Sheffield balances country living with suburban growth
Sheffield is a longstanding farming community that offers people a taste of country living amidst densely populated suburbs. As its northern neighbor — the community of Sheffield Lake — rapidly grew along the shores of Lake Erie, Sheffield preserved its wide-open farmlands and lush forests. While the village keeps its rural atmosphere, new development is slowly being welcomed. “Just like Avon went from being a farming area to having more homes, I feel like Sheffield is definitely transitioning,” says Maura Kenney, Realtor with Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan Realty, who lives one city over from the community. “There are a lot of new builds going up in Sheffield Village.” Locals still enjoy spacious lots and ample recreation, but retail options and industrial employers are closer than ever.
Neighborhoods keep a rural atmosphere as new construction comes
Most of the village is undeveloped land and farm fields, with a few large industrial complexes. Homes are typically clustered into small subdivisions and scattered between these features. Some neighborhoods have just one country road cul-de-sac, while others have a few looping offshoots. A few subdivisions have sidewalks, but they rarely connect to nearby neighborhoods. Even in denser residential areas, lawns remain expansive, and mature trees create shade and privacy. “My clients who are drawn to this area just want a little bit more land, and they don’t want to be on top of their neighbors,” Kenney says. Ranch-style homes, bungalows, New Traditional two-story homes and contemporary builds from the past decade are the most common architectural styles. Some homes, especially larger ones, have custom details including Cape Cod dormers, bay windows and arched entryways. Prices typically range between $145,000 and $590,000, with a median of $330,000.
Recreation ranges from creek kayaking to racing and baseball
Sheffield is home to the French Creek Reservation. Many visitors launch kayaks and boats onto French Creek or bike along wooded trails. A nature center and outdoor theater offer kid-friendly entertainment. The reservation also has James Day Park, which has a playground, a paved path and two baseball fields. Just across the creek, the Days Dam section of the Black River Reservation is known for its waterfall trail. Other recreation options near the village include two racing courses, a minor league baseball stadium and an indoor sports complex. Residents are also roughly 2 miles from Lake Erie, where people boat, swim, fish and jet ski all summer.
Students are near public schools and two Lorain County colleges
Students attend the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools district, which has a C-plus Niche rating and five schools serving prekindergarten through 12th grade. While most teens attend Brookside High School inside the district, they can also attend Lorain County JVS, a career and technical high school in Oberlin. Oberlin Business College and Lorain County Community College are just outside Sheffield’s boundaries.
Quick highway access and local jobs keep commutes short
Interstate 90 passes through the community, and Highway 6 is a few miles north. Both connect drivers to downtown Cleveland about 25 miles away, which usually takes 30 to 40 minutes by car. However, not all locals commute. Employers like Ford Ohio Assembly Plant and other major manufacturers are inside and around the village. Sheffield is less than 5 miles from the nearest hospital, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is roughly 20 miles away.
Sheffield’s retail options have grown, starting near Interstate 90
A large commercial center sits at the intersection of Interstate 90 and Detroit Road, on the south side of the community. It mainly offers fast-food chain restaurants like Wendy’s, Chipotle and Ruby Tuesday. The center also has several supermarkets, a Burlington clothing store and a Regal cinema. The village is about 4 miles from Avon Commons, a larger shopping area with more variety, and 9 miles from Crocker Park, an outdoor mall with higher-end retailers.
Locals enjoy big celebrations in neighboring Sheffield Lake
The village doesn’t often host events, but it is next door to Sheffield Lake; the city attracts thousands to the area during the annual Community Days festival, which spans four days. Attendees enjoy everything from carnival games and fireworks to one of Lorain County’s largest parades.
