Cleveland, Ohio, is the largest city on Lake Erie’s shores, and the greater metro area has a population of nearly three million. In addition to award-winning sports teams, Cleveland is famous for the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. South of the city, you can unwind in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which offers a potpourri of recreational activities. Besides sports, music, and nature, Cleveland enjoys a diverse economy, from steel and banking to the premier Cleveland Clinic. While Cleveland offers plenty of reasons why you’d want to live there, you may prefer a quieter place, we have compiled a list of its 10 best suburbs. If you’re interested in moving to this area, be sure to check out the safest cities in Ohio; the state is a prime spot for retirees as well.
10. Broadview Heights
- Population: 19,202
- Median Home Value: $88,404
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 28 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 18
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 2
Broadview Heights is located about 16 miles south of downtown Cleveland. If the great outdoors is in your wheelhouse, we’ve found your new niche because this suburb is surrounded by golf courses and parks. The low crime rate is especially appealing to those looking to relocate. Take a look at the new home listings in Broadview Heights.
9. Westlake
- Population: 32,233
- Median Home Value: $250,900
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 25 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 399
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 19
Westlake, located close to Lake Erie, is only about 25 minutes west of Cleveland. The suburb offers an abundance of parks and several 18-hole golf courses. One popular destination is the 795-acre Bradley Woods Reservation, a wildlife oasis with hiking trails and a monarch butterfly waystation. From a summer outdoor concert series to the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Westlake is a place that strives to bring the community together. Which of these new homes in Westlake is your favorite?
8. Avon Lake
- Population: 24,391
- Median Home Value: $243,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 26 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 198
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 8
Welcome to Avon Lake, a suburb nestled on the shore of Lake Erie. The town offers top tier public schools along with safe neighborhoods and immaculately clean parks, making it a vibrant place to call home. Avon Lake has several remarkable fishing spots, with plentiful bass, catfish and steelhead trout. Browse these new home communities.
7. Bay Village
- Population: 15,295
- Median Home Value: $230,400
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 25 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 148
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 9
Bay Village, anchored on the shore of Lake Erie just east of Avon Lake, still retains a hint of New England in its heritage. Huntington Beach is a highlight of the town, dotted with picnic tables, ice cream shops and ample sand for that sandcastle-building contest. Commuters will find a serene atmosphere in Bay Village without being too far from Cleveland. Browse the new homes waiting for you in Bay Village.
6. Solon
- Population: 22,911
- Median Home Value: $280,300
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 25 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 210
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 10
Solon is a vibrant suburb about 30 minutes southeast of Cleveland. Grounded in education, the city is home to the Solon Center for the Arts. In the past decade, Solon has been named to the “Best Places to Live” list several times by Money. And Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked Solon as one of the best places to raise kids. With safe neighborhoods, boutiques and a low crime rate, what’s not to love? Find your dream home in Solon.
5. Beachwood
- Population: 11,658
- Median Home Value: $296,600
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 22 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 289
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 11
Located east of Cleveland, Beachwood may be small but it is loaded with all the essential amenities. Want to check out the latest Gucci or Burberry designs? You’ll find these stores in the open-air mall, Beachwood Place. And on those summer days when you are craving a cool plunge, check out the sprawling Family Aquatic Center. Come explore the new home communities in Beachwood.
4. Rocky River
- Population: 20,135
- Median Home Value: $233,900
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 25 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 65
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 3
Rocky River, situated along Lake Erie about 10 miles east of Cleveland, was built for tranquility; it is named after the river that forms the city’s eastern border. The city also can claim a portion of the extensive Rocky River Reservation, which follows much of the river. As you amble along the trails, you can expect to see white-tailed deer and various bird species. It may be just the thing to reel you in. Check out these new homes in Rocky River.
3. Brecksville
- Population: 13,632
- Median Home Value: $105,566
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 23 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 44
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 10
Brecksville is located south of Cleveland in the heart of rolling, wood-covered terrain. In 2014, Family Circle recognized Brecksville as one of the top 10 towns to raise a family. In determining rankings, the magazine considered top-rated schools and access to green space. Come see what you have been missing; check out these new homes available in Brecksville.
2. Pepper Pike
- Population: 6,333
- Median Home Value: $428,800
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 22 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 33
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 4
The smallest suburb on our list is Pepper Pike, just east of Cleveland. This is proof that sometimes the best things in life come wrapped in small packages. Here you can enjoy a cup of java with friends at a coffee shop or hit the fairways. Could it be your perfect spot? Take a look at the available new home communities in Pepper Pike.
1. Mayfield Heights
- Population: 18,606
- Median Home Value: $144,800
- Mean Travel Time to Work: 19 minutes
- School Ranking: A+
- Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 113
- Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 5
The top suburb surrounding Cleveland is Mayfield Heights, located east of Cleveland. This exceptional community is perfect for those desiring safety, great public schools and delicious local cuisine. To give it that hometown feel, Mayfield Heights offers plenty of seasonal parades and local festivals. Take a look at these new homes too!
Additional Suburbs
| Suburbs | Pop. | Median Home Value | Mean Travel to Work | School Rank | Property Crimes | Violent Crimes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Heights | 8,405 | $274,700 | 22 minutes | A | 90 | 3 |
| Amherst | 12,148 | $153,500 | 22 minutes | A | 187 | 11 |
| Independence | 7,167 | $232,600 | 22 minutes | A | 125 | 12 |
| Mentor | 47,273 | $171,600 | 22 minutes | A | 709 | 41 |
| Shaker Heights | 27,302 | $222,700 | 23 minutes | A | 295 | 27 |
| Olmsted Falls | 8,889 | $152,900 | 26 minutes | A | 20 | 0 |
| Kirtland | 6,827 | $292,900 | 26 minutes | A | 28 | 0 |
| Wadsworth | 23,781 | $160,500 | 24 minutes | A | 371 | 26 |
| Avon | 23,263 | $282,100 | 26 minutes | A | 178 | 5 |
| Mentor-on-the-Lake | 7,404 | $132,600 | 26 minutes | A | 52 | 9 |
| North Royalton | 30,239 | $199,800 | 28 minutes | A | 122 | 15 |
| Strongsville | 44,853 | $202,200 | 28 minutes | A | 642 | 12 |
| Lakewood | 50,100 | $147,900 | 24 minutes | A- | 674 | 58 |
| Chardon | 5,179 | $177,000 | 24 minutes | A- | 94 | 3 |
| Medina | 26,072 | $167,700 | 27 minutes | A- | 272 | 27 |
| Oberlin | 8,312 | $152,700 | 15 minutes | B+ | 184 | 17 |
| Grafton | 5,878 | $139,100 | 24 minutes | B+ | 31 | 2 |
| North Olmsted | 31,591 | $151,700 | 25 minutes | B+ | 397 | 13 |
| Brunswick | 34,897 | $166,500 | 27 minutes | B+ | 173 | 22 |
| Vermilion | 10,437 | $139,700 | 28 minutes | B+ | 132 | 4 |
| Elyria | 53,881 | $97,100 | 23 minutes | B | 0 | 157 |
| Wickliffe | 12,758 | $119,600 | 21 minutes | B | 155 | 9 |
| Berea | 18,655 | $134,600 | 22 minutes | B | 118 | 10 |
| Willoughby | 22,988 | $149,700 | 22 minutes | B | 385 | 30 |
| Willoughby Hills | 9,571 | $264,200 | 22 minutes | B | 173 | 15 |
| Fairview Park | 16,284 | $155,000 | 24 minutes | B | 140 | 16 |
| Rittman | 6,551 | $106,800 | 24 minutes | B | 45 | 5 |
| Middleburg Heights | 15,540 | $160,400 | 23 minutes | B | 273 | 16 |
| Seven Hills | 11,654 | $170,100 | 26 minutes | B | 52 | 3 |
| Sheffield Lake | 8,960 | $109,900 | 29 minutes | B | 69 | 6 |
| North Ridgeville | 33,889 | $170,500 | 26 minutes | B- | 97 | 9 |
| Parma | 78,751 | $134,900 | 25 minutes | B- | 846 | 124 |
| University Heights | 12,938 | $161,900 | 21 minutes | C+ | 217 | 21 |
| Lyndhurst | 13,484 | $141,100 | 23 minutes | C+ | 154 | 14 |
| Willowick | 14,146 | $118,300 | 22 minutes | C+ | 261 | 22 |
| Cleveland Heights | 44,373 | $127,100 | 23 minutes | C+ | 711 | 93 |
| Eastlake | 18,131 | $125,200 | 23 minutes | C+ | 399 | 7 |
| South Euclid | 21,473 | $98,800 | 23 minutes | C+ | 518 | 31 |
| Lorain | 64,028 | $85,400 | 24 minutes | C+ | 1,845 | 250 |
| North Madison | 8,547 | $116,500 | 29 minutes | C+ | 38 | 2 |
| Parma Heights | 19,955 | $113,300 | 26 minutes | C+ | 448 | 37 |
| Brooklyn | 10,737 | $48,147 | 22 minutes | C+ | 566 | 0 |
| Painesville | 19,881 | $100,300 | 22 minutes | C | 331 | 28 |
| Bedford | 12,561 | $92,200 | 23 minutes | C | 182 | 27 |
| Brook Park | 18,533 | $88,404 | 22 minutes | C | 396 | 36 |
| Bedford Heights | 10,534 | $130,600 | 23 minutes | C | 223 | 20 |
| Richmond Heights | 10,380 | $143,800 | 24 minutes | C- | 179 | 37 |
| Garfield Heights | 27,687 | $71,400 | 24 minutes | C- | 717 | 94 |
| Euclid | 46,946 | $81,400 | 25 minutes | C- | 1,224 | 291 |
| Warrensville Heights | 13,216 | $79,600 | 25 minutes | C- | 421 | 55 |
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each suburb.
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Heather Allen is a freelance writer who began her career 20 years ago at a small Texas NBC affiliate, while attending SFASU. She’s written blogs on a diverse range of topics.
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