Ohio's fittest cities don't rank in the national top 25, but that doesn't mean the Buckeye State is unhealthy or lacking amenities.
Every year, the American College of Sports Medicine releases its fittest cities rankings. It rates the country's 100 biggest cities based on things like exercise rates, access to parks and recreation, chronic disease rates and other measures of community health.
This year, four Ohio cities made the list. Here's where they rank.
Four Ohio cities land on list
While no Ohio city made the national top 25, several cities still stood out. Cincinnati ranked No. 1 in the country for playground access, while Cleveland led the nation in swimming pool access. More broadly, Ohio cities tended to score better for parks and recreation than for residents' overall
health, according to the report.
Here's how the cities rank:
- Cincinnati: Overall rank No. 27
- Cleveland: Overall rank No. 41
- Columbus: Overall rank No. 52
- Toledo: Overall rank No. 81
Cincinnati came close to making the top 25 due largely to its recreation infrastructure.
Why Cincinnati ranks as Ohio fittest city
Cincinnati was Ohio's highest-ranked city, finishing No. 27 overall, having plenty of places for people to get outside and be active. The city excelled in recreation amenities, especially playgrounds and athletic fields.
Cincinnati led the nation in playground access, with 6.8 playgrounds for every 10,000 residents. It also ranked third nationally for outdoor athletic fields. Despite those strengths, the city's personal health ranking was No. 65, suggesting a gap between recreation access and health outcomes.
Cleveland leads the nation in pool access
If you're looking for a place to take a swim, Cleveland might be your city. It ranked No. 1 in the country for swimming pool access, with 10.7 pools per 100,000 residents, more than four times the average among major U.S. cities.
It ranked 21st in community/environment but 66th in personal health, just behind Cincinnati.
Columbus ranks No. 52 on list of fittest cities in U.S.
Columbus landed near the middle of the rankings at No. 52 overall. The city scored slightly better for community and environmental factors (No. 40) than for residents' personal health (No. 60).
Toledo offers fitness opportunities, ranks No. 81 overall
Like the other Ohio cities on the list, Toledo performed better in community and recreation measures than it did in health outcomes. It scored a personal health spot at No. 94 and ranked No. 41 in the community/environment category.
Top 10 healthiest cities
Nationally, Arlington, Virginia, held onto the No. 1 spot for the ninth straight year. Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Seattle and Denver rounded out the top five.
The top 10 healthiest cities in 2026 were:
- Arlington, Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Seattle, Washington
- Denver, Colorado
- San Francisco, California
- Irvine, California
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Boston, Massachusetts
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is Ohio's fittest city? New ranking reveals the answer
