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Living in
Rocky River.
About
Life in Rocky River
Living in Rocky River means settling into a mature, educated suburb where you're genuinely close to Cleveland's job market without feeling like you're in the city itself. With a median household income near $94,000 and a median home value around $349,300, you're looking at solid middle-to-upper-middle-class stability—homes are holding value, and 54.8% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, which shapes the overall culture and conversation around town. The job market is tight with unemployment under 4%, and your commute to downtown Cleveland or surrounding employment centers averages just 22 minutes, making it realistic to work in the region without feeling trapped in a long daily drive.
Rocky River at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Foreign-Born
9.4%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.4% foreign-born, most often from Albania
Who lives in Rocky River: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rocky River, the largest foreign-born group is from Albania (18.3%), and 5.3% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
24.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.8%
of households
Married Couples
47.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
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 14% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Rocky River
In Rocky River, rent runs 14% above the OH average, and home values are 63% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,421
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $399,719 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Rocky River and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cuyahoga County, which includes Rocky River, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Rocky River: Cuyahoga County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cuyahoga County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Rocky River is about 2% of Cuyahoga County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Rocky River 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
Commute21.8 min avg
How Rocky River residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rocky River, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 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 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rocky River runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
32.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
574.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rocky River 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 Rocky River, 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
Rocky River 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 Rocky River, 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
Rocky River is about 2% 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
Rocky River 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 Rocky River
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rocky River's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Fairview Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Cleveland
Uh St John Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Westlake
Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Avon
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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rocky River
Rocky River's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 64.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rocky River (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
12.8 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)
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
6 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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 159 students · in-state tuition $55,510 · 75% graduate · median earnings $27,260 (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, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rocky River
Rocky River has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
21 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
51 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rocky River
Rocky River Public Library
1600 Hampton Rd., Rocky River
Cities Near Rocky River
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rocky River?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rocky River FAQ
Is Rocky River, Ohio affordable?⌄
Rocky River's median rent is $1,175/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $94,026/year. Median home value is $349,300.
Is Rocky River, Ohio safe?⌄
Rocky River's violent crime rate was 33 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 575 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rocky River, Ohio?⌄
Cuyahoga County, which includes Rocky River, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rocky River, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Rocky River is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,175/month and median household income is $94,026/year. The median home value is $349,300. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rocky River, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Rocky River is 22 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