Ohio pride runs deep, but just two cities in the Buckeye State landed on U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2026-27.
The annual list evaluates hundreds of U.S. cities based on affordability, desirability, job market strength and quality of life, using survey responses and data from multiple federal agencies to come up with the rankings. Multiple Ohio cities were also recognized in U.S. News’ 2025 ranking, where many stood out for the same reasons.
Affordability is weighing more heavily on Americans’ housing decisions, according to U.S. News consumer lending analyst Erika Giovanetti.
“As prices of everyday goods continue to rise, consumers are considering affordability as a top priority when choosing a place to live,” Giovanetti said in a release. “Cost-of-living concerns resulted in many Americans putting what they can afford above their aspirations.”
These are the two cities that made USNWR’s 2026 rankings.
Mentor top Ohio city in U.S. News Best Places to Live ranking
Mentor ranked No. 88 nationally, making it the highest‑ranked Ohio city on U.S. News’ 2026–27 Best Places to Live list. The Lake County city stood out for its affordability, lower cost of living and solid job market, according to U.S. News.
Here’s a snapshot of how Mentor stacks up:
U.S. News noted that Mentor offers a lower cost of living than many similarly sized cities, helping it score well in the value category. About 46,700 people live in Mentor, and the median age is 47, reflecting a largely established, suburban population.
Parma also cracks national top 250
Parma, another Cleveland suburb, was the only other Ohio city to appear on the list, ranking No. 165 nationally. It ranked lower than Mentor, but Parma still earned high marks for affordability and quality of life, which helped it break into the top 250.
Here’s what makes Parma stand out:
U.S. News says that Parma’s lower housing costs give it an advantage when compared with similar cities, even though its job market is slightly behind the national average. The city’s affordability was a major factor in its overall ranking.
Top 10 Best Places to Live in the US
Two Indianapolis suburbs and several cities in Texas dominated the top of the list. Here’s how the national top 10 shook out in the USNWR rankings:
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mentor, Parma only Ohio cities on US News Best Places list. Here’s why
Reporting by Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
