Mansfield, Ohio
Small-town Ohio affordability
Niche (2025)
#145 Best Places to Live in Ohio
HomeSnacks (2024)
#12 Most Affordable Ohio Cities
WhereAtHome Score
77.2
C+out of 100
Overview
Mansfield is a small city in north-central Ohio known for the Ohio State Reformatory (Shawshank Redemption filming location) and extremely affordable living. The city offers access to outdoor recreation at nearby parks and a lower-stress lifestyle. Manufacturing remains important, with healthcare growing as an employer.
Key Highlights
- One of Ohio's most affordable cities
- Ohio State Reformatory (Shawshank)
- Mohican State Park nearby
- Small-town community feel
- Short commutes
- Low cost of living
Key Metrics
2024 Presidential Election
Richland County (county-level results)
Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more
Climate
Summer High
83°F
Winter Low
20°F
Annual Rainfall
40"
Sunny Days
166
Amenities & Infrastructure
22+ Parks
Green spaces and recreation
2 Major Hospitals
Healthcare access
1 Universities
Higher education institutions
Major Employers
Score Breakdown
6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.
Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)
How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)
Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)
Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)
Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)
Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)
Location
Compare with another city
Start ComparisonLast Updated: 2026-07-01
Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.
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