Cleveland has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that’s evident in its sustained growth and dedication to development and opportunity. The population of Downtown Cleveland is up 22% from 10 years ago, and the demand for apartments here exceeds supply. This is a richly diverse community with heritage from all over the world. The thriving real estate market continues to provide a steady stream of homes throughout the best neighborhoods in Cleveland.
Selection criteria
Cleveland has much to offer no matter which neighborhood you’re in, so choosing its best neighborhoods wasn’t easy. These areas stand out for their notable attractions, impressive amenities, and strong communities. While some cater to families and others are more suitable for young professionals, each neighborhood has distinctive highlights that will appeal to its unique demographic. These neighborhoods also offer competitive rental rates for the features and perks available in each area.
1. Edgewater
Edgewater has a vibrant urban air that makes it a popular pick for young professionals on Cleveland’s West Side. Edgewater Park provides 6,000 feet of shoreline on Lake Erie and stunning views of the Cleveland skyline. The park offers various activities, including fishing on the pier, live music, and raucous summer beach parties.
For a true taste of Edgewater, visit Don’s Lighthouse and enjoy fresh seafood flavors such as Great Lakes walleye and Georges Bank cod. Just 10 to 12 minutes from downtown Cleveland, Edgewater offers easy access to all the amenities of the city. Edgewater’s schools are moderate, but its nightlife is outstanding, making this area better for singles and young adults than families.
Over three-quarters of Edgewater residents rent their homes. Rental rates are rising in the neighborhood, exhibiting a 44% year-over-year increase. A studio apartment here averages $775 per month, and a one-bedroom unit costs around $1,200.
2. Ohio City
With the 100-year-old West Side Market as its epicenter, Ohio City offers a wealth of shopping and dining opportunities within a charming community. Single-family homes and spacious apartment complexes dominate the landscape in this neighborhood, providing the perfect setting for families. Saint Ignatius High School and Menlo Park Academy offer excellent educational opportunities. Wendy Park provides 22 acres of green space, volleyball courts, and a natural-surface kayak launch for ample outdoor entertainment.
Ohio City is safer than over 90% of Cleveland neighborhoods, though it’s only five minutes from downtown. The biggest downside to Ohio City is the price, which aligns with this area’s coveted selection of amenities. Three-quarters of the residents rent, and the average studio apartment is $1,178. A family looking for a three-bedroom apartment can expect to pay $2,163.
3. University Circle
As the name suggests, University Circle hosts several outstanding educational institutions, including Cleveland School of the Arts, Cleveland Clinic, and Case Western Reserve University. You can easily bike or walk around this neighborhood, taking in its ample highlights, such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland History Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. University Circle is also infamous for its eclectic dining scene, which includes contemporary French cuisine at L’Albatros, Italian food with Albanian influence at Mia Bella Restaurant, and Middle Eastern fare at Falafel Cafe.
University Circle is idyllic for students and young professionals, offering everything these residents could want. The neighborhood is less appealing for families, however, with mediocre schools and a high cost of living. You can expect to pay an average of $1,390 just to rent a studio apartment and around $2,500 for a two-bedroom. With a whopping 84% of residents opting to rent rather than buy in this neighborhood, it has the distinctive feel of a college town, where the community is constantly changing as people move in and out of the area.
4. Tremont
Tremont is notable for its hip and happening vibe. You’ll never experience a dull evening here, with bowling and beer at Hi and Dry, Irish Pub Fare at The Treehouse, and Eastern European comfort food at Prosperity Social Club. Tremont hosts a wide variety of community events. On the second Friday of the month, you can explore Walkabout Tremont and view arts and goods from local creators. Lincoln Park hosts free performances every weekend in August as part of Arts in August, and Memorial Day Weekend typically features the annual Tremont Greek Festival.
Tremont offers some distinctive public school options. Tremont Montessori School serves children from Pre-K through eighth grade, providing a Montessori curriculum that adheres to state standards. Bard High School Early College Cleveland offers tuition-free college courses for students after 9th and 10th grade.
Tremont is home to many well-known historic buildings. You’ll find striking Victorian houses majestically situated in Lincoln Park and the largest concentration of historic churches anywhere in America. Notably, Tremont is also home to the iconic house from “A Christmas Story.” Owners occupy 35% of the homes in Tremont, which is more than many Cleveland neighborhoods. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,225, and a two-bedroom unit averages just $1,398. Though the area is more affordable, it also has a higher poverty rate among children, families, and older adults than Cleveland as a whole.
5. Downtown
If you’re interested in a dense urban neighborhood, you may find just what you’re looking for in Downtown Cleveland. As the largest residential city center in the state of Ohio, Cleveland has a little of everything. Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the country outside of New York City, with 10 performance spaces hosting over 1,000 events every year. Restorations have returned half of these theaters to their historic 1920s glory.
Sports fans find plenty of entertainment in Downtown Cleveland, with the Browns at Cleveland Brown Stadium, the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and the Guardians at Progressive Field. Kids will love the Great Lakes Science Center, where they can explore the William G. Mather Steamship, play in augmented reality sandboxes, and experience science phenomena hands-on.
Though Downtown Cleveland has a wealth of attractions, it lacks some of the peace and quiet you can find further from the city center. Nearly everyone in Downtown Cleveland rents, with only 4% of the population owning their homes.
Average rent ranges from $1,035 for a studio apartment to $2,274 for a two-bedroom unit. Your options here are as diverse as the community. The high-end City Club Apartments Cleveland offers exquisite amenities, such as a fitness center, doggie daycare, 24/7 concierge services, a swimming pool, and a gourmet restaurant. If you’re focused on affordability, the Lofts at 629 Apartments offer innovative studio layouts that make the most of small spaces.
6. Detroit Shoreway
On a picturesque bluff overlooking Lake Erie, the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood is quickly gaining popularity as a hot spot for young professionals. Just two miles west of downtown, the area offers convenient access to all the urban amenities you could want. The neighborhood houses the popular Gordon Square Arts District, with the historic Capitol Theatre movie theater, 78th Street Studios art and design complex, Talespinner Children’s Theatre, and more.
Detroit Shoreway’s dining is also a major draw. Stone Mad Pub pairs elegant features, such as hand-painted ceilings and blown-glass chandeliers, with classic American comfort foods, including four-cheese mac and cheese, slow-roasted beef brisket, bacon-wrapped meatloaf, and house-made chicken pot pie. The All Saints Public House takes pub fare up a notch, with dishes such as smoked gouda bacon dip, duck Swedish meatballs, and chicken paprikash with homemade spaetzle.
Detroit Shoreway is in a near-constant state of transition. Local organizations have completed numerous projects to rehabilitate the mixed-income residential housing here. This is a dense suburban area that caters well to families. The Cleveland EcoVillage is one of the more recent developments, offering an innovative approach to environmentally friendly living. The EcoVillage features permanent tiny houses, community gardens, and access to two major transit lines so you can live lightly on the earth. In the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, 65% of residents rent. A studio apartment averages $898, and a two-bedroom unit costs about $1,250.
7. West Park/Kamm’s Corners
The West Park neighborhood is just 15 minutes from Downtown Cleveland, so you’re conveniently close to the city while maintaining enough distance to enjoy a more suburban feel. Kamm’s Corners is the area’s primary commercial district, and locals often refer to this neighborhood by the same name. This area has a rich Irish heritage and still offers a great taste of Ireland in establishments such as Gormley’s Pub and P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub. Every summer, the neighborhood hosts a rousing Irish street festival — The Hooley.
Unlike many neighborhoods in Cleveland, most of the residents in Kamm’s Corners own their homes, with just 28% renting. Many recognize the area’s housing affordability, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging just $800. You’ll find kids on bicycles and meandering dog walkers around these suburban neighborhoods, which are extremely popular for families. The residents here lean more toward moderate political views, whereas the rest of Cleveland is more liberal. This is a great place to raise kids, though singles and young professionals may find it too quiet and quaint.
8. Old Brooklyn
Old Brooklyn is a mecca of family-friendly highlights. Here you’ll find the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which houses over 3,000 animals. You can still find the original Honey Hut Ice Cream in Old Brooklyn, offering over a dozen ice cream flavors, including honey pecan, orange blossom, and sea salt caramel. Dining options include the quaint hot dogs and hamburgers at Charlie’s Dog House Diner, with cozy seating for just 12, and exotic delights, such as the tropical jerk and curry flavors at Irie Jamaican Kitchen.
There are more homeowners than renters in Old Brooklyn, with 62% of residents in owner-occupied housing. Apartments here are extremely affordable, with a one-bedroom unit averaging $799 and a two-bedroom apartment costing $925 on average. Old Brooklyn’s poverty rates are well below Cleveland’s average, with just 20.3% of the population living below the poverty line compared to 32.7% in Cleveland and 25% of children below poverty in Old Brooklyn as opposed to 48.2% for all of Cleveland.
9. Riverside
Riverside — which many call Hopkins — is a small neighborhood on the eastern edge of the Rocky River. It is a subset of the West Park community.
The Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport is the most notable feature of Riverside. Living here is extremely convenient for those who work at the airport, though the proximity may be less than desirable for those who don’t want to live near heavy air traffic. Though much of Riverside falls within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, this neighborhood is also close to the Fairview Park City School District and Berea City School District, which gives families more options than they’ll find in other parts of Cleveland.
In Riverside, 37% of residents rent, and 63% own their homes. This area has a sparse suburban feel, which can be a welcome retreat from the fast-paced bustle of the city. Rental units are more difficult to come by here but tend to be competitively priced when available. The median rent is just $925.
10. Fairfax
Fairfax is a richly diverse neighborhood that many expect to see a vibrant renaissance in the coming years. The neighborhood’s name is a tribute to Florence Bundy Fairfax, who worked tirelessly to improve and serve her community. Today, the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation continues these efforts. This neighborhood is home to the Karamu House, the oldest producing African American theater in the country, and the Cleveland Play House, the longest-running professional theater in the United States.
Fairfax comprises primarily of one- and two-family houses and small apartment complexes. The median rent in Fairfax is $1,925, and 62% of residents here rent rather than own.
Final thoughts
There’s something for everyone among the best neighborhoods in Cleveland. Whether you’re looking for a quiet suburban space or the excitement of the city center, you can find a home that’s everything you need.
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