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Living in
Shaker Heights.
About
Life in Shaker Heights
If you're considering Shaker Heights, you're looking at a mature suburb with real substance—good schools, stable neighborhoods, and a commute to Cleveland that averages under 23 minutes. The median home price hovers around $303,000 with rents averaging $1,168, which is reasonable for the area's quality and proximity to the city. You'll find the light rail system genuinely useful for getting downtown without driving, and University Circle—home to Case Western Reserve, museums, and cultural institutions—is nearby.
Shaker Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Foreign-Born
10.2%
Broadband Internet
92.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Shaker Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shaker Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (8.4%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
21.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.2%
of households
Married Couples
44.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 13% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Shaker Heights
In Shaker Heights, rent runs 13% above the OH average, and home values are 41% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,168
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1945
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $351,837 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Shaker Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Shaker Heights is 1 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Shaker 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
Commute22.2 min avg
How Shaker Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shaker Heights, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 107 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 96% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shaker Heights runs 96% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
14
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
459.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shaker 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 Shaker 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
Shaker 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 Shaker 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
Shaker 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
Shaker 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
33.3"
Annual Snowfall
63.8"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Shaker Heights
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Shaker Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
South Pointe Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.8 mi away · Warrensville Heights
Highland Springs
Psychiatric · 2.2 mi away · Beachwood
Lake Health Beachwood Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 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.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shaker Heights
Shaker Heights's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 69.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Shaker 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
3.9 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 · 2,274 students · in-state tuition $51,960 · 77% graduate · median earnings $74,509 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Parma
13 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)
Arizona College of Nursing-Cleveland
3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 164 students · in-state tuition $23,880 · median earnings $41,223 (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, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Shaker Heights
Shaker Heights has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
15 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
48 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
66 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shaker Heights
Shaker Heights Public Library
16500 Van Aken Boulevard, Shaker Heights
Bertram Woods Branch
20600 Fayette Rd., Shaker Heights
Cities Near Shaker Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shaker Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shaker Heights FAQ
Is Shaker Heights, Ohio affordable?⌄
Shaker Heights's median rent is $1,168/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $104,073/year. Median home value is $303,200.
Is Shaker Heights, Ohio safe?⌄
Shaker Heights's violent crime rate was 14 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 460 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shaker Heights, Ohio?⌄
Shaker Heights has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shaker Heights, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Shaker Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,168/month and median household income is $104,073/year. The median home value is $303,200. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shaker Heights, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Shaker Heights 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