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Living in
Berea.
About
Life in Berea
If you're thinking about moving to Berea, you're looking at a stable, quiet suburb about 20 minutes southwest of Cleveland with real affordability compared to the surrounding region. The median home value sits around $198,100 and rent averages $1,062 a month, which means your housing dollar stretches further here than in trendy Cleveland neighborhoods—and that matters if you're building equity or managing a budget. The job market is solid with a 3.9% unemployment rate, and while Berea itself isn't a job hub, your commute into Cleveland proper runs about 23 minutes, making it realistic to work downtown without living downtown prices.
Berea at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Foreign-Born
2.6%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.6% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Berea: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Berea, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (11.1%), and 1.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.0%
of households
Married Couples
39.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.25
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for OH
Rent, home values, and income in Berea
In Berea, home values are 8% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,934
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $239,840 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Berea and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cuyahoga County, which includes Berea, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Berea: Cuyahoga County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cuyahoga County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Berea is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Berea Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro area
Commute23.4 min avg
How Berea residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Berea, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 97 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Berea runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
50.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
369.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Berea Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cuyahoga County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cuyahoga County, which includes Berea, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.1M |
| 2022 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $376,500 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $878,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27.2M |
| 2018 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
Berea is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cuyahoga County, which includes Berea, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
158
per year
Moderate Days
203
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
Berea is about 1% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Berea has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.8"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
159
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 22°F | 2.99" |
| Feb | 39°F | 24°F | 2.49" |
| Mar | 47°F | 31°F | 3.06" |
| Apr | 60°F | 41°F | 3.75" |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 3.79" |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 3.83" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 3.67" |
| Aug | 82°F | 64°F | 3.56" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 64°F | 47°F | 3.60" |
| Nov | 51°F | 37°F | 3.37" |
| Dec | 40°F | 28°F | 2.99" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Berea
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Berea's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Southwest General Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.6 mi away · Middleburg Heights
Fairview Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Cleveland
Uh St John Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Westlake
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Berea
Berea's student/teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 37.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Berea
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,842 students · in-state tuition $41,386 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,100 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,969 students · in-state tuition $13,262 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,979 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
4.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 624 students · in-state tuition $20,109 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Berea
Berea has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
17 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
53 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Berea
Berea Branch Library
7 Berea Commons, Berea
Cities Near Berea
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Berea?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Berea FAQ
Is Berea, Ohio affordable?⌄
Berea's median rent is $1,062/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,926/year. Median home value is $198,100.
Is Berea, Ohio safe?⌄
Berea's violent crime rate was 50 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 369 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Berea, Ohio?⌄
Cuyahoga County, which includes Berea, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Berea, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Berea is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,062/month and median household income is $74,926/year. The median home value is $198,100. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Berea, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Berea is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from