© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Garfield Heights.
About
Life in Garfield Heights
Life in Garfield Heights means living in a densely populated suburb where you're never far from Cleveland but can maintain some separation from the city's urban core. The median home price sits around $110,000 and median rent is about $1,129 per month, making it reasonably affordable for the region—though keep in mind that lower housing costs often reflect the economic reality here, with a median household income of $54,593. The community itself is fairly established and aging slightly, with strong roots in Polish, Slovak, German, and Italian heritage alongside a significant African American population, though educational attainment is modest at 15.6% with college degrees.
Garfield Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.0%
Foreign-Born
2.7%
Broadband Internet
91.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.7% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Garfield Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Garfield Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (19.3%), and 5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
16.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.7%
of households
Married Couples
27.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
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 9% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Garfield Heights
In Garfield Heights, rent runs 9% above the OH average, and home values are 49% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,912
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $138,979 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above OH average
Unemployment in Garfield Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Garfield Heights is 0.5 percentage points higher than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Garfield Heights 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
Commute21.1 min avg
How Garfield Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Garfield Heights, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 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 26% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Garfield Heights runs 26% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
416.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,595.7
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Garfield Heights 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 Garfield Heights, 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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cuyahoga County, county-wide
Garfield Heights is about 2% 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 Garfield Heights, 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
Garfield Heights is about 2% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Garfield Heights has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
172
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 24°F | 1.76" |
| Feb | 37°F | 25°F | 1.53" |
| Mar | 45°F | 31°F | 2.35" |
| Apr | 57°F | 41°F | 3.10" |
| May | 68°F | 53°F | 3.51" |
| Jun | 77°F | 63°F | 2.84" |
| Jul | 81°F | 68°F | 3.66" |
| Aug | 80°F | 67°F | 3.45" |
| Sep | 74°F | 60°F | 2.94" |
| Oct | 63°F | 49°F | 3.24" |
| Nov | 51°F | 38°F | 2.92" |
| Dec | 40°F | 30°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Garfield Heights
Garfield Heights has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Marymount Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
South Pointe Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4 mi away · Warrensville Heights
Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehab
Childrens · 4.3 mi away · Cleveland
Highland Springs
Psychiatric · 4.6 mi away · Beachwood
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.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Garfield Heights
Garfield Heights's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Garfield Heights (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,969 students · in-state tuition $13,262 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,979 (10 yrs after entry)
Case Western Reserve University
6.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 6,437 students · in-state tuition $69,270 · 87% graduate · median earnings $89,865 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,842 students · in-state tuition $41,386 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,100 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,274 students · in-state tuition $51,960 · 77% graduate · median earnings $74,509 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
9.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 624 students · in-state tuition $20,109 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 539 students · in-state tuition $50,575 · 67% graduate · median earnings $42,757 (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, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Garfield Heights
Garfield Heights has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
11 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
45 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
65 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Garfield Heights
Garfield Heights Branch Library
5409 Turney Road, Garfield Heights
Cities Near Garfield Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Garfield Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Garfield Heights FAQ
Is Garfield Heights, Ohio affordable?⌄
Garfield Heights's median rent is $1,129/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,593/year. Median home value is $109,900.
Is Garfield Heights, Ohio safe?⌄
Garfield Heights's violent crime rate was 416 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1596 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Garfield Heights, Ohio?⌄
Garfield Heights has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Garfield Heights, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Garfield Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,129/month and median household income is $54,593/year. The median home value is $109,900. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Garfield Heights, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Garfield Heights is 21 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