Population 21,452 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rocky River
Household size in Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.44 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.38 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.09 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Rocky River is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.32 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.2 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.3 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.2 | +2.0 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Rocky River is 43.7 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 45.0, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 11.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 11.2% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Rocky River: 5.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Rocky River has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Ohio cities.
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 Rocky River
Renters in Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.6% | 31.7% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 33.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 34.9% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 33.5% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Rocky River own their homes; 30.3% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Nearly four in ten owners (37.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.7 points, a much bigger shift than 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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Rocky River is close to the national rate: 8.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, 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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1963 | 1968 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1964 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1964 | 1970 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Rocky River is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1960, 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 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $774 | $833 | $765 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $745 | $872 | $814 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $936 | $949 | $901 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,043 | $1,216 | $1,142 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$269 | +$383 | +$377 | +$606 |
Rent in Rocky River runs $1,043 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $269 a month from 2006–10, a 35% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Rocky River
Bachelor's degrees in Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.7% | 27.3% | 25.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 56.9% | 28.6% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.6% | 30.8% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 64.1% | 34.5% | 31.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +7.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Rocky River: 64.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 11.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 22 of the 372 Ohio cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.6% | 87.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 88.9% | 88.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.2% | 90.3% | 90.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 91.8% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Rocky River: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 372 Ohio cities with 5,000+ people, only 33 have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Rocky River
| Period | Rocky River | Cleveland area | Ohio | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −3.7 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rocky River has been low: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Rocky River compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky River | 2.26 | 43.7 | 5.7% | 30.3% | 8.3% | 1960 | $1,043 | 64.1% | 97.7% | 2.5% |
| Fairview Park | 2.21 | 42.2 | 6.6% | 30.3% | 5.2% | 1958 | $1,206 | 48.6% | 96.7% | 4.3% |
| Lakewood | 1.92 | 37.2 | 4.2% | 55.6% | 8.2% | 1942 | $1,132 | 55.3% | 95.4% | 5.2% |
| Westlake | 2.36 | 46.3 | 6.4% | 27.3% | 8.8% | 1981 | $1,843 | 60.5% | 95.6% | 3.1% |
| Bay Village | 2.61 | 42.6 | 4.0% | 8.6% | 4.1% | 1959 | $1,570 | 69.1% | 98.8% | 2.2% |
| Linndale | 2.27 | 23.1 | 19.3% | 69.3% | 8.3% | 1959 | $1,098 | 14.8% | 65.5% | 16.5% |
| North Olmsted | 2.40 | 45.2 | 7.1% | 21.1% | 5.6% | 1968 | $1,211 | 33.0% | 95.5% | 2.9% |
| Brook Park | 2.31 | 44.4 | 9.8% | 17.4% | 4.7% | 1962 | $1,253 | 16.1% | 90.3% | 3.9% |
| Brooklyn | 2.24 | 46.7 | 10.5% | 40.3% | 6.7% | 1960 | $1,086 | 18.9% | 87.1% | 3.4% |
| Berea | 2.31 | 40.5 | 9.4% | 26.0% | 4.4% | 1966 | $1,057 | 37.9% | 95.8% | 4.8% |
| Middleburg Heights | 2.11 | 49.9 | 5.4% | 29.5% | 5.3% | 1970 | $1,182 | 34.0% | 93.8% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: West Puente Valley, CA · Broadview Heights, OH · Burlington, WI · Cameron, NC · Cameron Park, CA · Canyon, TX · Carthage, MO · Cleveland, GA · Clifton, CO · Collinsville, OK
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 Rocky River. 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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