Median Income
$91,960
household / year
Median Home Value
$209,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,274
gross / month
Cost of Living
96
national avg = 100

Is University Heights, OH a Good Place to Live?

University Heights is a small city of 13,649 in Ohio, with a median household income of $91,960 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: University Heights stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether University Heights is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All University Heights city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.0

University Heights's overall cost of living index is 96.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in University Heights costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric University Heights, OH National Avg
Median Home Value $209,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,274 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 65.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $91,960 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

University Heights's violent crime rate is 129.8 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
129.8 /100k
Property Crime
1076.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

University Heights is served primarily by Cleveland Heights-University Heights City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric University Heights, OH National Avg
School District Cleveland Heights-University Heights City
Elementary Schools N/A
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 65.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

University Heights sees average highs of 35.3°F in January and 80.7°F in July, with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation and 63.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricUniversity Heights, OH
Average High — January35.3°F
Average High — July80.7°F
Annual Precipitation33.3"
Annual Snowfall63.8"

Demographics

MetricUniversity Heights, OHNational Avg
Population13,649
Median Age30.538.9
Unemployment Rate5.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)72.1%59.3%
Black or African American23.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.7%18.9%
Asian2.0%6.3%
Under 1822.1%22.2%
65 and over12.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

University Heights vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

University Heights's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes University Heights roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $209,800 and median rent is $1,274/month.
University Heights's violent crime rate is 129.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1076.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in University Heights are operated by Cleveland Heights-University Heights City. The district has several elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 65.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
University Heights, OH has a population of 13,649, a median household income of $91,960, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
University Heights averages 35.3°F in January and 80.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches with about 63.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of University Heights, Ohio is 13,649 with a median age of 30.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in University Heights: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $209,800, median household income $91,960, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare University Heights side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.