The Town FilesGarfield Heights, Ohio
City in Cuyahoga County · population 29,781 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,900
- Household income
- $54,593
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.1
Garfield Heights is a city of 29,781 people in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The median home is worth $109,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Ohio towns, better transit than 92% of Ohio towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Ohio towns.
How Garfield Heights ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Garfield Heights is worth $109,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $54,593, which is more affordable than 87% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,129 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garfield Heights | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,129 | $914 |
| Median household income | $54,593 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Garfield Heights
| People | Garfield Heights | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.0% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 90.9% |
Weather in Garfield Heights
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.9 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield Heights since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 345 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 107 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 1965.
Severe weather in Cuyahoga County since 1996
Cuyahoga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| January 3, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4098: Severe Storms And Flooding Due To The Remnants Of Hurricane Sandy |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| July 2, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1651: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County had 705,152 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,134 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Garfield Heights itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Garfield Heights
8 public schools with 3,458 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Heights High School | 9-12 | 1,084 | 18.7 |
| Garfield Heights Middle School | 6-8 | 656 | 15.6 |
| William Foster Elementary School | PK-3 | 445 | 15.9 |
| Maple Leaf Elementary School | 4-5 | 384 | 16.0 |
| Elmwood Elementary School | 2-5 | 351 | 18.5 |
| North Shore High School (charter) | 9-12 | 236 | 33.7 |
| The Brilliance School (charter) | K-8 | 219 | 16.8 |
| SMART Academy (charter) | K-4 | 83 | 9.2 |
Towns near Garfield Heights
- Maple Heights, OH2.3 mi · 23,701 people · home $97,900
- Independence, OH3.0 mi · 7,584 people · home $309,900
- Bedford, OH4.1 mi · 13,149 people · home $135,200
- Warrensville Heights, OH4.5 mi · 13,789 people · home $121,100
- Seven Hills, OH4.5 mi · 11,720 people · home $258,000
- Shaker Heights, OH4.9 mi · 29,439 people · home $303,200
- Bedford Heights, OH5.4 mi · 11,020 people · home $156,500
- Cleveland, OH5.6 mi · 372,624 people · home $102,000
Garfield Heights questions
Is Garfield Heights, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garfield Heights scores better for retirees than 4% of Ohio towns and quieter than 3%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Garfield Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Garfield Heights is valued at $109,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,593, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,129 a month.
What is the weather like in Garfield Heights?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 67.9 inches of snow.
Does Garfield Heights get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)