Despite the Great Lakes’ thousands of miles of shoreline, and hundreds of miles of Lake Erie shore in Ohio, only one Ohio city earned a spot on WorldAtlas’ list of the 10 best places to live in the Great Lakes in 2026.
According to the publication, the list focuses on smaller towns chosen for their waterfront access, housing affordability and appeal to remote workers seeking alternatives to higher‑priced resort communities. These are places where residents can can “build lives around the water” without paying resort-level prices.
Here’s the Ohio city that made the list and why it stands out.
Sandusky among 10 best places to live in the Great Lakes in 2026
Sandusky, located about an hour west of Cleveland and two hours north of Columbus, was the Buckeye State’s lone entry on the list.
While most cities on the list are small to midsize communities with affordable housing and direct waterfront access, Sandusky stood out as the most tourism‑driven and entertainment‑heavy destination.
WorldAtlas describes Sandusky as a Lake Erie city known for Cedar Point, its downtown, public pier, farmers market and a nearby nature preserve. The publication notes that a typical home costs about $160,000 and highlights attractions such as Mr. Smith’s Coffee House near Washington Park, the Merry‑Go‑Round Museum, Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve and Jackson Street Pier.
World Atlas’ 10 Best Places to Live near the Great Lakes in 2026
Michigan and Wisconsin dominate the list of best places to live on the Great Lakes:
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Only one Ohio city makes list of Great Lakes best places to live
Reporting by Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
