Moving to Ohio

If you are making the move to Ohio, you’re not alone. Tens of thousands relocated to the Buckeye State in 2020, making Ohio fourth in the nation for migration growth in one study.

There are several reasons people make the move. Work is a big factor. While the state’s job growth holds steady, Ohio still tops the national average and employment opportunities abound. Major industries include healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services, and the state ranks No. 5 on the Top 10 list of states with the most Fortune 500 companies.

Considered one of the most affordable states, Ohio’s cost of living is another big draw. Housing prices are nearly 63 percent lower in Columbus, Ohio, compared to Boston for example, and someone making $75,000 in Boston would need to pull in about $45,500 to live similarly in Columbus. When it comes to energy, the monthly bill for the average residential home’s energy usage is less than half of the country. This is due in part because Ohioans can shop, compare residential electricity rates, and choose their energy supplier.

Ohio is an Energy Choice state, which means residents have the freedom to compare electric and natural gas providers and choose the energy supplier and plan that best fits their individual situation, whether that’s choosing a fixed-rate plan to make their monthly electric bill more predictable, or choosing an energy supplier that offers environmentally friendly clean, green energy.

Wherever you live in Ohio, you can choose your supplier, sometimes called your Competitive Retail Electric Service, or CRES, supplier. CRES suppliers are certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and offer alternative competitive prices, renewable energy options, and other services or incentives. Energy Harbor, for example, is a CRES supplier. Energy Harbor is also a reliable energy generation company, with two nuclear power plants located in Ohio that supplies 90% of Ohio's carbon-free energy. 

Electric utility companies in Ohio include Columbus Southern Power, American Electric Power, AEP Ohio, and Ohio Power.

Comparing and selecting an energy provider is simple. And Ohio residents who make the switch still receive the same bill from their local utility company, making the transition even easier. After setting up an account with your public utility, shop plans from suppliers so you can be sure you have the plan that’s right for you when you move into your new home.

Ohio’s location in relation to the rest of the United States is also a draw. The state famously boasts that more than half of the U.S. population could hop in a car and drive to Ohio in less than a day. That makes living in Ohio perfect for wanderlust travelers to finally plant roots. After all, living halfway between New York City and Chicago, and a day’s drive from Washington D.C., Boston, Philadelphia and more, is a boon for those who live their lives somewhere between seeing the world and settling down.

Nearly 3 percent of the state’s 11 and half million people call one of Ohio’s three major cities, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, home. The metropolitan trio form a line down one of Ohio’s major highways, Rt. 71, from Cleveland’s perch on the shores of Lake Erie, through Columbus’s location in the heart of it all, down through Cincinnati, lying on the bank of the Ohio River. Each city has its own distinct cultural charm.

Ask Ohio residents what they enjoy most about the state and they’ll likely tell you they enjoy the experience of all four seasons – sometimes within the same week. Or they will go on about experiencing both the hustle and bustle of the big city and the calm of country life all within a one-hour drive. Still, there are a few things Ohioans would selfishly rather keep to themselves. Here are four: