What it's like to live in Beachwood
Beachwood is a small city in Ohio with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Beachwood deals with rent well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 114" per year
How Beachwood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Beachwood
Based on Beachwood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,094
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $81,880 a year
- 46% of Beachwood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,030
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 45% above US
$2,047/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,047 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $410,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $410,300 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cuyahoga County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cuyahoga County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 85% below US
51 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1903/100k · Beachwood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 31% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 81% above US
65% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cuyahoga Valley National Park (15 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Beachwood's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($2,047/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Beachwood
All Ohio guides →Moving to University Heights →
2 mi away · pop. 13,394
Rent $1,507/mo · Income $96,971
Compare with Beachwood →Moving to Shaker Heights →
2 mi away · pop. 28,922
Rent $1,168/mo · Income $104,073
Compare with Beachwood →Moving to Warrensville Heights →
3 mi away · pop. 13,545
Rent $1,044/mo · Income $49,669
Compare with Beachwood →Not sure Beachwood is the one?
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