No 2: Rocky River
Rocky River is more than the sum of its parts — and its parts are pretty darn good on their own. A perennial Top 20 finisher in our rankings, the West Side suburb boasts a strong housing market (see pg. 135), a school system rated in our top 5 every year since 2009 and a host of easily walkable amenities. At just 4.5 square miles, River has a wealth of green space with 4 miles of lakefront, two public beaches and 10 public parks. The suburb displays its community spirit at every turn with residents hosting more than 60 block parties every year. So it’s no wonder nearly $15 million was invested in 2015 for residential renovation and new home construction, a sign that residents already living in River are putting down roots and the city is attracting younger families.
No. 3: Richfield Village
Richfield Village is a suburban sanctuary just a stone’s throw away from the big city — only about a half-hour on Interstate 77 from both Akron and Cleveland. The suburb of about 3,600 has nabbed our No. 1 suburb spot three of the last five years for its strong housing market (it ranks No. 1 in 10-year home sale price increase again this year), low property taxes and the highly ranked Revere Local Schools. But really, living here is an investment in the quietude of rural life without giving up the amenities of densely populated suburbs — residents can enjoy a 1.25-mile hiking trail, grab dinner at the Taverne of Richfield or spend summer mornings at the farmers market.
