Welcome to Ohio

Your life in the Buckeye State begins

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Ohio Self-StorageReasons to Move to OhioMoving to OhioEconomic OutlookPlaces to LiveResources

Welcome to Ohio

With a population of 11.7 million people, Ohio is the 7th largest state by population and the 34th largest by size. Ohio is a state rich in natural resources, cheap energy, and productive soils. Local industries take full advantage of Ohio's oil, salt, coal, limestone, sandstone, natural gas, and other resources. Heavily engulfed in agriculture and mineral production, those are two of the state's greatest sources of income. However, manufacturing is still one of Ohio's most important economic activities.

Ohio's major industries include aerospace, advanced energy, agriculture and food processing, motor vehicle and parts manufacturing, and professional and financial services. North Ohio's major industries include fuel cells, liquid crystal displays, polymers, bioscience, chemicals, logistics, and distribution.

While Cleveland may be more expensive than the US as a whole when it comes to the cost of living, Columbus and Cincinnati both have a cost of living lower than the national average. Let's not forget that there's tons to do across the state all year long, including beaches, museums, casinos, and skiing, to name a few.

Top attractions include Kings Island Amusement Park, Hocking Hills State Park, Cedar Point, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, and The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Ohio Self-Storage Facts

The Ohio self-storage industry has grown in recent years with a market driven by pent up demand and population growth. A recent wave of development has taken over the country and the Buckeye State is no exception. Following the last recession, the development of new self-storage space slowed to a halt. Banks were no longer lending to speculative commercial development. But demand for facilities did not go away as population centers in cities like Columbus and Cleveland continue to grow. With financing now available for the self-storage industry, many facilities are being built currently to meet the demand in urban centers as well as in secondary and tertiary markets across the United States. The good news is for consumers is that the expansion of new self-storage facilities has led to lower rates as operators compete to fill empty space.

Below is an overview of the current state of the Ohio self-storage market:

Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in Ohio:

1,748

Ohio is home to about 1,748 self-storage facilities.

53,926,296

Ohio self-storage facilities cover 53,926,296 square feet of storage space.

4.67

Ohio storage facilities offer 4.67 square feet of storage per person, which is lower than the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.

Reasons to Move to Ohio

If you've been considering moving to Ohio, but you're not exactly sure what it is you have to look forward to, take a look at the top 10 reasons you might want to make the move. They may just convince you to make your next visit permanent.

1

Wine lovers' paradise. Some people call Ohio the Napa Valley of the Midwest, so if you're a wine connoisseur or you just like to sip on your favorite red in the evenings, Ohio is a great place to be.

2

The rollercoasters. If you make the move to Ohio, you'll never be more than a few hours from some of the best roller coasters in the world. Ohioans love themselves a good rollercoaster, you'll learn.

3

Hot dogs everywhere. Ohio is home to large populations of German, Hungarian, and Polish residents and because of that, you'll likely find a hot dog place in close proximity no matter where you are in the state. If you're a fan of hot dogs and sausages, you won't be disappointed living in Ohio.

4

Other culinary delights. Ohio is a great place to find a variety of different kinds of foods (other than hot dogs) with playful menus and state-of-the-art chefs, including Ricotta dumplings in Columbus and sushi in Toledo.

5

Experience all four seasons. Moving to Ohio means you'll get to experience all four of the seasons, which means you get to periodically update your wardrobe every three months. Win-win!

6

Great flights. If you're looking to escape the cold weather the winter brings in Ohio, escaping to Florida is easy. There are tons of flights that leave directly out of Ohio.

7

Home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland is home to the largest house of rock n' roll in the entire country. Moving to Cleveland gives you bragging rights few others have.

8

Top shelf beer. Ohio has plenty of dive bars and sports bars and they often have the top-shelf brands of craft beer, so bottoms up!

9

The Greatest Free Show on Earth. Every fall, at the Circleville Pumpkin Show, you'll get to experience one of the coolest fall festivals in the state to what locals call The Greatest Free Show on Earth.

10

Proximity to major cities. If you move to Ohio, you'll be halfway between New York City and Chicago, meaning you can take a quick trip to either city any time you want. Road trip anyone?

Moving to Ohio

With a population of approximately 11.7 million people, Ohio is the 7th most populous and 10th most densely populated state in the country. The state has one of the slowest lowest growth rates in the US. Between 2018 and 2019, the population grew by 0.25 percent. Ohio was ranked number six on the list of most moved-from states in 2018. The reason for the decline appears to be new employment. People are flocking to other states for new jobs. More than 60 percent of outgoing migrants said that was their main reason for leaving Ohio. Other reasons include Ohio not having full worker freedom, like the majority of its neighbors. Ohio also has a complex local government structure, local income taxes, as well as a high occupational licensing burden.

Ohio Economic Outlook

Ohio's economic outlook is strong because of the fact that the state still has impressive comparative advantages, including having a location that puts businesses in favorable locations - within 600 miles of 59 percent of the population of the US and Canada. Not to mention, the goods produced or making their way through Ohio can contribute to the state's economy in the coming years, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Ohio Development Services Agency.

The state GDP is about $676 billion as of 2018 and the current unemployment rate in Ohio is 4.2 percent (September 2019), which is higher than the US average of 3.5 percent. While unemployment rates are rising, the state appears to be recovering with a 0.4 percent increase in the job market over the last year. Over the next 10 years, job growth is expected to increase by 26.9 percent, which is somewhat lower than the US average of 33.5 percent. However, plenty of cities in Ohio boast a lower cost of living than the national average, such as Columbus, which has a cost of living 10 percent lower than the national average.

Below is a breakdown of Ohio's largest sector by real GDP added:

$110.72 billion
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing
$101.8 billion
Manufacturing
$72.11 billion
Professional and business services
$62.23 billion
Government and government enterprises
$58.32 billion
Educational services, healthcare, and social assistance

Who are Ohio's Largest Employers?

EMPLOYER
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
50,200
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
49,800
Kroger Co.
45,150
Ohio State University
33,300
Mercy Health
32,200

Places to live in Ohio

Ohio is 44,825 square miles with a population density of 282 people per square mile. Known to some as The Heart of It All due to its close proximity to both Chicago and NYC, Ohio is a state filled with opportunity. From amusement and state parks to dozens of outdoor events and restaurants, there's no shortage of things to do and see in Ohio.

Columbus

Columbus, which is also the state's capital, is the most populous city in Ohio with a population of roughly 890,228 people. Located in Central Ohio, Columbus has plenty to offer whether you're there to visit or stay, including museums, escape rooms, wineries, vineyards, restaurants, sports games, and more.

Cost of living
10 percent lower than the national average
Median home price
$158,700
Average rent
$947 per month
Average apartment size
885 square feet

Cleveland

Cleveland is Ohio's second-largest city and has a population of about 379,800 people, according to World Population Review. Located in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland boasts casinos, museums, golf clubs, zoos, parks, theaters, and antique shops.

Cost of living
1 percent higher than the national average
Median home price
$5Cincinnati, Ohio's third-largest city, has more than 299,238 residents that live within the city limits. Home to two professional sports teams, the Bengals and the Reds, Cincinnati is a city brimming with excitement. Located in Southwest Ohio, there's more than enough to do in this exciting city, including distilleries, state parks, conservatories, museums, botanical gardens, zoos, art centers, and theaters.
Average rent
$1,097 per Cincinnati, Ohio's third-largest city, has more than 299,238 residents that live within the city limits. Home to two professional sports teams, the Bengals and the Reds, Cincinnati is a city brimming with excitement. Located in Southwest Ohio, there's more than enough to do in this exciting city, including distilleries, state parks, conservatories, museums, botanical gardens, zoos, art centers, and theaters.
Average apartment size
801 squareCincinnati, Ohio's third-largest city, has more than 299,238 residents that live within the city limits. Home to two professional sports teams, the Bengals and the Reds, Cincinnati is a city brimming with excitement. Located in Southwest Ohio, there's more than enough to do in this exciting city, including distilleries, state parks, conservatories, museums, botanical gardens, zoos, art centers, and theaters.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio's third-largest city, has more than 299,238 residents that live within the city limits. Home to two professional sports teams, the Bengals and the Reds, Cincinnati is a city brimming with excitement. Located in Southwest Ohio, there's more than enough to do in this exciting city, including distilleries, state parks, conservatories, museums, botanical gardens, zoos, art centers, and theaters.

Cost of living
8 percent lower than the national average
Median home price
$147,100
Average rent
$996 per month
Average apartment size
870 square feet

Moving to Ohio Resources

All Ohio Cities

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