The Town FilesSheffield Lake, Ohio
City in Lorain County · population 8,957 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,000
- Household income
- $69,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.3
Sheffield Lake is a city of 8,957 people in Lorain County, Ohio. The median home is worth $167,000, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Ohio towns, more walkable than 89% of Ohio towns, more of a college town than 86% of Ohio towns.
How Sheffield Lake 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 Sheffield Lake is worth $167,000, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $69,632, which is more affordable than 67% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,054 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sheffield Lake | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,054 | $914 |
| Median household income | $69,632 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Sheffield Lake
| People | Sheffield Lake | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 90.9% |
Weather in Sheffield Lake
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.6 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield Lake since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 5.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 20, 2023.
Severe weather in Lorain County since 1996
Lorain 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 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 15, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1580: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Lorain County
Lorain County had 98,291 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,721 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Sheffield Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Sheffield Lake
2 public schools with 409 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knollwood Elementary School | 1-2 | 230 | 20.9 |
| Forestlawn Early Learning Center | PK-K | 179 | 16.3 |
Towns near Sheffield Lake
- Sheffield, OH2.2 mi · 4,135 people · home $292,700
- Avon Lake, OH4.3 mi · 25,206 people · home $368,300
- Lorain, OH5.4 mi · 65,211 people · home $139,200
- Avon, OH5.7 mi · 24,847 people · home $395,900
- Elyria, OH7.6 mi · 52,656 people · home $156,100
- North Ridgeville, OH8.1 mi · 35,280 people · home $270,100
- Bay Village, OH8.7 mi · 16,163 people · home $353,000
- Amherst, OH9.0 mi · 12,681 people · home $239,200
Sheffield Lake questions
Is Sheffield Lake, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sheffield Lake scores better for retirees than 30% of Ohio towns and quieter than 21%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Sheffield Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Sheffield Lake is valued at $167,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,632, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,054 a month.
What is the weather like in Sheffield Lake?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 43.6 inches of snow.
Does Sheffield Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sheffield Lake 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)