The Town FilesLakewood, Ohio
City in Cuyahoga County · population 50,942 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,200
- Household income
- $68,954
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 35.5
Lakewood is a city of 50,942 people in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The median home is worth $262,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Ohio towns, better for young professionals than 100% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 100% of Ohio towns.
How Lakewood ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lakewood is worth $262,200, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $68,954, which is more affordable than 7% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,070 a month. 44.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakewood | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,200 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,070 | $914 |
| Median household income | $68,954 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 44.4% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Lakewood
| People | Lakewood | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.3% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 90.9% |
Weather in Lakewood
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.8 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakewood since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 1.4 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 321 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 7, 2010.
Severe weather in Cuyahoga County since 1996
Cuyahoga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| January 3, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4098: Severe Storms And Flooding Due To The Remnants Of Hurricane Sandy |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County had 705,152 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,134 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Lakewood itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Lakewood
11 public schools with 4,317 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood High School | 8-12 | 1,414 | 17.5 |
| Garfield Middle School | 6-8 | 469 | 15.1 |
| Harding Middle School | 6-8 | 459 | 15.3 |
| Grant Elementary School | PK-5 | 330 | 18.3 |
| Emerson Elementary School | K-5 | 310 | 18.2 |
| Hayes Elementary School | PK-5 | 290 | 22.3 |
| Harrison Elementary School | PK-5 | 270 | 16.9 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-5 | 264 | 20.3 |
| Horace Mann Elementary School | PK-5 | 258 | 17.2 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | K-5 | 225 | 16.1 |
| Taft Center for Innovation | PK-PK | 28 | — |
Towns near Lakewood
- Rocky River, OH2.8 mi · 21,755 people · home $349,300
- Fairview Park, OH3.9 mi · 17,291 people · home $239,100
- Brooklyn, OH4.3 mi · 11,359 people · home $163,100
- Brook Park, OH5.5 mi · 18,595 people · home $169,600
- Cleveland, OH6.3 mi · 372,624 people · home $102,000
- Bay Village, OH6.6 mi · 16,163 people · home $353,000
- Westlake, OH7.1 mi · 34,228 people · home $368,200
- Parma Heights, OH7.2 mi · 20,863 people · home $175,100
Lakewood questions
Is Lakewood, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakewood scores better for retirees than 28% of Ohio towns and quieter than 1%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Lakewood?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakewood is valued at $262,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,954, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,070 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakewood?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 63.8 inches of snow.
Does Lakewood get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakewood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)