Why 3 Ohio Cities Are Among the 10 Most Livable Areas for Middle-Class Families
Written by
Jordan Rosenfeld
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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While being middle class used to be a status that signaled making a comfortable living and not having to worry about money, times have gotten harder even for this class of folks. Of course, that may also be partially because the definition of the middle class encompasses a wide range of income levels, from around $50,000 at the low end to around $150,000 at the upper end.
However, middle-class families of all income levels are always looking for livable areas that boast low costs of living with decent salaries and good home values. While the Midwest has long been a place of relative affordability and high livability, Ohio keeps rising to the top of that list.
A recent GOBankingRates study sought to find the most livable cities for a middle-class family. Drawing on data from such sources as the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve Economic Data, Sperling’s Best Places and AreaVibes, to name a few, GOBankingRates found that three Ohio cities stood out among the top 10 most livable areas for middle-class families in the U.S.
Here’s how the numbers shake out in these cities.
Worthington
Worthington is actually a suburb of Ohio’s capital, Columbus. It hunkers in the middle of the state, making it a great central location for access to all that both city and suburbs have to offer. Here, the household median income is a sturdy $119,408. Home values are decent as well, averaging around $477,764. With a monthly mortgage of around $2,860 and total annual cost of living weighing in at just $65,906, Worthington residents have plenty of cash left after expenses. The cherry on top is an extremely high livability score of 94.
University Heights
This suburb of Cleveland is similar in size and livability to Worthington and offers nearly as many amenities. You’ll find a lot of families and young professionals taking advantage of this town for good reasons. Household median income comes in at $91,960, making it easy to afford a single-family home, with the average home value around $263,452. Average monthly mortgage payments are a very reasonable $1,577. Total annual cost of living averages below $50,000, leaving residents here with more than $40,000 in extra income to live on comfortably. Its livability score is an exceptional 93.
Bexley
The Village of Bexley is a small, compact village near Columbus, compressed into 2.5 square miles. It’s known for “close-knit neighborhoods,” according to the city website, and great public schools. A very walkable city, it’s no surprise its livability ranks a high 92. And all of these amenities don’t come at a super high premium. The household median income is a more than decent $138,929. A single-family home’s value is around $550,000, but average monthly mortgage payments are only $3,271. You can afford all of this on that median salary since total annual cost of living is just a smidge over $70,000.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States to find the most livable cities for a middle-class family. First, GOBankingRates found the median national income from the United States Census American Community Survey. The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as two-thirds the median income to double the median income, allowing for the calculation of the middle-class income range across the United States. The median income for each city can be found from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Locations with a median household income outside the middle-class range were removed for this study. For each middle-class city, the livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. All locations with a livability below 90 were removed as the cities with at least a 90 represent only the highest quality of life locations. For each remaining location a number of factors were found including; total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and household median income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using this data, the percentage of the population ages 65 and over can be calculated. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous cost of living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for a family of four, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for a married couple with kids, the average expenditure cost for each location can be calculated. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Using the average single-family home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living can be calculated. The cities were sorted to show the highest livability index locations first, showcasing the most livable cities for a middle-class family of four. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 23, 2024.
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