Reasons to Retire in Youngstown, OH

Out of all the cities in the country, in 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Youngstown, OH, in the top 10 places to retire in the U.S. The city has around 60,000 residents and is between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, PA, making it a nice central location for seniors who have family and interests in those areas.

In Youngstown, there’s always something fun to do, from heading to an art museum, to seeing a symphony orchestra concert, to visiting parks and going out to eat. The following are some of the top reasons to consider Youngstown the best place to retire in Ohio.

1. Low Cost of Living

According to U.S. News & World Report, the cost of living in Youngstown is much lower compared to other cities of similar sizes. The site reports medical costs, food expenses, utilities and housing are all much lower than the national average.

2. Abundance of Nature

In Youngstown, the Mill Creek MetroParks system includes more than 5,000 acres and features hiking and biking trails, lakes and watersports opportunities, golf and more. Some of the popular park facilities in the Youngstown area include the following.

• Fellows Riverside Gardens: This free public 12-acre display garden includes diverse plant and flower species and sits next to the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center. The garden offers tours available by reservation, gardening courses and volunteer opportunities. There’s also a Garden Café, serving brunch and lunch foods.
• Ford Nature Center: The Ford Nature Center presents indoor and outdoor nature educational opportunities and features an interactive nature exhibit hall, a history room, a bird observation room, a rooftop garden, a native wildflower meadow and a paved trail.
• James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area: This 65-acre recreation area includes a hockey rink, tennis courts, batting cages, volleyball courts, picnic facilities, a sled hill, a children’s play area and more. It’s also the site of the Judge Morley Performing Arts Pavilion, which hosts the MetroParks Summer Concert series.
• Lanterman’s Mill: The historic Lanterman’s Mill was built in 1845 and operates as a working mill today, grinding buckwheat, corn and wheat. Visitors can see the mill in action, purchase grain to take home and see a waterfall.

These are just a few nature-focused spots in Youngstown. The city has many more parks and recreation areas for walking, meditating, cross-country skiing and more.

3. Golf

There are several beautiful golf courses in the Youngstown area, offering a variety of challenging holes and beautiful views along each course. Some top Youngstown-area golf courses include:

• Kennsington Golf Club: Kennsington Golf Club in nearby Canfield is an 18-hole par 71 golf course, with holes near lakes, ravines and trees. The club includes a full swing golf simulator lounge and restaurant.
• Mill Creek Golf Course: Visitors can play two 18-hole championship par 70 golf courses, whose origins date back nearly 100 years in the area. The course also features a Fieldhouse with a pro shop and grille room.
• Reserve Run Golf Course: This golf course in nearby Poland is one of the top-ranked courses in Ohio. It’s surrounded by beautiful trees and includes a full-service restaurant on-site.

For practice, there’s also a fun 18 hole par 3 golf course in the Wick Recreation Area. The course offers lighted night play on weekend nights from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

4. Diverse Dining Scene

Youngstown has a wide variety of restaurants for every taste. Local restaurants span cuisines including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Italian, barbecue, Japanese, Thai, steakhouses, Mexican, Indian food and more. Some popular dining destinations in Youngstown include:

• Aqua Pazzo: This Italian restaurant features delicious homemade pasta dishes and an epic meat and cheese board, alongside specialty cocktails.
• Springfield Grille: The Springfield Grille in nearby Boardman features surf and turf specialties, including New Zealand lamb chops, crab-stuffed portobello mushrooms, ahi tuna, filet mignon, sea bass and more.
• Steamers Stonewall Tavern: This seafood, pasta and steak spot in nearby North Lima has a spacious covered outdoor patio for al fresco dining.

Whatever type of culinary mood you’re in, there are tons of high-quality restaurants to visit in Youngstown. The city also has a thriving brewery scene, and several wineries are in the area. Foodies and wine and beer lovers in Youngstown have plenty to taste and explore.

5. Arts and Culture

Youngstown has a vibrant arts and culture scene, including live music performance venues, museums and historical societies, and world-class art destinations. Some popular arts and culture organizations in Youngstown include:

• Arms Family Museum: The Arms Family Museum was a greystone mansion built in 1905 in the arts and crafts style. Visitors can see artifacts that belonged to the museum’s namesake family, including fine artwork, decorative arts and textiles and clothing.
• Butler Institute of American Art: The Butler Institute of American Art is a free art museum with more than 20,000 artworks by American artists in its collection. The museum has a robust calendar of programming, including music performances, art classes, film showings, arts and crafts festivals, lecture series and more.
• Youngstown Symphony Orchestra: Youngstown’s professional symphony orchestra performs at the DeYor Performing Arts Center and Stambaugh Auditorium. Each performance season features diverse programming, including guest performers from around the world.

Youngstown also has a wide variety of live music performance venues, both indoors and outdoors, throughout town. Each night in Youngstown, there’s an opportunity to see live entertainment, from music and dance, to theater and comedy shows.

Youngstown Is Also Home to The Addison of Cornersburg

Another reason to consider retirement in Youngstown is that it’s the site of The Addison of Cornersburg, a senior lifestyle community offering assisted living services and short-term care. Should you or a loved one need assistance, The Addison of Cornersburg provides residents with the exact level of care they need, while supporting autonomy through diverse resident programming.

The space offers:

• Community outings and on-site activities
• Hair salon
• Housekeeping
• Restaurant-style dining
• Transportation services

To see what life at The Addison of Cornersburg is like, find out more about Senior Lifestyle, or schedule a tour today.