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 12 points in 2024.
On guns, concealed-carry permits are shall-issue, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Ohio is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $10.45 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are tornado, flood, blizzard. Annual average air quality index is 45 (under 50 is good).
Ohio has no top-25 hub airport, with about 90 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Ohio
State Profile
Ohio will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$3,220/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
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Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Below US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Among the least restrictive zoning (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
Local control; preemption bills (SB 104/HB 109) pending 2026.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Low homelessness rate — 20% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
Healthcare
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
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Healthcare
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
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Education
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
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Childcare
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
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Utilities & Daily Costs
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Dirtier than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
Sources: FAA · BTS
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Airports & Travel
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
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Culture & Lifestyle
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
3.1/100K residents — Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
Strong spirits scene
Live Music
Columbus indie heartland; Cleveland rock heritage (Rock Hall); Blossom Music Center; Zaftig, Platform, Actual Brewing
Transportation
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
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Transportation
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
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Social & Legal
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Voters approved constitutional right to abortion 2023
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
4 commercial casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo. Sports betting launched 2023. Big lottery market.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Ponderosa Sun Club · Pine Shadows Club · Malabar Sun Club
Environment & Climate
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
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Environment & Climate
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
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Politics & Gun Laws
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Allowed if not consuming or under the influence; worship requires permission.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
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Jobs & Economy
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+0.9% job growth · 4% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Above-average union presence (BLS 2025)
Business Climate
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
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Business Climate
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
0.26% gross receipts tax applies
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Commercial Activity Tax (CAT): 0.26% on gross receipts over $150K
Daily Life
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
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Daily Life
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.14 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal; 18+ only
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
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Weather & Natural Risks
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 33°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
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Natural Hazards
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
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Veteran Benefits
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
7.1% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet homestead exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Ohio counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Ohio
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
Compare Similar States
OH vs IA
Ohio vs Iowa
COL 88 vs 88 · 3.5% vs 3.8% income tax
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OH vs MI
Ohio vs Michigan
COL 88 vs 88 · 3.5% vs 4.25% income tax
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OH vs AL
Ohio vs Alabama
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OH vs IN
Ohio vs Indiana
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Trending in Ohio
Bond set for Ohio man who charged at Democratic governor candidate Dr. Amy Acton - Spectrum News
Spectrum News · Sep 8
Two Ohio governor candidates back major new limits on Flock cameras - Cleveland.com
Cleveland.com · Sep 8
Man accused of lunging toward Ohio Democrat Amy Acton to be arraigned in Mahoning County - Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio Capital Journal · Sep 8
Ohio Democrat Amy Acton reflects on a ‘rough day’ as witnesses recall ‘frightening’ confrontation - NBC News
NBC News · Sep 7
Assailant lunges at Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate, campaign says - The Guardian
The Guardian · Sep 6
What Residents Say
Maybe moving to Ohio
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One consideration is that most Ohio communities have a local income tax. Cleveland's is about 2%. There are communities that have 100% ......
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What Keeps You in Ohio
This is something I have wondered for a bit. It seems to me that a lot of posts on here are about how much this state sucks, specifically the state government ....
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All of my family still lives in the same town in Ohio where the avg home price is low $200ks. I knew it was time to go back to my hometown to ......
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Should I move here? : r/Cleveland
I’m 31, in southeast Florida, single, working-class. Im looking for a well balanced area; that has things to do but not the congestion/cost of Nyc/boston/etc .....
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wanting to leave ohio for the new england(ish) area
Rent, electricity, taxes, it all adds up. I can't speak on Providence, but I do know Western Mass and Maine are more on the cheaper end ......
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Ohio will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.
One email when Ohio changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.