What it's like to live in Solon
Solon 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. Solon deals with rent well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 63" per year
How Solon compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Solon
Based on Solon's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,252
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,040 a year
- 41% of Solon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,290
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 15% above US
$1,626/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,626 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $392,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $392,900 · 41% 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▼ 82% below US
59 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 551/100k · Solon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 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▲ 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
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cuyahoga Valley National Park (11 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Solon'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 ($1,626/mo) equals 14% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Solon
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