If you’re looking for the perfect spot to kick-start your career near the best of the Three C’s, these Cleveland suburbs should definitely be on your list. You’ll find beautiful parks, plenty of amenities, affordable homes, and close-knit communities—all close to the city you love. We looked at a whole bunch of data to figure out the best Cleveland suburbs for young professionals, and these were the 10 winners.

1. Willoughby

Key Stats:

  • Residents age 22-29: 9.6 percent
  • Total amenities: 2,266

Willoughby kicks off our list of the best Cleveland suburbs for young professionals with plenty of amenities to enjoy on weekends. Home buyers will find a range of spacious housing options, including classic Colonial and craftsman style homes. Grab fresh local produce at the farmers market, or stroll through thriving downtown Willoughby and stop in local stores and restaurants. Active young professionals will love fishing, boating, and swimming at Lake Erie, or hiking the trails at Chagrin River Park.

2. Lakewood

Key Stats:

  • Residents age 22-29: 17.9 percent
  • Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 26.8 percent

Lakewood, located along Lake Erie, lives up to its name. Home buyers in this suburb will find everything from affordable modern condos to quaint cottage and craftsman style homes on large lots. Active young professionals will love fishing, boating, and swimming at Lake Erie, or hiking the scenic trails at the waterfront Lakewood Park. Residents can also grab fresh local produce at the Lakewood Farmers Market.

3. Painesville

Key Stats:

  • Residents age 22-29: 11.5 percent
  • Total amenities: 1,317

Young professionals searching for the perfect home in Painesville have a range of options, from affordable cottage and ranch style homes, to spacious craftsman and Colonial style houses on large lots. Active young professionals will love weekend fishing trips at Kiwanis Recreation Park, while golf enthusiasts can hit the links and network at Casement Golf Course. Numerous boutiques, specialty stores, and local restaurants are available along Painesville’s charming Main Street.

4. Berea

Key Stats:

  • Residents age 22-29: 10.5 percent
  • Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 20.1 percent

Berea comes in fourth on our list of the best Cleveland suburbs for young professionals with modern condos, cozy bungalow style homes, and modest ranch style houses for home buyers. Active young professionals will enjoy Berea’s miles of trails and public green spaces, and fishing on Baldwin or Wallace Lake. Berea residents also have access to convenient shopping from brand name retailers and big box stores at numerous plazas.

5. Medina

Key Stats:

  • Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent
  • Total amenities: 2,768

The lovely Cleveland suburb of Medina earns the fifth place spot on our list with a range of housing options. Historic cottage, Colonial, and Craftsman style homes are common. Shop at Medina’s local specialty stores, or grab a bite to eat at one of Medina’s mom and pop restaurants. Active young professionals will love the Community Recreation Center, and strolling through Reagan Park.

6. Bedford

Key Stats:

  • Total amenities: 1,552
  • Cost of living: 90, compared to the Ohio average of 91

Bedford comes in sixth on our list of the best Cleveland suburbs for young professionals with affordable Colonial, bungalow, craftsman, and ranch style homes for buyers. Network while you hit the links at the Shawnee Hills Golf Course. Active young professionals will love hiking and biking the numerous trails along Tinkers Creek, or enjoying a picnic by the water.

7. Westlake

Key Stats:

  • Total amenities: 2,685
  • Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $60,534
  • Residents with professional occupations: 56.6 percent

Young professionals searching for the perfect home in Westlake have a range of options to choose from. Everything from modern condos to historic cottage, Colonial, and craftsman style homes are common. Hit the links and network at one of Westlake’s numerous golf courses, or shop brand name retailers and enjoy casual dining at the open-air shopping center, Crocker Park. Active young professionals will love hiking and fishing at the Bradley Woods Reservation.

8. Mentor

Key Stats:

  • Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent
  • Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $52,384

The lakeside city of Mentor earns the eighth spot on our list with modest townhomes and Cape Cod style homes, spacious Colonials, and farmhouse style homes on large lots. Active young professionals will love fishing, boating, and swimming at Lake Erie, and hiking at the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve. Community events like Mentor Rocks are a great way to meet new neighbors and enjoy local talent.

9. Cleveland Heights

Key Stats:

  • Residents age 22-29: 13.7 percent
  • Residents with professional occupations: 55.1 percent

The conveniently located suburb of Cleveland Heights has plenty of housing options for home buyers, from modern townhomes to lovely historic houses in craftsman, Colonial, Tudor, and Victorian styles. Active young professionals will enjoy strolling along the water at Shaker Lakes Park. Numerous dining, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment options are available in Cleveland Heights.

10. Fairview Park

Key Stats:

  • Residents age 22-29: 10.5 percent
  • Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 24.3 percent

Fairview Parks rounds out our list of the best Cleveland suburbs for young professionals with lovely historic craftsman, Colonial, and bungalow style homes on large lots. Network while you hit the links at the scenic Big Met Golf Course, or enjoy a picnic in the wooded South Mastick Picnic Area. Residents also enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Westgate Shopping Center.

Our Methodology

To create this list of the best Cleveland suburbs for young professionals, we looked at the following criteria:

  • Percent of residents age 22-29
  • Percent of residents who attained a bachelor’s degree
  • Median earnings for those who attained a bachelor’s degree
  • Percent of residents who work in management, business, financial, or other professional fields
  • Cost of living

Then, because some things are just a little more important to young professionals than others, we weighed the percent of residents age 22-29 and amenities per capita to make up 35 percent of our score. Professional opportunity made up 20 percent, and cost of living made up 10 percent. We then averaged those weighted scores into one overall score, and the 10 lowest overall scores made the cut for this list. We gathered data from the U.S. Census and AreaVibes. Want to see how other Cleveland suburbs ranked? Check out the table below:

Best Cleveland Suburbs For Young Professionals

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