Section Image

About Berea, OH

About Berea, OH

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 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 median home value is around $235,000.

Carousel Image
Berea welcomes all to its city.
Carousel Image
The Big Creek Reservation offers ample space to walk your dog.
1/2

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.”

Carousel Image
There are plenty of benches in Berea to take a rest.
Carousel Image
The Berea Falls Overlook attracts observers year round.
1/2

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.

Carousel Image
People and pets arrive in festive fashions to celebrate the annual OktoberFest, in Berea.
Carousel Image
Cuyahoga County Fair, Berea
1/2

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.

Carousel Image
Spudnuts Donuts, a Berea staple, is known for delicious donuts and friendly service.
Carousel Image
Visit Mike's Place, in Berea, for a cold beer with friends.
1/2

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.

Carousel Image
Ranch style homes are found throughout Berea.
Carousel Image
Cape Cod style homes sit on cozy lots in Berea.
1/2

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.”

Carousel Image
Berea-Midpark High School has a grand main entrance.
Carousel Image
Berea-Midpark Middle School is a large yet accessible campus.
1/2

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.

Jessica Haddad
Written By
Jessica Haddad
Nile Vincz
Photography Contributed By
Nile Vincz
Kyle Garrity
Video By
Kyle Garrity

Neighborhood Map

Berea by the Numbers

17,207
Population
$247K
Average Housing Value
15
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Berea, OH

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Grindstone Elementary School
#1 Grindstone Elementary School
B+
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Big Creek Elementary School
#2 Big Creek Elementary School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Olmsted Falls Intermediate Building
#3 Olmsted Falls Intermediate Building
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Copopa Elementary School
#4 Copopa Elementary School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Falls-Lenox Primary Elementary School
#5 Falls-Lenox Primary Elementary School
A-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Titan's Virtual Learning Academy (Tvla)
#6 Titan's Virtual Learning Academy (Tvla)

Best Public Middle Schools

Columbia Middle School
#1 Columbia Middle School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Olmsted Falls Middle School
#2 Olmsted Falls Middle School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Berea-Midpark Middle School
#3 Berea-Midpark Middle School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Titan's Virtual Learning Academy (Tvla)
#4 Titan's Virtual Learning Academy (Tvla)

Best Public High Schools

Strongsville High School
#1 Strongsville High School
A-
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Olmsted Falls High School
#2 Olmsted Falls High School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Columbia High School
#3 Columbia High School
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Berea-Midpark High School
#4 Berea-Midpark High School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Titan's Virtual Learning Academy (Tvla)
#5 Titan's Virtual Learning Academy (Tvla)

Best Private School

St Mary School
#1 St Mary School

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Judy Johnston
(330) 391-7954
As an accomplished Realtor, Judy understands that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction, it is a life changing experience. You need someone to advocate for you. She promises to be your partner in this journey because she views this as more than a professional interaction but rather a team effort in the truest sense. She has over 25 years of experience and strong negotiating skills assisting buyers and sellers achieve their dreams.

Judy’s commitment to helping you is reflective of her partnership with Cutler Real Estate. Her goal is to deliver quality service and complete customer satisfaction.
See Full Agent Profile
See All Agents
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.