Best Counties in Ohio — 2026 Rankings
88 of 88 counties scored across 12 dimensions
88
88 scored
49/100
composite score
70.4/100
24.8—70.4
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Ohio
Ohio Ranks Just Below the National Median
Ohio earns an average composite score of 48.6, placing it slightly under the national median of 50.0. With data available for all 88 counties, the state presents a comprehensive picture of Midwestern livability that remains competitive on the national stage.
Income and Health Power the Buckeye State
The state's greatest strengths lie in its income score of 55.5 and a solid health score of 54.5. These metrics suggest that residents typically enjoy better-than-average access to healthcare and wage opportunities compared to many other states.
Tax Burdens Impact Overall Affordability
A low tax score of 30.7 is the primary drag on Ohio's overall ranking, indicating a higher tax burden than many peer states. Combined with a cost score of 46.8, these financial pressures can offset the gains made in the state's higher-earning sectors.
Rural Gems Lead the State in Livability
Noble County takes the top spot with an impressive 70.4 composite score, largely due to its exceptional 83.3 cost score. Wyandot (67.1) and Mercer (65.5) also rank highly, proving that Ohio's smaller counties often provide a better value proposition than major hubs like Lucas or Cuyahoga.
A Strong Fit for High-Earning Families
Ohio is an ideal destination for families who prioritize access to quality health systems and solid income potential. While tax rates are a notable downside, the state's high-performing rural and mid-sized counties offer a high quality of life that rivals any in the Midwest.
All County Rankings in Ohio
Search, sort, and filter all 88 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 88 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noble County | 70.4 | 54.1 | 83.3 | 25.9 | 97.5 | 59.5 | 59.9 | 86.6 | 49.3 | 65.2 | 59.4 | 76.6 | |
| 2 | Wyandot County | 67.1 | 45.8 | 57.8 | 71.1 | 80.9 | 73.2 | 69.9 | 82.6 | 86 | 52.9 | 75.2 | 73 | |
| 3 | Mercer County | 65.5 | 32.6 | 51.4 | 81.6 | 91.1 | 70.5 | 68.8 | 68.4 | 86 | 60.4 | 81.4 | 75.8 | |
| 4 | Putnam County | 65.2 | 40 | 45.8 | 86.5 | 88.2 | 81.8 | 70.8 | 67.2 | 23.7 | 57.9 | 63 | 73.3 | |
| 5 | Monroe County | 64.8 | 47.5 | 89.6 | 35.4 | 89.8 | 41.1 | 53.9 | 72.8 | 32.5 | 61.9 | 58.2 | 70.1 | |
| 6 | Darke County | 62.4 | 43.2 | 64.3 | 52.8 | 83.3 | 56.4 | 67.3 | 47.3 | 50.4 | 61.3 | 80.6 | 77.3 | |
| 7 | Ottawa County | 59.6 | 32.1 | 37.3 | 78.2 | 85 | 72.4 | 73.1 | 40.9 | 45.7 | 52 | 66.3 | 66 | |
| 8 | Perry County | 59.4 | 43.3 | 62.4 | 53.2 | 78.5 | 43.7 | 67 | 74 | 23.9 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 74.4 | |
| 9 | Belmont County | 58.5 | 38.6 | 65.8 | 34 | 80.8 | 46.1 | 68.2 | 24.8 | 55.7 | 62.4 | 60.1 | 75 | |
| 10 | Williams County | 58.5 | 27.3 | 56 | 44.6 | 76.8 | 62.5 | 73.9 | 55.6 | 48.5 | 50.1 | 67.6 | 68.8 | |
| 11 | Auglaize County | 58.4 | 40.8 | 47.5 | 79.2 | 71.7 | 75.9 | 48.5 | 58.3 | 59.8 | 56.5 | 80.8 | 69.1 | |
| 12 | Brown County | 58.4 | 50.7 | 49 | 66.3 | 91.3 | 42.3 | 56.3 | 37.4 | 51 | 54.1 | 67.1 | 76.1 | |
| 13 | Preble County | 57.4 | 32.7 | 49.6 | 69.3 | 74.5 | 57 | 67.7 | 56.7 | 51.6 | 57.1 | 75 | 86.8 | |
| 14 | Paulding County | 57.1 | 31.9 | 66.3 | 62.2 | 52.9 | 55.5 | 78 | 78.9 | 17.9 | 53.3 | 64.6 | 71.6 | |
| 15 | Huron County | 56.9 | 34.6 | 48 | 56.7 | 77.6 | 52.3 | 70 | 49.7 | 60.6 | 54.6 | 70.4 | 71.1 | |
| 16 | Carroll County | 56.7 | 40.6 | 53.6 | 52.9 | 80.8 | 45.2 | 54.9 | 80.1 | 42 | 53.5 | 52.9 | 66.8 | |
| 17 | Holmes County | 56.3 | 30.3 | 51.1 | 77 | 97.5 | 31.2 | 62.3 | 39.6 | 30.8 | 56.1 | 56.1 | 75.1 | |
| 18 | Logan County | 56 | 34.7 | 41.3 | 64.8 | 75 | 60.6 | 69.3 | 46.8 | 42.9 | 56.1 | 81.1 | 80.3 | |
| 19 | Geauga County | 55.7 | 13.4 | 18.6 | 95.6 | 91.2 | 74.2 | 75.9 | 39.7 | 35.7 | 57.6 | 65.3 | 63.7 | |
| 20 | Adams County | 55.6 | 50.6 | 73.7 | 13.5 | 81.8 | 28.1 | 41.4 | 56.2 | 60.1 | 59.8 | 57.7 | 69.4 | |
| 21 | Defiance County | 55.5 | 29.9 | 51.8 | 75 | 56.8 | 65.6 | 76.2 | 58.1 | 12.1 | 51.3 | 63.4 | 67.7 | |
| 22 | Sandusky County | 55.5 | 33.6 | 55.8 | 46.5 | 60.1 | 58.9 | 72.1 | 43.3 | 65.3 | 52.5 | 71.9 | 71.2 | |
| 23 | Van Wert County | 54.9 | 40.7 | 65.1 | 55.5 | 38.6 | 66.1 | 67.6 | 79.9 | 13.6 | 54 | 71.8 | 76.3 | |
| 24 | Harrison County | 54.6 | 35.2 | 74.9 | 22.5 | 75.1 | 39.9 | 39.9 | 88.6 | 24.5 | 63.8 | 54.7 | 77.4 | |
| 25 | Seneca County | 54.2 | 31.6 | 58.3 | 54.6 | 54.2 | 56.7 | 69.5 | 53.2 | 50.6 | 55.1 | 73.5 | 72.4 |
Noble County
Wyandot County
Mercer County
Putnam County
Monroe County
Darke County
Ottawa County
Perry County
Belmont County
Williams County
Auglaize County
Brown County
Preble County
Paulding County
Huron County
Carroll County
Holmes County
Logan County
Geauga County
Adams County
Defiance County
Sandusky County
Van Wert County
Harrison County
Seneca County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Ohio
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Ohio.
What is the best county in Ohio?
Noble County is the top-ranked county in Ohio with a CountyScore of 70.4/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Ohio?
Ohio has 88 counties in total. Of those, 88 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Ohio?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Ohio is 49/100. The national average is 50/100, so Ohio counties score 1 points below the national average.
How does Ohio compare to other states?
Ohio's average county score of 49/100 is 1 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare Ohio counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Ohio.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.