The Town FilesWilloughby, Ohio
City in Lake County · population 23,959 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,900
- Household income
- $71,309
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 114 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.6
Willoughby is a city of 23,959 people in Lake County, Ohio. The median home is worth $216,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 91% of Ohio towns, hipper than 88% of Ohio towns.
How Willoughby 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 Willoughby is worth $216,900, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $71,309, which is more affordable than 30% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,171 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willoughby | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,171 | $914 |
| Median household income | $71,309 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Willoughby
| People | Willoughby | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 90.9% |
Weather in Willoughby
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 113.7 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willoughby since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 6, 2024 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 1974.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 15 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 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| April 24, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3286: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| August 1, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1656: Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 98,558 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,040 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Willoughby itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Willoughby
6 public schools with 3,197 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South High School | 9-12 | 1,038 | 17.3 |
| Grant Elementary School | K-5 | 533 | 14.8 |
| Edison Elementary School | K-5 | 527 | 16.0 |
| Willoughby Middle School | 6-8 | 516 | 12.9 |
| School of Innovation | 3-8 | 446 | 16.5 |
| Northern Career Institute | 11-12 | 137 | 11.4 |
Towns near Willoughby
- Eastlake, OH1.1 mi · 17,670 people · home $172,100
- Willowick, OH2.9 mi · 14,204 people · home $166,000
- Wickliffe, OH3.9 mi · 12,652 people · home $166,900
- Willoughby Hills, OH4.3 mi · 10,019 people · home $328,600
- Mentor, OH5.1 mi · 47,450 people · home $247,700
- Kirtland, OH5.1 mi · 6,937 people · home $391,300
- Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH5.5 mi · 7,131 people · home $188,500
- Euclid, OH6.6 mi · 49,692 people · home $126,500
Willoughby questions
Is Willoughby, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willoughby scores better for retirees than 75% of Ohio towns and quieter than 24%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Willoughby?
The median owner-occupied home in Willoughby is valued at $216,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,309, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,171 a month.
What is the weather like in Willoughby?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 113.7 inches of snow.
Does Willoughby get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willoughby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 6, 2024. 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)