Choosing A Community (Lakewood, Rocky River: schools, living, bars)

[chartbury]

If you're looking at public high schools, then, yes , Solon is largely working class and Chagrin Falls -- which is the top ranked High School in the area according to Newsweek and US News & World Report -- is mostly upper and upper-middle class. Kenston is also good. Look at the private schools such as Western Reserve, University School, Gilmour and Hawken, then you can pick where you live. Bay Village does have a nice feel to it and the schools are competent. Some people like Rocky River, it never appealed to me. An updated house in Shaker is worth taking a look at also -- some have had amazing renovations.

[ProudCavalier]

I did not know working class people could afford $600,000 homes? Wow the working class people in Cleveland sure are doing very well! Doesn't Shaker have more working class than Solon. I thought Solon has a lot of Movers & Shakers.

[cleveburg]

Originally Posted by newmex

Too much NPR softens the spine
Harrass them right back, and out of the country! Please folks, don't be like France or Canada. Your jobs are stripped away, let's not have these idiot's strip away our dignity and our way of life here in America. Don't be a doormat for these social refractory types.

I couldn't agree more!!!!

[chartbury]

Solon has never had the social status of other suburbs like Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Pepper Pike, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Rocky River or even Beachwood. Yes, that's changing, with all the glitzy Supersize-me and Regular-size McMansions being built there. It has good schools, but so do many other suburbs. It just doesn't have the name recognition of the older, more established residential suburbs. Solon grew up around industry/manufacturing and is further from Cleveland's cultural opportunities.

[PercyL542]

My husband and I will be moving to Cleveland. Our children are grown and out of the house. We are looking for a safe semi urban location that offers easy access to cultural activities of the city. We would like the area to have its own identity i.e nice restaurants, shops etc in walking distance. We are interested in buying not renting a house with character. We see many potential places on the website but many conflicting opinions as well. Who can tell us what the right answer is????

[WeSoHood]

Originally Posted by chartbury

Solon has never had the social status of other suburbs like Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Pepper Pike, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Rocky River or even Beachwood. Yes, that's changing, with all the glitzy Supersize-me and Regular-size McMansions being built there. It has good schools, but so do many other suburbs. It just doesn't have the name recognition of the older, more established residential suburbs. Solon grew up around industry/manufacturing and is further from Cleveland's cultural opportunities.

Solon does have the social status of most of those cities listed. Hell, median income is higher in Solon than in Rocky River as is the median house value.

Solon median household income: $80,000
Solon median house value: $260,000

Rocky River median household income: $52,000
Rocky River median house value: $226,000

[cleveburg]

Originally Posted by WeSoHood

Solon does have the social status of most of those cities listed. Hell, median income is higher in Solon than in Rocky River as is the median house value.

Solon median household income: $80,000
Solon median house value: $260,000

Rocky River median household income: $52,000
Rocky River median house value: $226,000

I'd have to ditto you on that one! Right on.

[airics]

i have lived in mayfield since i was 9.. i went to gilmour for 2yrs.. best move i ever made (much to the dismay of my parents) was getting the hell out of gilmour and going to mayfield...

[chartbury]

Originally Posted by PercyL542

My husband and I will be moving to Cleveland. Our children are grown and out of the house. We are looking for a safe semi urban location that offers easy access to cultural activities of the city. We would like the area to have its own identity i.e nice restaurants, shops etc in walking distance. We are interested in buying not renting a house with character. We see many potential places on the website but many conflicting opinions as well. Who can tell us what the right answer is????

I would definitely look at Shaker Heights if you want to be able to walk to any shops and restaurants as well as parks. Ideally you would want to be looking in the areas around Fairmount Circle, where you can walk to the shops there (Pizzaz, Ben & Jerry's, etc) or the Sussex Neighborhood which has the Van Aken shopping center and restaurants (Matsu, Panera, Rudy's, Pearl of the Orient, Eddie Sands, Fresh Market, Chandler & Rudd within walking distance). There are apartments, condos and house options. You might also want to check out University Heights around John Carroll University and the Shaker Heights border also. Good luck!

[chartbury]

Originally Posted by WeSoHood

Solon does have the social status of most of those cities listed. Hell, median income is higher in Solon than in Rocky River as is the median house value.

Solon median household income: $80,000
Solon median house value: $260,000

Rocky River median household income: $52,000
Rocky River median house value: $226,000

Yes, but $$$$ don't tell you about a person's social behavior or education. You can have multi-millionaire footballers running dogfighting rings, or people who just get lucky. Some communities are set up to support and attract certain lifestyles, you can tell by the the local schools extracurricular activities what the community's core values are -- as well as access to arts and green space. E.g., as you walk around a city are there joggers and cyclists or no walkers and an abundance of bars? That tells you a lot.