For the last couple of months, we’ve been caught up in spreadsheets, numbers and formulas. Compiling our annual Rating the Suburbs issue is our biggest undertaking of the year.
We’ve gathered information from 77 Northeast Ohio communities — from mayor’s offices, police departments and school districts — as well as many other sources to create a guide of the best places to live.Whether you’re looking for walkable neighborhoods, a city with low property taxes or a town with a great school district, there’s a suburb (or two) waiting for you. Even though having all this vital data in one place can be helpful when comparing communities and making important home-buying decisions, it can also be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve included stories from a handful of residents about why they chose to live in their neighborhood — including this year’s No. 1 suburb, Moreland Hills.
Sure, some of it has to do with highway access or the amount of amenities offered, but what comes through most in these stories is the feeling of togetherness and community spirit they’ve encountered from others.
For longtime Berea resident Tina Byers, who still lives on the same street where she grew up, she saw an outpouring of support when she recently lost her father. “Everyone showed up, everyone called to check on my family, and everyone was just there for us,” she says.
Being part of something bigger is what motivated Keith Langford to stay in Shaker Heights. As the family and community engagement coordinator for Shaker Heights City School District, he creates and strengthens bonds between teachers, students, parents and the rest of the city.
“When a student has an opportunity to engage in events, activities and programs within their own community, they have a better sense of community,” he says. “There’s a sense of belonging, so they want to do more, they want to participate and they want to give back.”
Our Rating the Suburbs issue is our way of giving back to the communities we love and hold dear. Find what’s right for you. Your next home awaits.
