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Living in
Westlake.
About
Life in Westlake
If you're considering a move to Westlake, you're looking at a solidly affluent, educated suburb that attracts professionals and established families. The median household income of $112,200 puts you in a comfortable financial position, and the median home value of $368,200 reflects a stable, well-maintained community—though it's not cheap. The unemployment rate of 3.6% is well below the national average, supported by major employers headquartered here like American Greetings and Hyland Software, plus a 23.6-minute average commute to jobs in Cleveland.
Westlake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Foreign-Born
12.6%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
-1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Westlake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Westlake, the largest foreign-born group is from India (14.0%), and 5.5% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
25.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.2%
of households
Married Couples
51.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
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 52% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Westlake
In Westlake, rent runs 52% above the OH average, and home values are 71% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,742
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $421,021 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Westlake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Westlake 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 Westlake 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
Commute24.4 min avg
How Westlake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Westlake, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 91 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 92% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Westlake runs 92% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
29.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
652.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Westlake 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 Westlake, 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
Westlake is about 3% 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 Westlake, 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
Westlake is about 3% 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
Westlake 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
42.4"
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Westlake
Westlake has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Uh St John Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Avon
Fairview Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Cleveland
Southwest General Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Middleburg Heights
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.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Westlake
Westlake's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 60.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
60.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Westlake (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,969 students · in-state tuition $13,262 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,979 (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
8.3 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, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Westlake
Westlake has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
23 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
48 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
54 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Westlake
Porter Public Library
27333 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake
Cities Near Westlake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Westlake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Westlake FAQ
Is Westlake, Ohio affordable?⌄
Westlake's median rent is $1,570/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $112,200/year. Median home value is $368,200.
Is Westlake, Ohio safe?⌄
Westlake's violent crime rate was 29 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 652 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Westlake, Ohio?⌄
Westlake 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 Westlake, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Westlake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,570/month and median household income is $112,200/year. The median home value is $368,200. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Westlake, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Westlake is 24 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