A new low flat tax, affordable homes, and the Cleveland Clinic. Watch out: property taxes run well above average.
The short version
Social Security: not taxed at all.
Pensions: Pensions taxed; small retirement income credit ($50–$200).
401(k) and IRA withdrawals: 401(k)/IRA withdrawals taxed.
The setup: Flat 2.75% from 2026 (above about $26,000 of income).
The average effective property tax rate is about 1.36% — roughly $4,080 a year ($340 a month) on a $300,000 home. Your county sets the real number.
Help for seniors: Homestead exemption (about $29,000 of value) for homeowners 65+ with modest income.
Try your own home value in the Property Tax Estimator.
Overall cost of living runs about 6% below the U.S. average. The combined state and average local sales tax is 7.29%.
January days top out around 37°F and July days around 85°F, with roughly 178 sunny days a year. Watch out for: Lake-effect snow in the northeast; tornadoes in the west.
Cleveland Clinic plus strong systems in Columbus and Cincinnati.