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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Ohio, 2026

Canfield is the most affordable ranked town in Ohio. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

288
Towns ranked in Ohio.
Canfield
Number 1 in Ohio. Rent is 9.7% of income. National rank 540.
17.5%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Ohio.
0
Ranked Ohio towns in the national top 100.
Oxford
Least affordable ranked town in Ohio. Rent is 29.3% of income. National rank 4447.

Gasoline

$3.974

per gallon. EIA publishes this state price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $1,907.52 a year for every ranked town in Ohio.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Ohio." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/ohio

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Benefits and taxes in Ohio

Top 25

  1. #1 in Ohio · National #540

    Canfield

    Rent share 9.7% · Price level 87.4 · Score 0.263

    Median rent is $788 a month and median income is $97,439, so rent is 9.7% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro price level is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Ohio · National #640

    Hubbard

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 87.4 · Score 0.272

    Median rent is $799 a month and median income is $62,593, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro price level is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Ohio · National #661

    Cortland

    Rent share 12.1% · Price level 87.4 · Score 0.275

    Median rent is $720 a month and median income is $71,563, so rent is 12.1% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro price level is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Ohio · National #711

    Fort Shawnee

    Rent share 13.7% · Price level 89.7 · Score 0.280

    Median rent is $1,035 a month and median income is $90,491, so rent is 13.7% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Lima, OH metro price level is 89.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Ohio · National #732

    Howland Center

    Rent share 15.5% · Price level 87.4 · Score 0.282

    Median rent is $1,116 a month and median income is $86,135, so rent is 15.5% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro price level is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Ohio · National #733

    Toronto

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.282

    Median rent is $748 a month and median income is $55,972, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Ohio · National #741

    St. Clairsville

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 88.3 · Score 0.283

    Median rent is $927 a month and median income is $76,480, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Wheeling, WV-OH metro price level is 88.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Ohio · National #746

    Wellston

    Rent share 11.4% · Price level 92.8 · Score 0.283

    Median rent is $534 a month and median income is $56,193, so rent is 11.4% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Ohio state price level is 92.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Ohio · National #768

    Shelby

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 88.9 · Score 0.285

    Median rent is $780 a month and median income is $58,351, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Mansfield, OH metro price level is 88.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Ohio · National #770

    Kenton

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 92.8 · Score 0.285

    Median rent is $625 a month and median income is $56,033, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Ohio state price level is 92.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Ohio · National #813

    St. Marys

    Rent share 12.8% · Price level 92.8 · Score 0.288

    Median rent is $848 a month and median income is $79,516, so rent is 12.8% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Ohio state price level is 92.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Ohio · National #816

    Napoleon

    Rent share 12.8% · Price level 92.8 · Score 0.289

    Median rent is $819 a month and median income is $76,639, so rent is 12.8% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Ohio state price level is 92.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Ohio · National #818

    Oregon

    Rent share 13.1% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.289

    Median rent is $900 a month and median income is $82,197, so rent is 13.1% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Toledo, OH metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Ohio · National #830

    Delphos

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 89.7 · Score 0.290

    Median rent is $812 a month and median income is $61,037, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Lima, OH metro price level is 89.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Ohio · National #843

    Sylvania

    Rent share 12.8% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.291

    Median rent is $1,072 a month and median income is $100,189, so rent is 12.8% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Toledo, OH metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Ohio · National #846

    New Carlisle

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 90.5 · Score 0.291

    Median rent is $840 a month and median income is $64,443, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Springfield, OH metro price level is 90.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Ohio · National #933

    Wauseon

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.299

    Median rent is $821 a month and median income is $64,477, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Toledo, OH metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Ohio · National #940

    Maumee

    Rent share 14.8% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.299

    Median rent is $995 a month and median income is $80,833, so rent is 14.8% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Toledo, OH metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Ohio · National #941

    Champion Heights

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 87.4 · Score 0.299

    Median rent is $963 a month and median income is $67,940, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro price level is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Ohio · National #946

    Northwood

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.300

    Median rent is $965 a month and median income is $77,268, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Toledo, OH metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Ohio · National #947

    Germantown

    Rent share 13.4% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.300

    Median rent is $1,004 a month and median income is $90,125, so rent is 13.4% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Ohio · National #953

    Oakwood

    Rent share 10.8% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.300

    Median rent is $1,416 a month and median income is $156,667, so rent is 10.8% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Ohio · National #957

    Northridge

    Rent share 15.6% · Price level 90.5 · Score 0.300

    Median rent is $1,102 a month and median income is $84,974, so rent is 15.6% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Springfield, OH metro price level is 90.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Ohio · National #972

    Rossford

    Rent share 15.1% · Price level 91.5 · Score 0.301

    Median rent is $898 a month and median income is $71,199, so rent is 15.1% of income, under the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Toledo, OH metro price level is 91.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Ohio · National #975

    Girard

    Rent share 17.6% · Price level 87.4 · Score 0.302

    Median rent is $769 a month and median income is $52,550, so rent is 17.6% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Youngstown-Warren, OH metro price level is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #288 in Ohio · National #4447

    Oxford

    Rent share 29.3% · Price level 95.4 · Score 0.558

    Median rent is $997 a month and median income is $40,764, so rent is 29.3% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro price level is 95.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #287 in Ohio · National #4222

    Athens

    Rent share 31.8% · Price level 92.8 · Score 0.540

    Median rent is $1,011 a month and median income is $38,204, so rent is 31.8% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Ohio state price level is 92.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #286 in Ohio · National #4132

    Kent

    Rent share 27.7% · Price level 93.4 · Score 0.531

    Median rent is $991 a month and median income is $42,964, so rent is 27.7% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Akron, OH metro price level is 93.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #285 in Ohio · National #4052

    East Cleveland

    Rent share 42.1% · Price level 93.9 · Score 0.523

    Median rent is $776 a month and median income is $22,116, so rent is 42.1% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Cleveland, OH metro price level is 93.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #284 in Ohio · National #4044

    Whitehall

    Rent share 26.5% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.523

    Median rent is $1,145 a month and median income is $51,759, so rent is 26.5% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Columbus, OH metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #283 in Ohio · National #3958

    Northbrook

    Rent share 27.7% · Price level 95.4 · Score 0.515

    Median rent is $1,555 a month and median income is $67,426, so rent is 27.7% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro price level is 95.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #282 in Ohio · National #3855

    Macedonia

    Rent share 25.9% · Price level 93.4 · Score 0.508

    Median rent is $2,190 a month and median income is $101,285, so rent is 25.9% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Akron, OH metro price level is 93.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #281 in Ohio · National #3852

    Columbus

    Rent share 23.5% · Price level 95.5 · Score 0.508

    Median rent is $1,295 a month and median income is $66,082, so rent is 23.5% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Columbus, OH metro price level is 95.5 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #280 in Ohio · National #3722

    Maple Heights

    Rent share 30.1% · Price level 93.9 · Score 0.496

    Median rent is $1,338 a month and median income is $53,414, so rent is 30.1% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Cleveland, OH metro price level is 93.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #279 in Ohio · National #3713

    Cincinnati

    Rent share 22.7% · Price level 95.4 · Score 0.495

    Median rent is $1,001 a month and median income is $52,909, so rent is 22.7% of income, over the 17.5% median for ranked towns in Ohio. The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro price level is 95.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.45 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.974 a gallon (Ohio). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Ohio in this index?

Canfield is number 1 of 288 ranked towns in Ohio. Median rent is 9.7% of median income. Its national rank is 540.

How many towns in Ohio were ranked?

288 towns in Ohio have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Ohio?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.