Willoughby receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Willoughby
Elyria
Opportunity
65 · Top 32%
vs49 · Bottom 35%
Growth
50 · Bottom 49%
vs56 · Top 39%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs63 · Bottom 28%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 1%
vs96 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 18%
vs96 · Top 17%
Access
87 · Bottom 35%
vs97 · Top 22%
Economic stability
62 · Top 47%
vs44 · Bottom 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Willoughby | Elyria | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,046 | 53,035 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,309 | $54,945 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,050 | $32,302 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,349/sq mi | 2,580/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $216,900 | $156,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,171 | $906 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.4% | 60.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 17.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 16.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 161 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 3.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -13.7% | -10.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.3" | 36.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.6 | 39.4 | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Willoughby
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave.
Elyria
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Willoughby
75
Your Score
75
Area Score
Elyria
65
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Willoughby, OH · Elyria, OH · How this is calculated: methodology