A small riverside city just outside downtown Cleveland
Halfway between Sandusky and Cleveland, Ohio’s city of Elyria, home to more than 53,000 people, offers regional attractions like Lake Erie, a small-town environment and large employers like UH Elyria Medical Center and Lorain County. It’s home to national businesses, including Invacare and Ridge Tool Company – makers of Ridgid brand tools – while providing easy commuting routes across the region. This small Cleveland suburb sits less than 8 miles south of Lake Erie and less than 5 miles northeast of the Lorain County Regional Airport. “It’s not so congested and we still have access to major highways,” says Michelle Ramirez, Realtor with Howard Hanna. “And our taxes are more affordable. It’s a small community.”
Increasingly competitive real estate market
Founded as a village in 1817, nearly 80% of Elyria’s homes were built before 1980. Single-family home styles reflect the times, with the most popular styles being colonial revivals and ranch-style homes. Condos and townhomes are also available, though most are primarily located in the city's southeast corner. Prices for condos and townhomes range from $92,000 to $225,000, while single-family homes usually sell for between $40,000 and $600,000. The median home price is $185,000, up 12% from the previous year.
Picturesque waterfalls at Cascade Park
Elyria Parks and Recreation lists 14 parks on their website, though Lorain County Metro Parks operate Cascade Park and Elywood. Park amenities include historical monuments, fitness trails, an ice rink, dog parks, playground equipment and swimming pools. Trails through the park system provide hikers with views of urban waterfalls along the Black River, and Cascade Park and Elywood Park offer wooded green space to explore on the banks of the river. The 2022/23 Parks and Recreation Master Plan indicates the city plans to reduce the number of pools and aquatics facilities to one, to be located at East Park or the city’s recreation center on the south side.
The East Cascade Falls are a sight not to be missed, just off of Ely Square, in Elyria.
The Soldiers Monument has been greeting visitors to Ely Square since 1888.
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Local cafes and eateries in downtown Elyria
West River Road North holds a commercial corridor where residents can find chains like Applebee’s and Olive Garden alongside national brands like Home Depot and Target. The area once was home to Midway Mall, but the property is now closed, and city officials plan to redevelop it into a health, wellness and industrial innovation park. Eastern Heights and Chestnut Heights offer smaller pockets of shopping opportunities, and Chestnut Heights holds the city’s Walmart Supercenter. Grocery options include Giant Eagle Supermarket, ALDI and Save-A-Lot. Local restaurants are slowly returning to Elyria’s downtown, with Erie Island Coffee Company and Foundry Kitchen and Bar earning love from Elyrians.
The Korean BBQ sandwich is a house favorite at Foundry Kitchen & Bar in Ely Neighborhood.
Foundry Kitchen & Bar offers Ely neighborhood residents a warm welcoming environment.
Erie Island Coffee is serving up hot coffee early in the morning for Elyria residents.
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Elyria Arts Council looms large
The arts thrive in Elyria thanks to the Elyria Arts Council, which hosts events year-round and offers classes in painting, photography and pottery. The EAC is also home to a gallery that showcases local artists and holds book signings with local authors. The west wall of the Elyria Public Library boasts murals that deliver a positive or socially imperative message. Promoting arts and culture, the Community Foundation of Lorain County awards community and organizational grants to local efforts, and in 2023, the EAC was awarded nearly $30,000 by the foundation. Ramirez says the city also hosts a full calendar of events to keep the community engaged. "There's an apple festival downtown every year. We have cider and apple dumplings with ice cream, and it's a big gathering. The high school band comes out and plays at the square."
Bicentennial mural on the side of a building in downtown Elyria.
Residents of Elyria enjoy it's modern library to check out books, movies and more.
Elyria Performing Arts Center where members of the community can watch performances by students.
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Elyria City School District
The Elyria City School District earns an overall grade of B-minus on Niche. The district has five elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. More than 5,800 students attend school in the district, giving it an overall student-teacher ratio of 17:1. The average graduation rate is 87%, and the average SAT score is 1180. Private options within the city include Elyria Catholic High School and Open Door Christian School.
Elyria Performing Arts Center where members of the community can watch performances by students.
Teens are offered a great education at Elyria High School.
Ely Elementary School
Eastern Heights Middle School in Lorain, Ohio.
Ranches are another common home style found in Elyria.
There is a wide array of architectural styles found in Elyria.
Cascade Park has plenty of places to take your dogs for a walk.
The Soldiers Monument has been greeting visitors to Ely Square since 1888.
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Easy commute to Cleveland and the airport
With interstates 80 and 90 running through the north end of town, residents are roughly 30 miles from downtown Cleveland and 52 miles from Akron. Interstate 80 also connects drivers to New York City, 475 miles to the east. The city is part of the Lorain County Transit system, which connects bus riders to the rest of the great Cleveland metro area. Though the Lorain County Regional Airport sits just outside Elyria, the larger Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is less than 20 miles away, allowing travelers to fly internationally.
Flood risks being addressed
Both August of 2022 and 2023 brought substantial rains to Elyria, leading to flooding basements and overflowing the city’s sewage system. The city has since completed improvements to the infrastructure to address flooding in those areas most impacted by the flooding, and plans continue for more improvements in the future, Ramirez says. The crime risk is slightly lower in Elyria compared to the region and country overall. The city’s violent and property crime rates tend to rise and fall in conjunction with those of the overall US and the state of Ohio, though Elyria rates are frequently lower.
Chad Schnieder has been a Full time Realtor since 2003. His team includes a full time business coordinator and a full time sales partner/Realtor. They have over 1,100 homes sold career to date.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
