Cleveland's Top 25 Suburbs of 2026: Best Places to Live

Each year, we pull out our surveys and spreadsheets and get to work combing over safety, school, housing, entertainment and other info that gives us a little bit of insight into Northeast Ohio's best places to live.

by Cleveland Magazine Staff | Jun. 2, 2026 | 5:00 AM

Courtesy of Paul Sableman bia Wikimedia Commons

Chagrin Falls

After taking Cleveland Magazine’s Best Place to Live in 2025, this small suburb of around 4,201 people is holding on to the title in 2026. Being tight-knit, this small community boosted not only Cleveland’s best school system for the first time but also its safety ranking, which improved drastically, jumping 14 spots to No. 9. Not to mention, it tied for No. 2 in our new walkability rankings, with a lot of food and drink options around, putting the small community tied No. 1 in our entertainment ranks.

Rocky River

A mainstay in our rankings, Rocky River has sat either No. 1 or No. 2 for seven of the past 10 years. Those three years, it was not in the top two; the Westside suburb was still in the top six. It has consistently boasted one of Cleveland's best school systems, earning an A in our books and ranking in the top 20 for safety. It also has a pretty good entertainment scene.

Pepper Pike

Another familiar face in our top five for the past six years, Pepper Pike fell out of the top 10 for safety last year and continued that slide to No. 32. Helping its ranking is its standing within our No. 6 school system.

Hinckley Township

This township was No. 56 in our 2024 rankings. It jumped to No. 11 last year and moved to a top-four spot this year. Backing that rise has been its improved safety, making it the third-safest suburb in the Cleveland community.

Bay Village

This West Side community is a protector of its environment, ranking No. 1 in that category with a list of other communities, but it’s also a caretaker of its own with a top-15 safety ranking and being a part of a reputable school district with a 99.1% four-year graduation rate, making it a place where you want to raise your children.

Richfield

If you are looking for a spot to settle down, Richfield offers a great school system for your children and food options for the family and date night. And don’t forget the easy access to Interstate 77 for work or play.

Brecksville

Not looking to commute by car all the time? Enjoy the outdoors in Brecksville, a very walkable, safe community with a great entertainment scene. It also has quick access to main arteries, getting to the airport or Downtown.

Beachwood

This community out east offers a strong school system with an A ranking and a 96.9% four-year graduation rate for your children, and Beachwood has a strong track record in environmental protection.

Solon

For the first time in a while, Solon no longer boasts our No. 1 school system, but it didn't tumble; it just slipped to No. 2. This is still the place you want to raise your family, and it's seeing great improvement in safety, moving up 17 spots to No. 36 in our rankings.

Bath

After jumping into the top 10 last year, Bath is holding on and building a great reputation for its school system and its environmental care. Which is why its median home sale price has increased by more than 110% in the past decade. People want to live here.

Moreland Hills

Moreland Hills offers a trifecta. Care for its beautiful community (tied for No. 1 in our environment category) and a great school system, with the whole community protected by one of the finest police departments around.

Kirtland

Another community that has seen remarkable improvement over the last four years. From No. 44 in 2023 to No.12 this year. This East Side community can say it's one of the safest places to be, and that if you settle here with your kids, they'll get a great education (an A in our books with a 98.2% four-year graduation rate) and you'll have plenty of food options.

Highland Heights

From last year to this year, Highland Heights didn’t move up or down in the overall ranking. Its respected school system still sits at the same spot, but it did see a good jump in safety, sliding into the top 15.

Hudson

For housing in Hudson, be ready to pay a sizable amount, with a No. 7 ranking for median home sale price in 2025 at $560,000. But coming with a great home comes a respected school system (No. 5 on our list), which leads parents and future parents to settle down here.

Aurora

This Portage County community not only offers a low property tax rate ($1,630 per $100,000 valuation). It can safely be said it's a top-15 community in our ranking, given its school system and safety rankings.

Broadview Heights

The safest community in this year’s ranking is Broadview Heights. It took a lot of hard work to get there, moving up 16 spots in total. This southern Cuyahoga County community also saw progress in education, shifting up three spots.

Orange Village

When it comes to walkability, this small community cares about its residents and the green spaces they can stroll through (tied for No. 1 in our environment ranking). It is also seeing significant improvement in safety, jumping from 20 spots to No. 38.

Fairview Park

For the first time, Fairview Park jumped into the top 20. It saw improvements across education (getting a B grade) and safety, with the latter carrying the way, almost cracking the top 10 but sitting great at No. 11. Taking advantage of the security by appreciating its walkability and entertainment scene.

Mayfield Village

This Cleveland suburb is developing some consistency in its school system (No. 17 this year and last year). Plus, it has a fine food scene and saw great advancement in its safety rankings, from No. 47 to No. 26.

Westlake

After ranking No. 7 in 2023, Westlake suffered bad luck and fell out of the top 20 by last year. But this time it’s back in the top 20, and the tide is turning. A dramatic improvement in safety rankings led the way, moving from No. 47 to No. 26. Westlake also offers Crocker Park, making it a top community in our entertainment rankings.

Medina

Medina is on the outside looking in with the top 20. Its school system got a B grade in our books, and it has a pleasing food-and-drinking scene.

Macedonia

This Summit County community offers a solid food scene, backed by admirable school and safety rankings.

Chester Township

This township fell out of the top 15 due to its drop in safety. Keeping it close is its reputation of offering a great school system (No. 10).

Lakewood

This West Side Cleveland suburb sold 418 houses last year. It’s also the most populated suburb in the top 35, with 50,229 people. People want to live there for its diversity, walkability (tied No. 1), and the list of places to eat (tied No. 3 in entertainment).

Middleburg Heights

With its impressive walkability (tied No.1) and, not to mention, a ton of food and drink options (tied No. 3 in entertainment). Businesses and people are settling here because of its safety ranking being in the top 20 this year and last.

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