Places › Ohio › Lakewood

Living in Lakewood, OH

Suburb in Ohio

Lakewood is a suburb in Ohio, home to about 50,000 people, with 1.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Lakewood a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 14 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $296k and rents for $1,650 a month
  • Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Cloudier than most places
  • Few dog parks: 10 within 9 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Higher taxes: about $932 state income tax per resident, 2.15% property tax

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Lakewood ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
50,000
1.9 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
38°F / 82°F
Average daily highs · 64″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$296k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,650/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
94
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$932
State income tax per resident · 2.15% property tax
Safety
0.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, cold waves
Top-rated hospitals
14
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
54%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
CLE
6 mi away

Living in Lakewood: common questions

What is the cost of living in Lakewood?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $296k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,650 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 94, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Lakewood?

Ohio collects about $932 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.15% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Lakewood safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Lakewood?

Lakewood has cold winters: winter days average around 38°F and summer days around 82°F, with roughly 64″ of snow a year.

Does Lakewood get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.45 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Lakewood?

The nearest major airport is CLE, about 6 mi away.

How Lakewood scores

Each bar compares Lakewood with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Dense & urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly walkable Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Excellent
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Good
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Poor
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Lakewood right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.