University Heights and Lakewood receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
University Heights
Lakewood
Opportunity
68 · Top 27%
vs68 · Top 26%
Growth
43 · Bottom 37%
vs62 · Top 30%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs68 · Bottom 43%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 2%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 12%
vs90 · Top 33%
Access
95 · Top 37%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
61 · Top 49%
vs68 · Top 34%
Measured values
| Metric | University Heights | Lakewood | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,394 | 50,007 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $96,971 | $68,954 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,523 | $52,111 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,335/sq mi | 9,022/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $242,700 | $262,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,507 | $1,070 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.7% | 44.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 2.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.5% | 55.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 10 | 130 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 42.9% | 6400.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.3" | 41.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.5 | 35.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
University Heights
76
Your Score
76
Area Score
Lakewood
78
Your Score
77
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: University Heights, OH · Lakewood, OH · How this is calculated: methodology