The 10 Worst Small Towns In Ohio For 2024


The worst small towns in Ohio are Drexel and Morgandale for 2024 based on Friday Night Science.

Most Americans have never been to small town Ohio. However, as the Ohioan who live there know, small town Ohio is an awesome place to call home.

But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Ohio has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Buckeye State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.

After analyzing more than 379 of Ohio’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Ohio where you’d never want to live:


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


These are the worst small towns in Ohio for 2024:

  1. Drexel
  2. Morgandale
  3. Newcomer
  4. Jeffersonville
  5. Manchester
  6. Urbancrest
  7. Nelsonville
  8. West Union
  9. West Hill
  10. Piketon

Worst Small Towns To Live In Ohio Map

So what is the worst small town to call home in Ohio for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Drexel is the worst small town to live in Ohio.

While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Drexel home. Everyone

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.

And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Ohio or the worst places to live in Ohio.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.

The 10 Worst Small Towns In Ohio For 2024

1. Drexel

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,365
Median Home Value: $46,880
Median Income: $33,430
Unemployment Rate: 28.4%

2. Morgandale

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,361
Median Home Value: $109,405
Median Income: $32,961
Unemployment Rate: 10.0%

3. Newcomer

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 3,441
Median Home Value: $106,072
Median Income: $39,824
Unemployment Rate: 25.4%

4. Jeffersonville

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,085
Median Home Value: $174,209
Median Income: $38,438
Unemployment Rate: 8.9%

5. Manchester

Manchester, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Aesopposea | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,110
Median Home Value: $125,858
Median Income: $30,313
Unemployment Rate: 10.8%

6. Urbancrest

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,157
Median Home Value: $141,429
Median Income: $34,453
Unemployment Rate: 22.5%

7. Nelsonville

Nelsonville, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) | CC BY-SA 2.5
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 4,269
Median Home Value: $93,067
Median Income: $37,639
Unemployment Rate: 13.6%

8. West Union

West Union, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Aesopposea | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,993
Median Home Value: $161,781
Median Income: $33,326
Unemployment Rate: 10.0%

9. West Hill

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,232
Median Home Value: $72,500
Median Income: $30,590
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%

10. Piketon

Piketon, OH

Source: Wikipedia User Aesopposea | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,525
Median Home Value: $157,567
Median Income: $42,019
Unemployment Rate: 15.0%

Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Ohio is lousy or not?

To rank the worst small towns to live in Ohio, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.

We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.

Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (The lower, the worse)
  • Highest Unemployment Rates
  • Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
  • Education (Number of high school dropouts)
  • High Crime

We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 379 to be exact.

We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.

We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Ohio.

There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Ohio

If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Buckeye State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The worst small towns in Ohio are Drexel, Morgandale, Newcomer, Jeffersonville, Manchester, Urbancrest, Nelsonville, West Union, West Hill, and Piketon.

If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Ohio, according to science:

  1. Terrace Park (Pop. 2,150)
  2. Marble Cliff (Pop. 1,009)
  3. Mariemont (Pop. 3,493)

For more Ohio reading, check out:

Worst Small Towns In Ohio

Rank Town Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income
1 Drexel 1,365 28.4% $46,880 $33,430
2 Morgandale 1,361 10.0% $109,405 $32,961
3 Newcomer 3,441 25.4% $106,072 $39,824
4 Jeffersonville 1,085 8.9% $174,209 $38,438
5 Manchester 2,110 10.8% $125,858 $30,313
6 Urbancrest 1,157 22.5% $141,429 $34,453
7 Nelsonville 4,269 13.6% $93,067 $37,639
8 West Union 2,993 10.0% $161,781 $33,326
9 West Hill 2,232 6.9% $72,500 $30,590
10 Piketon 2,525 15.0% $157,567 $42,019
11 Winchester 1,242 10.6% $206,761 $43,036
12 Salineville 1,195 4.1% $109,367 $41,198
13 Stony Prairie 1,725 5.6% $134,405 $44,056
14 Ripley 1,609 11.7% $159,860 $42,900
15 Powhatan Point 1,493 5.5% $123,275 $45,509
16 New Boston 2,572 9.9% $51,205 $26,972
17 Pomeroy 1,605 3.8% $85,611 $34,583
18 Sawyerwood 1,381 23.3% $115,715 $50,625
19 Orwell 1,804 7.0% $204,291 $42,063
20 Union City 1,528 7.7% $131,842 $36,776
21 Windham 1,777 13.9% $158,950 $39,000
22 Gallipolis 3,337 6.0% $146,179 $48,380
23 New Miami 2,411 16.8% $131,609 $45,046
24 Rosemount 2,013 10.9% $127,125 $45,117
25 Russells Point 1,240 9.6% $177,124 $38,224
26 Matamoras 1,154 17.1% $89,132 $21,125
27 Peebles 2,031 17.2% $94,283 $44,200
28 Woodsfield 2,321 14.3% $138,757 $38,490
29 Greenfield 4,237 6.6% $151,533 $42,253
30 Wellsville 3,109 11.4% $101,146 $38,229
31 Elmwood Place 2,312 6.8% $98,184 $36,773
32 Coal Grove 2,047 10.4% $84,708 $51,394
33 Leipsic 2,215 3.1% $138,846 $59,750
34 Georg 4,323 2.6% $129,405 $37,796
35 Glouster 1,559 4.6% $51,458 $36,905
36 Crystal Lakes 1,605 9.8% $133,691 $55,714
37 New London 2,531 8.7% $172,681 $50,778
38 North Randall 1,113 20.8% $146,684 $40,976
39 Sebring 4,185 11.5% $99,117 $46,387
40 Waynesburg 1,091 9.0% $159,735 $45,833
41 Deshler 1,679 4.9% $146,589 $57,273
42 Geneva-On-The-Lake 1,085 6.9% $159,230 $45,755
43 Mcarthur 1,816 5.0% $146,246 $51,061
44 La Croft 1,133 8.7% $94,286 $40,179
45 Fayette 1,177 5.3% $148,203 $41,016
46 Lakeview 1,140 6.2% $170,716 $42,750
47 Lincoln Heights 3,140 26.5% $99,722 $14,676
48 Paulding 3,638 10.8% $139,522 $52,750
49 Mcconnelsville 2,197 4.4% $147,071 $46,875
50 Bethesda 1,237 5.5% $107,566 $37,000
51 West Lafayette 2,622 7.2% $148,342 $39,783
52 Newburgh Heights 1,760 7.7% $98,005 $53,661
53 Aberdeen 1,298 4.1% $168,164 $37,361
54 Neffs 1,093 4.1% $89,524 $35,000
55 Lowellville 1,102 4.3% $152,754 $51,458
56 Montpelier 3,928 6.1% $135,936 $46,868
57 Blanchester 4,640 12.2% $230,563 $43,611
58 Oak Hill 1,698 7.5% $92,378 $37,500
59 Brilliant 1,068 4.0% $80,998 $47,727
60 Newton Falls 4,562 6.9% $148,175 $50,738
61 Wolfhurst 1,290 14.2% $92,262 $42,838
62 Plymouth 1,788 7.6% $147,162 $63,594
63 Dennison 2,657 12.3% $135,928 $52,530
64 Bridgeport 1,449 8.3% $88,299 $51,045
65 Bellaire 3,878 9.3% $94,419 $40,650
66 Pioneer 1,333 4.6% $149,468 $46,528
67 Lockland 3,497 7.3% $142,914 $44,770
68 Crooksville 2,311 4.8% $120,821 $42,348
69 Payne 1,458 6.9% $148,522 $55,197
70 Leavittsburg 1,116 5.5% $74,492 $56,579
71 Edgewood 4,381 5.4% $126,786 $55,401
72 Middleport 2,053 2.7% $66,145 $36,343
73 Forest 1,455 3.1% $121,726 $46,731
74 Byesville 2,258 6.1% $124,006 $36,803
75 South Canal 1,013 2.5% $148,096 $59,760
76 The Plains 2,724 5.3% $166,894 $52,794
77 Hopedale 1,086 3.6% $143,583 $47,813
78 Crestline 4,490 5.5% $131,782 $49,471
79 Jackson Center 1,352 6.6% $181,498 $57,056
80 New Paris 1,443 10.3% $176,683 $40,234
81 Sardinia 1,328 2.3% $252,227 $54,375
82 Mingo Junction 3,565 4.5% $80,960 $58,141
83 Fairfield Beach 1,250 11.4% $199,406 $42,759
84 Mount Orab 4,544 7.0% $228,823 $62,833
85 Batavia 2,606 16.1% $291,148 $55,169
86 East Palestine 4,723 3.7% $124,670 $49,766
87 Masury 2,212 7.1% $77,059 $43,688
88 Walbridge 3,023 7.8% $174,976 $51,563
89 Reno 1,295 14.0% $186,192 $38,895
90 Bethel 2,638 9.8% $225,577 $40,625
91 Arlington Heights 1,017 10.0% $131,818 $47,875
92 South Zanesville 1,876 3.2% $130,237 $38,170
93 Spencerville 2,127 7.9% $173,332 $40,455
94 Leetonia 2,075 7.9% $154,791 $59,688
95 Fairport Harbor 3,100 5.8% $158,688 $53,654
96 Walnut Creek 1,302 22.6% $279,288 $86,696
97 Mount Sterling 1,890 7.8% $259,030 $59,514
98 Sabina 2,606 1.5% $161,790 $45,833
99 West Portsmouth 2,540 0.0% $93,291 $38,356
100 Loudonville 2,898 5.1% $205,838 $51,557
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.

16 thoughts on “The 10 Worst Small Towns In Ohio For 2024

  1. We live in Cecil and it’s not that bad a town. Yes it is small, and yes there is close to nothing to do, but that is because it is a farming community. Most towns in Ohio are boring, even the large city of Defiance which is 15min away can be very boring. When it comes to fun you usually need to go to a very large city to find any, it’s obvious you won’t find anything in a little village. To add, no matter where you live you will find bad neighbors and dangerous people, there’s no way of avoiding that. Don’t let this article scare you away.

  2. This article is insulting and inaccurate. For one thing the directions to Macksburg are incorrect. It is not off the first exit before WV. It isn’t even off the second exit. If you are going to post something like this please at least check your facts. Also when reporting the crime rates it would be helpful to give people an idea of how the crime ranks to other towns on an annual basis, i.e. How many murders/year, how many drug busts/year. Most of these have less than one murder a year making them still a very safe place to live. I grew up in Caldwell Ohio and am familiar with several of these small towns and the people who live there. Your article is hurtful to these people because you are mocking their way of life. Please be more considerate of people’s feelings.

    1. I hunted out of Caldwell in Violet township off rt 78.
      I like Caldwell.
      But honey, put on your big girl panties and don’t allow yourself to be offended.
      If your feelings are hurt, you must have gotten a participation trophy in little league soccer and your parents overprotected your tender self esteem.
      Toughen up! Failure teaches you more than living a sheltered unrealistic existence.

  3. None of these villages qualify as a town. How many are even incorporated and collect taxes. This looks like an attempt to just kick the residents of these communities. Is your company too stupid to know the difference between a town and villages or hamlets? And I don’t live in any of the so-called 100 worst places.
    From the English Dictionary definition: a ​place where there are a lot of ​houses, ​stores, and other ​buildings which is ​smaller than a ​city:
    [C] He was ​born in the ​small town of Elnora, Indiana.
    [U] We ​stayed at the ​best ​hotel in town.

  4. Rude. Why do this? Dislike, and I hope I can find a way to discourage purchase of anything that you endorse.

  5. I live in rogers and where they get the crime rate surprised me. Are they counting speeding tickets and running the only red light? And by the way, where is a 75000 house? Mine was a lot more than that!

  6. I am a council member and your facts are all wrong I suggest you go to the county information and stay away from Facebook.Our population is larger and as for high school diplomas my family alone will dis credit that fact . our crime rate is lowest in the county and the state . we have had only one arrest in three years .before you spout off nonsense you need to do more research

  7. This is ridiculous. There are lots worse places to live. Let’s start with EVERY place that borders on the Cuyahoga River. When you live on a river that is so polluted it catches on fire every month or so and they have to bring the fireboat to spray foam on it, THAT is a bad place. A guy driving across the bridge flicks a cigarette out the window and it falls on the river and the water goes up in flames, and you think Irondale is a bad place to live? Get serious. But it gets worse. What about inner city Cincinnati and Cleveland, where you’re afraid to go out at night or walk down the street at noon, where if you pull up at a red light, while you’re stuck there waiting for the light to change, four guys emerge from the alley and pull off your hubcaps and disappear back into the darkness, and you think Irondale is a bad place to live?

  8. There are many “towns” that were missed! Several in Van Wert county alone. Converse, Elgin, Schumm, Glenmore, Dull Station, Dixon, Cavett, Convoy, and so on. Many of these with an even smaller population! Maybe wroth taking another look…

  9. I’ve been to many of these quaint towns. Many of these are quiet commuter towns, Ideal for the person who wants to live close to a more populated area but still live in a friendly small town. Best of two worlds. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.

  10. It ain’t right to label people as being dumb based only on their level of education. My dad was born into depression era West Virgina, and had to help support the family after completing the third grade. He farmed a lot and found he was better at fixing things. While employed at the county as a mechanic he managed to buy some cheap land, build a house and a garage on it, started a nice orchard and a big garden. My brothers and I ate very well growing up. Dad retired to his own business in the garage he built. So be careful of how you label people.

  11. As a native of ohio, I must say, don’t forget Coshocton. Sadly, Coshocton is one of the worst I’ve been too. I’m honestly surprised it didn’t make this list!

  12. You did give an abbreviated rundown as to how you collected the data in your article. One was that you had never visited any of these towns. Totally statistical driven…Hmmm.

  13. Rogers has one of the best known flea markets in US. They bring tour busses in to shop. While visiting in Florida,(being from Ohio) I was asked if I knew where the flea market was. I did. I live just 12 miles from it. ….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *