Real Estate Investing in Shaker Heights, Ohio (44120)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Cuyahoga County • Population: 34,274 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 44120 (Shaker Heights, OH)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 18.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Shaker Heights, OH (44120)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $133,446
Avg Monthly Rent $1,160
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $43,317
% Renters 52.5%

Market Analysis: 44120 Shaker Heights

ZIP 44120 inside Cuyahoga County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $133K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 44120 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $133K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within OH, ZIP 44120 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cuyahoga County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 44120 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 44120 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Shaker Heights:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,160/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
28 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.2%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Cleveland-Elyria, OH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 44120

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
11.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$35,596/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $64,520 $1,000 11.2% +10.5% $64,520
2BR $84,942 $1,210 10.3% +6.1% $42,471
3BR $106,788 $1,560 10.5% +6.2% $35,596
4BR $179,665 $1,660 6.7% +7.6% $44,916
5BR $452,148 +8.6% $90,430

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$147K$131K$114K$98K$81K$64KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,386$1,233$1,080$926$773$620Jan 2019Oct 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 44120 Compare?

Metric 44120 Shaker Heights Cleveland-Elyria, OH Ohio
Home Value $133,446 $257,863 N/A $237,530
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 5.0% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,160 $1,574 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.8% 5.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 44120? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

53% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 44120 (Shaker Heights, OH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Cuyahoga County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Cleveland Property Management Group is a residential property manager in Northeast Ohio, assisting with property purchase, portfolio analysis, and full-service management. summary from their website

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

SBS Property Management provides management, maintenance, inspections, finances, and communications for Condominium and Homeowner Associations across Ohio. summary from their website

HOA
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Aspire Real Estate helps sell homes quickly. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.8%
Good
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $133,446
Monthly Rent $1,160
Price-to-Rent 9.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.4%
Cap Rate 6.8%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -10.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.8%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
18.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 44120

Population: 34,274

💰 Median Household Income
$43,317
This area
$43,317
State
$68,496
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
52.5%
This area
52.5%
State
25.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-9.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.3%
This area
37.3%
State
8.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.1 years
This area
43.1 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.7%
This area
18.7%
State
11.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 67.6%
White 22.3%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 2.8%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 44120

A Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$22,984 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Sunbeam

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodbury Elementary School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
642 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,639 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Boulevard Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
284 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,639 Per Student
A Very Good

Andrew J Rickoff

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
422 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Shaker Hts High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,474 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,639 Per Student
A Very Good

Harvey Rice Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 09 High School
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A Very Good

Onaway Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,639 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fernway Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,639 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
59 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,407 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Roxboro Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 2400 Roxboro Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
566 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Canterbury Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2530 Canterbury Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East Technical High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 2439 E 55th St, Cleveland
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,085 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fairfax Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 3150 Fairfax Rd, Cleveland Heights
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Gearity Professional Development School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2323 Wrenford Rd, University Hts
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,456 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby
C+
John Carroll University
2,773 students · 2.8 mi
B+
Case Western Reserve University
12,266 students · 2.8 mi
C+
Cleveland Institute of Art
566 students · 2.8 mi
B
Cleveland Institute of Music
350 students · 3.1 mi
D
Remington College-Cleveland Campus
133 students · 3.5 mi
C
Notre Dame College
1,446 students · 4.0 mi
C
Lakewood University
101 students · 4.0 mi
F
Arizona College of Nursing-Cleveland
84 students · 4.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the renter demographic in Shaker Heights, OH?

The renter base in Shaker Heights, OH is reasonable for the $1,160/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields predictable tenants.

Is Shaker Heights, OH a friendly market for rental owners?

Shaker Heights, OH operates under OH law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Shaker Heights, OH?

Shaker Heights, OH median home values land near $133K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,160/mo-per-month rentals.

Are there empty rentals in Shaker Heights, OH?

Vacancy risk in Shaker Heights, OH is elevated. That supports even-keeled cash flow for typical rental holds.

How much do tenants pay in Shaker Heights, OH?

The typical rental in Shaker Heights, OH commands about $1,160/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $133K purchase basis.

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How 44120 ranks in Cleveland-Elyria, OH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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