Mentor, Parma top list of US News & World Report's 'Best Places to Live in Ohio' - wkyc studios

Published by: WKYC Studios

By: Dave DeNatale

Original Article found here

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CLEVELAND — Let the debate begin throughout Northeast Ohio!

U.S. News & World Report has named Mentor as the 'Best Place to Live' in Ohio for 2025-26, with Parma close behind at No. 2.

In coming up with the ranking, U.S. News & World Report says it evaluated more than 850 cities (up from 150 in previous years) and took the top 250 for its 2025-2026 Best Places to Live in the U.S. list. Mentor ranked No. 138 on that list, with Parma checking in at No. 157."We're honored to be recognized as one of the premier communities in the nation to live and raise a family by U.S. News & World Report,” said Mentor City Manager Kenneth J. Filipiak in a statement. “While this is no secret to our residents, it's always nice to be evaluated so favorably by an objective and very credible publication."

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter provided the below statement to 3News:

“As Mayor, I am extremely proud and honored to receive this recognition and ranking from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live. Parma has great neighborhoods and housing options for all.

"We have wonderful bakeries, meat shops, and delicious eateries of many different cuisines. We take pride in our parks, libraries, hospitals, and many places of worship. As Ohio’s seventh-largest city, we are a strong and safe city with many community events throughout the year.

"Parma will celebrate its bicentennial in 2026, reflecting our city motto—‘Progress through Partnerships.’ This ranking marks our commitment to maintaining a strong quality of life for all residents.”

Here's the rest of the list of "Best Places to Live" in Ohio:

1. Mentor

2. Parma

3. Columbus

4. Hamilton

5. Lima

6. Springfield

7. Lorain

8. Mansfield

9. Sandusky

10. Akron

11. Dayton

12. Cincinnati

13. Toledo

14. Youngstown

15. Canton

16. Cleveland 

    So how did U.S. News & World Report come up with this list? The publication says the ranking is "based on an analysis of public data and user opinions." To be on the list, a city must earn high scores in criteria that includes value, desirability, job market and quality of life.

    "These measures were weighted in part based on a public survey of thousands of individuals throughout the U.S. to find what qualities they consider important in a place to live. The methodology also factors in data from U.S. News' internal resources, Applied Geographic Solutions, and U.S. government agencies including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration," U.S. News & World Report explained in its release.