City Profile

Toledo, Ohio

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Toledo, Ohio, often referred to as 'The Glass City' due to its rich history in glass manufacturing, is a vibrant city situated at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. The city serves as a significant port on the Great Lakes and is known for its affordable living and strong sense of community. Toledo has been recognized for its economic development efforts, with significant investments in revitalizing its downtown area and fostering new businesses. Its strategic location offers residents access to major metropolitan areas like Detroit and Ann Arbor, while maintaining a distinct local character. The city attracts individuals and families seeking a balance of urban amenities, cultural attractions, and access to natural spaces.

About Ohio

Ohio, located in the Midwest, is characterized by a blend of urban centers and rural landscapes, offering a balance of city amenities and small-town charm. The state's economy is robust and diverse, with manufacturing being a significant sector, particularly in plastics, rubber, fabricated metals, and automobiles. Other major industries include financial activities, healthcare, education, and bioscience, with growing technology and logistics sectors. Living in Ohio is generally affordable, with the cost of living, especially housing, being lower than the national average. The climate is continental, featuring four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, and precipitation occurring year-round.

267,463

Population

$71K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

43.5

Quality Score

How this 44/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 30 / 100	30.0	30%	9.0
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 95.0	50.0	25%	12.5
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $49,724 Income needed to live here: $52,000 Unemployment rate: 4.4%	44.8	20%	9.0
Growth	Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 0.84%	36.8	15%	5.5
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 75 / 100	75.0	10%	7.5
Overall score				43.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 3 (deep think), q=81), last refreshed 25 July 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

Toledo boasts a notably affordable cost of living, standing approximately 5% lower than the national average. This affordability extends across various aspects of daily life, including housing, which is significantly less expensive compared to many other U.S. cities. While housing costs are a major driver of Toledo's affordability, other expenses like groceries are also generally lower than the national average. However, some costs, such as utilities, are comparable to or slightly higher than national averages. The city's overall cost-effectiveness makes it an attractive option for those looking to maximize their budget without compromising on access to urban amenities.

Average Rent

$950/mo

Groceries

$342/mo

Transport

$180/mo

Utilities

$295/mo

Healthcare

$200/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$30.00

Cinema ticket

$12.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$33.00

Monthly groceries

$342.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$175.00

Income

Salary Insights

Toledo's economy is undergoing a period of revitalization and diversification, with key industries including Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Retail Trade being major employers. The city has seen a positive trend in job creation, with employment growing at a rate of 0.841% from 2023 to 2024. Notably, Toledo gained 2,000 jobs in April 2026, contributing to an average of 152 new jobs per month over the past five years. The glass and solar industries are experiencing significant growth, bolstered by substantial investments and grants aimed at fostering innovation and creating new jobs. Toledo's commitment to fostering a strong business environment has earned it recognition among the top 10 cities nationally for new business investment in 2024.

The average salary in Toledo is $71,000 per year. You would need approximately $52,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +0.80% Manufacturing +0.50% Healthcare & Social Assistance +1.20% Glass & Solar +4.00% Transportation & Material Moving +1.00%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

Avg Temp

☀️

Summer High

❄️

Winter Low

🌧️

Annual Rain

💧

70.00%

Humidity

🌤️

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Toledo largely relies on personal vehicles, as indicated by a high car dependency. Most errands typically require a car. The average commute time for workers in Toledo was 19.8 minutes in 2024, which is shorter than the national average. While public transit options exist through the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), their coverage can be limited. However, TARTA has reported increased ridership and improved services in 2025, demonstrating ongoing efforts to enhance mobility. The city has an average Walk Score of 46, suggesting that some areas are walkable, particularly downtown neighborhoods.

20 min

Avg Commute

45.00/10

Transit Score

46.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Toledo offers a significantly affordable cost of living, approximately 5% lower than the national average.

The city boasts a thriving arts and cultural scene, highlighted by the world-class Toledo Museum of Art.

Residents have excellent access to nature and outdoor recreation through the extensive Metroparks system, the Maumee River, and Lake Erie.

Toledo has seen significant economic development and business investment, ranking among the top 10 nationally in 2024.

The average commute time in Toledo is relatively short at 19.8 minutes, easing daily travel for residents.

Drawbacks

Toledo has a high violent crime rate, which is significantly above the national average.

The city experiences harsh winters with cold temperatures and notable snowfall.

Toledo's infrastructure, particularly its roads, is often cited as being in poor condition.

Job opportunities in some high-growth sectors may be limited compared to larger metropolitan areas.

Public transportation options in Toledo are considered limited, leading to high car dependency for most errands.

Head to Head

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Toledo VS Elyria Toledo VS Cincinnati Toledo VS Grand Rapids Laramie VS Toledo

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Community Q&A

Questions about Toledo

What people ask about living in and moving to Toledo, Ohio.

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Gathering the most common questions about Toledo…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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