Cleveland, Ohio

[dawson5]

If you husband was willing to do a Baltimore/Annapolis commute, consider going out even further for an even better cost of living.

We live in Wooster (which is a small college town about 45-55 minutes south of Cleveland). We have a lot of folks who live here and commute to Cleveland daily. For 1300.00 you could buy/rent a modern 2000+ SF home in a very nice neighborhood!

Our schools are great, the presence of a college makes it a unique mix of locals and folks from all over the country. As for raising a family, the activities are all very reasonable (sports fees, gymnastics, pool membership, etc). The crime rate is extremely low and the violent crime rate is even lower.

You are further out....so you get a bit more small town feel/charm....but easy access to more metropolitan areas. After living in NYC, our move to Wooster was a big change...but we love it!

My husband's old boss used to commute from the Wooster area to Sheffield. I want to say they lived closer to West Salem and owned a farm there. It was a very nice area, went down there quite often to visit.

 

[monkeybug]

My husband said that the station he would be at is 2 blocks from the rock n' roll hall of fame? I'm guessing that means the one in Cleveland.
He has also been e-mailing me craigslist adds of rentals there all day. (just to get an idea of price) Apparently he really wants Cleveland to be on the list...and it must be a boring day at work!

 

[DrCavin]

My husband said that the station he would be at is 2 blocks from the rock n' roll hall of fame? I'm guessing that means the one in Cleveland.
He has also been e-mailing me craigslist adds of rentals there all day. (just to get an idea of price) Apparently he really wants Cleveland to be on the list...and it must be a boring day at work!

Yes it is downtown, I wouldn't want a 45 min commute - been there done that The good news is you have lots of options.

 

[monkeybug]

Yes it is downtown, I wouldn't want a 45 min commute - been there done that The good news is you have lots of options.

I think we got so used to sitting in traffic when we lived in the bay area (CA) and then again in the DC area, that we just don't even really notice it anymore.

 

[Tracy Savage]

Please check out our Metro Park system as well. It's beautiful! www.lakemetroparks.com and http://www.clemetparks.com/

 

[FireDancer]

My husband said that the station he would be at is 2 blocks from the rock n' roll hall of fame? I'm guessing that means the one in Cleveland.
He has also been e-mailing me craigslist adds of rentals there all day. (just to get an idea of price) Apparently he really wants Cleveland to be on the list...and it must be a boring day at work!

Yep, it is right downtown between the RnR HOF and Burke Lakefront Airport. It is right next to the Great Lakes Science Center and Cleveland Browns Stadium. Click this link and change it to Bird's Eye View (mouse over aerial and it will appear in a sub-menu).

Please check out our Metro Park system as well. It's beautiful! www.lakemetroparks.com and http://www.clemetparks.com/

And add to that www.cvnpa.org which is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association.

 

[Cindy B]

I would move back in a heartbeat! We lived in Shaker Heights (great suburb) and University Heights. These were "east side" suburbs, which are different than "west side" suburbs. Schools in Shakers were ranked high..

Both DH and I worked in Beachwood. We also looked at Chagrin Falls as well. We have friends that live in Chagrin Falls.. and it is gorgeous.

Housing was very cheap compared to the Philly area. We were able to get a really low price for rentals and home purchase price.

One thing you need to be aware of (and I don't know if they still have it) is the RITA tax.. a residence tax which was an additional amount. It wasn't a lot of money but it always felt like a RITA bill would show up all the time.

It was very easy to get around and the city of Cleveland seemed pretty safe for me. I was a woman alone a lot and I drove around pretty much everywhere (even places that I shouldn't like east cleveland, and the rough end of Chagrin Blvd to downtown) and I never had a problem.

You do get four seasons and the summers were always mild for me. My kids always had something to do (zoo and parks system is GREAT) and I really enjoyed the small town feel.

I really miss it and would go back if jobs were there.. I loved the people. It was the only place I have ever lived where the people were so genuine. True story: we had parked our Uhaul and was waiting for the keys to our new place. One of our neighbors knocked on the truck window (and being from Philly we were all ready to defend things) and offered us food, coffee and wanted to chat it up..

Loved the area...

 

[FireDancer]

One thing you need to be aware of (and I don't know if they still have it) is the RITA tax.. a residence tax which was an additional amount. It wasn't a lot of money but it always felt like a RITA bill would show up all the time.

Oh, we still have RITA. Here in Ohio almost every city has their own income tax. Cities that don't do their own income tax use RITA. It seams like you always get a bill because you do. You pre-pay RITA quarterly. It is an annoyance but nothing big enough to not live here IMO.

 

[Cindy B]

Oh, we still have RITA. Here in Ohio almost every city has their own income tax. Cities that don't do their own income tax use RITA. It seams like you always get a bill because you do. You pre-pay RITA quarterly. It is an annoyance but nothing big enough to not live here IMO.

I think people in the military get an exception on RITA, so that may be a good thing. We just never had such a thing in any of the other states we lived in.. it isn't a dealbreaker, but just different.

Other differences: pumping your own gas (what can I say in NJ you don't), no doubling grocery coupons, lack of traffic --as compared to where I previously lived.

Housing was so cheap and plentiful. I really miss going to Seaworld (not there anymore) and the old Geauga Lake. I also liked the tiny NASA museum --which I also don't think is there anymore. The airport is easy to navigate and the highways are well marked.

 

[monkeybug]

Oh, we still have RITA. Here in Ohio almost every city has their own income tax. Cities that don't do their own income tax use RITA. It seams like you always get a bill because you do. You pre-pay RITA quarterly. It is an annoyance but nothing big enough to not live here IMO.

I wonder if that's something we would have to pay. Is it an income tax? We don't have to pay income tax usually because my husbands state of residence is MI and I guess they don't tax military pay in MI. So even when living in CA, OR, and MD we didn't pay income tax.
It's no big deal if we did have to pay it, but sometimes we are exempt from those things.

 

[monkeybug]

I think people in the military get an exception on RITA, so that may be a good thing. We just never had such a thing in any of the other states we lived in.. it isn't a dealbreaker, but just different.

Other differences: pumping your own gas (what can I say in NJ you don't), no doubling grocery coupons, lack of traffic --as compared to where I previously lived.

Housing was so cheap and plentiful. I really miss going to Seaworld (not there anymore) and the old Geauga Lake. I also liked the tiny NASA museum --which I also don't think is there anymore. The airport is easy to navigate and the highways are well marked.

Ha ha! You must have posted while I was typing, sorry!
In Oregon we didn't pump our own gas either...I miss those days!!!

 

[KristiMc]

The Geauga Lake Waterpark is still going strong. It's only about 10 minutes from my house.

 

[Cindy B]

The Geauga Lake Waterpark is still going strong. It's only about 10 minutes from my house.

I was talking more about the late 80-early 90's pre Six Flags/Cedar Faire acquisition Geauga Lake.

I remember when it was separate, Sea World and Geauga Lake... then Six Flags came in and messed it all up!!! Yes, I'm still mad about that and it was what... more than 10 years ago?

In my day, Geauga Lake was a fun old timey amusement park that was family owned and operated. I'm sure it has the same "flavor" but that whole Six Flags business left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[KristiMc]

I was talking more about the late 80-early 90's pre Six Flags/Cedar Faire acquisition Geauga Lake.

I remember when it was separate, Sea World and Geauga Lake... then Six Flags came in and messed it all up!!! Yes, I'm still mad about that and it was what... more than 10 years ago?

In my day, Geauga Lake was a fun old timey amusement park that was family owned and operated. I'm sure it has the same "flavor" but that whole Six Flags business left a bad taste in my mouth.

The amusement park closed the summer before we moved here. I went to it a few times when I was in HS - lived in PA. It was a nice park - kinda like Kennywood in Pittsburgh. The old roller coaster is still standing. Went to Sea World a few times when I was little also. My kids would love having that around.

 

[Cindy B]

I wonder if that's something we would have to pay. Is it an income tax? We don't have to pay income tax usually because my husbands state of residence is MI and I guess they don't tax military pay in MI. So even when living in CA, OR, and MD we didn't pay income tax.
It's no big deal if we did have to pay it, but sometimes we are exempt from those things.

Someone can correct me if I don't have it exactly right but IIRC, RITA is Residential Income Tax Association .


It isn't a dealbreaker but it was just a suprise to us.. especially since we rented and never had to pay taxes before that point.

 

[MaumeeMom]

I grew up in a Cleve 'burb and it was great! I still miss my hometown.

Cleveland is a great sports town. We get to a few Indians games every year and try to see the Browns each season. There are also some minor league baseball teams around, if you like baseball - very fun!

The park system is fabulous! Lots to do outdoors.

The Art Museum is world class and the other museums are wonderful too. There is theater too if you like to go.

If you like to eat, there are restaurants galore! Lots of great places from dives to top chefs.

The only thing I don't like about Ohio is the winters, those I could do without.

Good luck! Let us know where you land.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Not too much advice here, but just wanted to say another Cleveland native gives it a thumbs up! I do want to point out to keep your housing search to a decent distance from work. The commute time can very easily double during the snowy months.

 

[Shutterbug]

Cleveland is not so bad as long as you are not a pro sports fan

btw did anyone else get the automated phone call advertising Lebron James Appreciation Day in Akron on Sat

 

[KristiMc]

Cleveland is not so bad as long as you are not a pro sports fan

btw did anyone else get the automated phone call advertising Lebron James Appreciation Day in Akron on Sat

That's why I am a Steelers fan

 

[LoraJ]

I grew up in Cleveland Heights, so I am an East Side girl. If I ever moved back I would probably go Beachwood or Chagrin Falls.