The Cleveland metro area: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties · Population 2,171,526 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Cleveland area
Household size in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
The Cleveland area is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.47 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only nine of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the Cleveland area is 42.5 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 40.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only seven are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are just as common in the Cleveland area as they are nationally: 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Cleveland area
Renters in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.5% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in the Cleveland area is about as common as it is nationally: 33.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southwest. The renter share is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Cleveland area is close to the national rate: 8.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.4 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in the Cleveland area is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center has the oldest housing. Only eight of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $833 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $872 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $949 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,216 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$383 | +$377 | +$606 |
Rent in the Cleveland area runs $1,216 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Ohio overall ($1,142). Rent has climbed $383 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Cleveland area
Bachelor's degrees in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Cleveland area as nationally: 34.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.3% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in the Cleveland area have finished high school (91.8%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The figure for Ohio is much the same. The share with a diploma is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Cleveland area
| Period | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.6%, unemployment in the Cleveland area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Ohio overall (4.9%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.7 points, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Cleveland area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland area (all) | 2.38 | 42.5 | 11.6% | 33.5% | 8.4% | 1966 | $1,216 | 34.5% | 91.8% | 5.6% |
| Parma | 2.35 | 42.7 | 10.4% | 27.8% | 6.2% | 1960 | $1,173 | 24.4% | 92.0% | 6.0% |
| Lorain | 2.42 | 41.1 | 17.1% | 42.8% | 10.4% | 1962 | $887 | 14.6% | 84.8% | 5.7% |
| Medina | 2.54 | 44.0 | 7.5% | 19.5% | 4.8% | 1990 | $1,420 | 43.6% | 95.7% | 3.7% |
| Mentor | 2.37 | 46.9 | 8.2% | 15.5% | 5.8% | 1977 | $1,243 | 37.0% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Elyria | 2.35 | 41.3 | 13.5% | 36.6% | 8.6% | 1964 | $984 | 17.8% | 87.3% | 5.9% |
| Lakewood | 1.92 | 37.2 | 4.2% | 55.6% | 8.2% | 1942 | $1,132 | 55.3% | 95.4% | 5.2% |
| Euclid | 2.32 | 38.7 | 21.0% | 54.2% | 12.7% | 1955 | $1,192 | 23.0% | 89.7% | 6.3% |
| Strongsville | 2.46 | 47.8 | 5.2% | 18.0% | 4.1% | 1982 | $1,549 | 48.4% | 95.3% | 2.8% |
| Brunswick | 2.48 | 42.7 | 9.5% | 23.3% | 3.4% | 1986 | $1,283 | 29.9% | 93.2% | 2.0% |
| Painesville | 2.49 | 41.4 | 11.6% | 26.1% | 5.2% | 1980 | $1,103 | 29.4% | 90.3% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Virginia Beach area · San Jose area · Nashville area · Indianapolis area · Columbus area · Kansas City area · Cincinnati area · Las Vegas area · Austin area · Sacramento area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Cleveland area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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