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Living in
Willoughby.
About
Life in Willoughby
Willoughby is a community of 23,934 people in Ohio. The median household income is $70,884, median rent runs about $1,171 per month, and median home values are around $216,900. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Willoughby at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Foreign-Born
5.2%
Broadband Internet
91.0%
of households
Population Growth
+1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.2% foreign-born, most often from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Who lives in Willoughby: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Willoughby, the largest foreign-born group is from Bosnia and Herzegovina (17.5%), and 2.8% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
16.3%
of residents
65 and Older
24.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.7%
of households
Married Couples
36.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.01
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 Willoughby
In Willoughby, rent runs 13% above the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,585
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $243,719 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below OH average
Unemployment in Willoughby
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Willoughby, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Willoughby: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Willoughby Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.7 min avg
How Willoughby residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Willoughby, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 108 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 71% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Willoughby runs 71% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
94.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
794.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Willoughby Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Willoughby, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Lake-Effect Snow | $352,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $334,500 |
| 2022 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $245,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $252,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $82,000 |
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
Lake County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Willoughby, is typically good — 244 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
244
per year
Moderate Days
114
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lake County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Willoughby has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.0"
Annual Snowfall
113.7"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
169
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 19°F | 3.51" |
| Feb | 36°F | 20°F | 2.66" |
| Mar | 45°F | 28°F | 3.27" |
| Apr | 58°F | 38°F | 4.10" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 4.13" |
| Jun | 77°F | 58°F | 4.03" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 5.23" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 4.36" |
| Sep | 74°F | 55°F | 4.55" |
| Oct | 62°F | 45°F | 3.92" |
| Nov | 49°F | 35°F | 4.14" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 4.25" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Willoughby
Willoughby has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
Windsor Laurelwood Center for Behavorial Medicine
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Euclid Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.9 mi away · Euclid
Lake Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Concord
Hillcrest Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 8.8 mi away · Mayfield 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.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Willoughby
Willoughby's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Willoughby (within 15 miles)
Case Western Reserve University
14.1 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 · 2,274 students · in-state tuition $51,960 · 77% graduate · median earnings $74,509 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 852 students · in-state tuition $38,700 · 46% graduate · median earnings $54,578 (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
13.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 164 students · in-state tuition $23,880 · median earnings $41,223 (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: James A Garfield National Historic Site, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Willoughby
Willoughby has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being James A Garfield National Historic Site (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
James A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayCuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
28 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
72 mi awayPublic Libraries in Willoughby
Willoughby Branch Library
30 Public Square, Willoughby
Cities Near Willoughby
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Willoughby?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Willoughby FAQ
Is Willoughby, Ohio affordable?⌄
Willoughby's median rent is $1,171/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $71,309/year. Median home value is $216,900.
Is Willoughby, Ohio safe?⌄
Willoughby's violent crime rate was 95 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 794 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Willoughby, Ohio?⌄
Lake County, which includes Willoughby, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Willoughby, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Willoughby is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,171/month and median household income is $71,309/year. The median home value is $216,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Willoughby, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Willoughby 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