Idyllic Cleveland suburb with low sticker prices
In Berea, hikers can pause to watch a waterfall flow. Athletes can run along the city’s main road on its perfectly paved sidewalks, past white picket fences and well-kept lawns in front of businesses. College kids can walk to sub shops and bars in antique brick commercial buildings, and bikers can ride down a riverside trail engulfed by trees. Berea’s lakeside trails, ornate commercial structures and quiet suburban neighborhoods with sidewalks give it an idyllic feel. But still, home prices remain relatively low. The average home value is $225,920.
Unending outdoor activities
Nature is front and center in this little college town, which sits 25 minutes southwest of Cleveland and less than 10 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The Rocky River cuts through town, eventually turning into Wallace Lake Park. There’s lots to do along the lake, including jogging and biking along the paved pathways. People also watch water spill over at horseshoe-shaped falls and enjoy picnics in the grassy areas. The shaded Valley Parkway Connector Trail cuts through Berea, connecting the community via bike trail to points north and south. Music Mount Picnic Area has grills and picnic tables at a former concert site, and Coe Lake Park has waterfront gazebos and an amphitheater and sits next to Berea’s outdoor community pool. The city is overflowing with outdoor amenities, and it’s always looking to make improvements. “I was just on a transportation study committee that’s working on improving bike and walking pathways, making sure the city is really connected,” says Kalyn Kappelman, Berea branch manager at the Cuyahoga County Public Library. “It’s a really active community with a lot of community collaboration.”
County fair and the best Oktoberfest in the U.S.
Private liberal arts school Baldwin Wallace University sits on the east side of Berea. The college has about 2,800 undergraduate students and is known for its Conservatory of Performing Arts. Berea is known for its walkability, and students at Baldwin Wallace can easily walk to cafes and bars. Next to the school is the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, home to the annual county fair and other events like vintage clothing sales and gun shows. Berea is home to Cleveland Oktoberfest, which spans two weekends in September. USA TODAY readers named Cleveland Oktoberfest the best Oktoberfest in the nation in 2023.
Margarita flights and hole-in-the-wall bars
Berea has a handful of popular restaurants, including Mike’s Bar & Grill, known for its burgers, craft beer selection and other dishes like tortellini and pierogi. Polish Village, a hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bar, serves liver and fried fish in a dining room with a wooden bar and a pool table. Trendy Ghost Pepper Taqueria & Tequila serves margarita flights, tacos and churros. Cornerstone Brewery makes its beer and pizza, and locals love the sweet treats at Spudnut Donuts. People shop for groceries near the center of town at Giant Eagle Supermarket.
Quiet, leafy streetscapes
The residential parts of Berea are grassy, lined with sidewalks and closely packed – most houses sit on about a quarter-acre of land. Homes are a mixture of old and new. Some came online in the middle of the 19th century, while others were built in the 1990s or later. Cape Cods, one-story homes with greenhouses, 19th-century colonials with front-gabled roofs and ranch-style houses sit right next to each other on suburban streets. Prices range from $117,000 to $638,000.
Horse-drawn carriage to prom
Besides its natural resources and college town status, Berea is known for its well-regarded high school. Berea-Midpark High School has about 1,800 students and a B rating from Niche. The Berea City School District also has a B-rating and includes three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Big Creek Elementary School is rated B-plus by Niche, and Berea-Midpark Middle School gets a C-plus. When high school kids have their prom, they sometimes arrive in style via a horse-drawn carriage rented from Carriages of Cleveland. “They’ll have a carriage ride, take pictures at Coe Lake Park and make their way to the high school,” says Kappelman. “It’s a fun feature some bigger cities have, but for a suburb to have it is pretty unique.”
Nearby airport and commuting to Cleveland
Berea sits west of Interstate 71 and north of the Ohio Turnpike. Ohio State Route 237 cuts through town, and Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport is minutes away.
Written By
Jessica Haddad
Photography Contributed By
Nile Vincz
