What it's like to live in Lebanon
Lebanon is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Lebanon deals with larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
The not so good
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Lebanon compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Lebanon
Based on Lebanon's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,180
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,600 a year
- 45% of Lebanon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$58,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,020
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,090/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,090 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $290,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $290,200 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Warren County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Warren County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 70% below US
99 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 844/100k · Lebanon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 19% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (26 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Lebanon's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit. A year of median rent ($1,090/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Lebanon
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