OHIO — Four Ohio metropolitan areas have earned spots on a new national ranking of the best places to live, work and visit in the United States, with three landing in the top 50.
The 2026 “America’s Best Cities” report from international consulting firm Resonance ranks the nation’s top 100 metro areas based on their appeal for residents, visitors and businesses.
Columbus ranked highest among Ohio cities at No. 34. The report highlights the city’s rapid growth as a technology and talent hub, fueled by major investments from Intel, Amazon Web Services and Google, along with an expanding data center industry. Resonance also points to Columbus’ thriving restaurant and nightlife scene and major infrastructure projects, including a new $2 billion airport terminal and convention center upgrades.
Cincinnati placed No. 40 on the list. The report credits the city with combining corporate strength, tourism and culture, highlighting its $264 million convention center renovation, a planned headquarters hotel, and attractions such as Taste of Cincinnati, BLINK, Oktoberfest and its nightlife districts.
Cleveland followed closely at No. 41. According to the report, the city is experiencing a major urban resurgence driven by corporate, cultural and infrastructure investments. Projects including the new Sherwin-Williams headquarters, expansion of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and several multibillion-dollar developments are helping transform Cleveland into an increasingly revitalized and affordable destination.
Toledo rounded out Ohio’s entries at No. 99. The report notes the city’s affordability, particularly its lower housing costs compared with many higher-priced metropolitan areas.
Two Ohio cities that appeared on the 2025 rankings, Dayton and Akron, did not make this year’s top 100 list.
In a separate ranking of the nation’s best small cities, Canton placed No. 100, earning high marks for its lovability and strong scores for livability.
Resonance’s annual report evaluates U.S. metro areas using a combination of economic performance, quality-of-life indicators and public perception. Cities are ranked across categories including livability, lovability and prosperity to identify the places Americans most want to live, work and visit.
