What it's like to live in Shaker Heights
Shaker Heights is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Shaker Heights deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a population that has been shrinking, cold winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 64" per year
How Shaker Heights compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Shaker Heights
Based on Shaker Heights's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,336
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $46,720 a year
- 37% of Shaker Heights renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,320
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 17% below US
$1,168/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,168 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $303,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $303,200 · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 96% below US
14 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 460/100k · Shaker Heights Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% 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
Education & workforce▲ 93% above US
69% 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
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 4 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 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Shaker Heights's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and a population that has been shrinking. A year of median rent ($1,168/mo) equals 13% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Shaker Heights
All Ohio guides →Moving to University Heights →
2 mi away · pop. 13,394
Rent $1,507/mo · Income $96,971
Compare with Shaker Heights →Moving to Beachwood →
2 mi away · pop. 13,865
Rent $2,047/mo · Income $106,748
Compare with Shaker Heights →Moving to Cleveland Heights →
3 mi away · pop. 44,497
Rent $1,216/mo · Income $72,826
Compare with Shaker Heights →Moving to Warrensville Heights →
3 mi away · pop. 13,545
Rent $1,044/mo · Income $49,669
Compare with Shaker Heights →Not sure Shaker Heights is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.