This morning, Scioto Analysis published a report on human development in Ohio. We estimate Ohio’s human development index to be 88.3, which is 1.5 points lower than the national index of 89.8. Human development measures a community’s ability to provide key fundamental needs to its residents across three areas:
Health. Ohio residents have an average life expectancy of 77.5 years.
Standard of Living. Ohio residents have a mean individual income of $49,000.
Education. An Ohio six-year old can expect to complete 14.6 years of schooling over her lifetime.
Human development is highest in the suburbs of Ohio’s largest cities. The area with the highest human development index is a group of suburbs near Cincinnati made up of Loveland, Montgomery, and Forestville, with a human development index of 96.5. Suburbs east of Cleveland and north of Columbus are also among the highest areas for human development in Ohio.
Human development is lowest in core urban neighborhoods and some rural areas. Urban Dayton has the lowest human development index in the state at 82.4. Central Toledo, East Cleveland, West Columbus, and Scioto, Adams, and Pike Counties are also among the lowest areas for human development in Ohio.
Human development also differs across demographic groups. White Ohio residents are expected to live four years longer and earn about $18,000 more per year than Black Ohio residents. This is not mirrored in education, though. The gap between White and Black Ohio residents is less than one year, both in adult average years of schooling and in children’s expected years of schooling.
While Ohio has very high human development overall, human development estimates differ across regions and demographic groups. The full report can be accessed here.
