People move to Ohio, despite property taxes, homelessness
In July 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel joined Ohio State Fair Executive Director Adam Heffron to cut the ribbon at the new, state-of-the-art entry gate, officially opening the 170th Ohio State Fair.
A new study found that Ohio was among the best low-cost states for Americans planning to move in 2026, even though the state became infamous for its property taxes and residents’ high risk of homelessness.
Seven Seas Worldwide, an international shipping and removals company, analyzed all 50 states using six key affordability metrics: rent, median home price, utilities, car registration fees, driver’s license fees and average moving labor wages.
Wayne Mills, a spokesperson for the organization, said the study shows how much affordability shapes Americans’ decisions about where they want to live, adding that “more people are rethinking their location because everyday expenses have gone up almost everywhere.”
“When you put all the numbers together, rent, home prices, energy bills, transport costs, and what movers charge, the difference from one state to another can be huge,” he said in a release. “That’s why studies like this matter. They help people see the full picture before making a major move.”
Mills said that, even though relocations aren’t only about money, the financial side is becoming harder to ignore.
“People want to feel that their paycheck stretches further. Some states make it much easier for families, students, and retirees to settle in without taking on too much financial pressure,” he said. “If someone is planning to move next year, these rankings can be a really helpful starting point.”
Mills also said that moving-related costs are often overlooked.
“Most people think about rent or the price of a home, but things like registration fees, utilities and the cost of movers can add up fast,” he said. “When you compare everything side by side, you can clearly see why certain states are much more attractive from a cost standpoint.”
Even though Ohio made the top 15, it finished only in 14th place.
The Buckeye State became notorious for its high property taxes. As a result, Ohio lawmakers decided to help the state’s residents with the problem by voting on several property-tax-related bills, such as House Bills 129, 309, 186 and 335. According to state Rep. Marilyn John, R-Richland County, these four initiatives will work to curb spikes and provide direct property tax relief to Ohioans, totaling more than $2.4 billion in savings.
Ohio lawmakers previously introduced multiple other property-tax-related bills. The politicians also passed some bills related to the issue.
Another rising problem that many Ohioans may need to face in the near future is potential homelessness, with more than 10,000 people possibly ending up on the streets, as the Ohio Capitol Journal reported.
“What’s the most critical part of this shift is that there are 10,000 people across the state of just Ohio that will potentially lose their housing because the supports will not be there any longer for them to remain in the place that they’ve called home,” Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, told the Ohio Capital Journal.
