**The Best Thing About Columbus?** The Ohio State University 

We put the Buckeyes as the #1 thing about Columbus not because the school itself is the thing, but rather what a massive, influential school like Ohio State brings to a city. It directly and indirectly makes Columbus younger, more tech-centric, more LGBT friendly, more culturally diverse, and more economically sound for jobs, real estate, and gives the population more overall confidence than other Ohio or other midwestern cities (apologies to Ann Arbor). 

**The Worst Thing About Columbus?** It’s Flat

Now this point might seem to go without saying if you’re thinking about moving here from another Midwestern city. However, if you’re thinking about Columbus from a coast or mountain state and are going to hold Columbus to a higher standard you are going to be disappointed with the topography. Some grow to love the plains of the midwest in the same way the desert has appeal but we’re just giving you the heads up. 

**How You Living?** Surrounded By Brick

Columbus has so many beautiful historic neighborhoods(they call them districts) that are dominated by sturdy brick homes, brick apartment buildings, brick rowhouses and renovated brick buildings that house much of the commercial district businesses. The Short North is a great example of all this; with lots of art galleries, boutique retail, bars, coffee spots and plenty of walkable housing (all made of brick). Whether you’re a young single looking for a social neighborhood or a family looking for bigger homes and some land you’ll find it here (and much of it will be brick). 


**Why You Should Move Here Now?** It’s A Pearl

Nearly everything you could want from your precious bigger city is available in Columbus: arts, sports, nightlife, diverse population, diverse economy and the rest but without much of the hassles of a high cost of living, or insane traffic, or the rest. You get all of the bigger city experiences without many of the downsides. If you’re looking for a better place to bail to and think the midwest could work Columbus is hard to beat. If you’re truly unsure about the Midwest (or at least Ohio) then remember that tagline they never adopted: Columbus: We Are So Not Ohio. 


Columbus

We Are So Not Ohio

**The Good, the Bad and the Ugly**

Cleveland has The Eastside and The Westside and the twain really don’t meet. These are clusters of many suburbs that are too many to name. The actual city of Cleveland is geographically tight and the ‘inner-ring’ suburbs are popular with people looking for a bustling, urban lifestyle and left-leaning politics. The Westside features Lakewood (lake shoreline, high LGBTQ quotient, solid public transportation and tons of millenials.) Ohio City (young professionals, juice bars and yoga) and Tremaine. The Eastside features Cleveland Heights, Coventry, University Circle and Shaker Heights all of which are pretty good for families. Downtown underwent a major revitalization many years ago and living downtown became a thing that was possible. A warehouse district called The Flats was massively developed (now East Bank Flats and West Bank Flats) with world class entertainment and sports the requisite loft-style, genuine artist- in-residence spaces and luxury apartments (Goldcoast) all of which house the professionals, the painters and the partiers. Oh and there’s professional sports like crazy. 

The Cleveland metro area is extremely diverse (though segregated -- The Westside is very white and can, in certain places, be downright racist.) Little Italy is the real deal, a system of metro parks called The Emerald Necklace is cool but The Lake Effect is not just a fancy term -- lots o’ snow.

**The Best Thing About Cleveland?**

An urban lifestyle is available well below the cost of other cities. Millennials have breathed new life into Cleveland and it shows. The ‘inner-ring’ of suburbs is pretty handy.

**The Worst Thing About Cleveland?** 

The weather really blows. Winters are grey and long and when the grey weather sets in, those notoriously friendly people lose their otherwise friendly demeanor. 

**How You Living?** 

A smorgasbord of options. Old houses, new luxury apartments, ranch houses, lofts. There are so many different living situations and types of communities. If you choose carefully, you could have the best of all worlds. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

They really want you to. Cleveland is still in a years-long effort to reinvent itself and it has attracted lots of advanced jobs in BioTech, IT and advanced manufacturing that pay well while the cost of living and home prices are a bargain. 


Cleveland

The Cleve

**The Best Thing About Toledo?**  A strong commitment to the arts

Toledo has a thriving arts scene in all media, but has a special emphasis on both commercial and artistic glass. Its Museum of Art includes a world-renowned Glass Pavilion and major glass manufacturers employ many of the city’s populace.

**The Worst Thing About Toledo?**  Crime

Toledo is considered one of the more dangerous cities in the country. But as with most cities a lot of that depends on where you live. In general, it has the kinds of ups and downs that any city its size would have but it’s something to be aware of when considering Toledo. 

**How You Living?**  It’s a mixed bag

Despite the crime, Toledo is a decent place to live. In addition to the arts, it has most of the amenities of a large city, anchored by an extended Metropark system, which provides great access to spaces within and outside the city. It’s a mid-sized city that’s still fairly affordable, and it’s located smack dab in the middle of the United States, offering easy access to other cities small and large. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**  Affordable and central

Toledo is affordable, and like a lot of midwestern cities is experiencing a renaissance of work-from-homers looking for a pleasant, family-friendly, cheaper option. Like any city its size, there’s plenty to do and lots for families to enjoy. Finally, if you have midwestern sensibilities about what is close, then you'll find the drives to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville or Pittsburgh easy for a weekend trip. 


Toledo

Glass City

**The Best Thing About Cincinnati?** Easy to get a job

Cincinnati is a mid sized city with the amenities of a big one, without being crowded. There are a lot of Fortune 500 companies with plenty of high-paying jobs along with a low cost of living. Those companies attract people of all ages, and at all wages. 

**The Worst Thing About Cincinnati?** Hard to get around

Cincinnatians bemoan the lack of a central subway system and a poor transit system overall. Car ownership is a given, but parking is also hard. And despite the lack of crowds, traffic can get snarled and cumbersome. While you get the amenities of a bigger city it is missing the public transport of one. 

**How You Living?** Like a city mouse

Cincinnati has a lot of diversity in its neighborhoods. If you’re looking for fancy check out Hyde Park. Have a preference for a mix of beautiful housing and a great social scene? Head to the Clifton Gaslight District. Prefer a downtown nightlife with loft living, and the downtown ballparks nearby? Then you should look at The Banks. Finally, if you’re looking for a cool neighborhood with beautiful historic Victorians check out Columbia-Tusculum. It’s known as the “San Francisco of Cincinnati”.  

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** Growth

Cincinnati is in acceleration mode. The population is growing, the job market is growing, the downtown social and cultural scene are growing. If there is a reason to move here it is centered around the incredible energy and enthusiasm for the city that comes with that growth. Come here because the people that live here love it. 


Top LOOKS for Ohio

Columbus, OH

We Are So Not Ohio

90

Cleveland, OH

The Cleve

84

Toledo, OH

Glass City

79

Cincinnati, OH

A Square Deal

89

Akron, OH

Rubber City

73