Cleveland-Akron (Canton) OH Metro 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Active adults who are looking for retirement communities in the midwest will enjoy the Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area for its lower cost of living, abundant Lake Erie beaches, natural beauty and wide variety of leisure activities. 55+ homebuyers have choices of several locations in the area ranging from small towns and villages to urban areas. The area has something for everyone from an evening listening to the Cleveland Symphony to ice fishing on Lake Erie, to hiking or biking along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. 

Cost of Living

Cost of living in the area varies a bit by location, with lakeside towns being more expensive. On average though you can expect the cost of living to be 15 to 20 percent lower than elsewhere in the U.S. Groceries and utilities are about average but other costs including utilities and healthcare are lower. Below average housing prices are the primary reason for the overall low cost of living. 

Ohio residents pay an income tax ranging from 2.76 to 3.99 percent and Social Security is not taxed. According to Kiplinger retirees with higher incomes will not receive tax credits on other types of retirement income. Some local areas and schools may add additional income taxes for their residents.

The Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area 55+ communities are in small towns and cities outside the larger cities of Cleveland and Akron. The prices vary by location but in general prices range from the mid $100s to the high $600s with slightly higher prices in the North Ridgeville area. 

Climate

The climate in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton area varies depending on proximity to Lake Erie. Those closer to the lake will be affected by the lake effect which causes greater snowfall amounts during late fall and early winter. Winters are cold throughout the area, temperatures ranging from 24 to 34 degrees. Summers are warm and humid with an average of 77 percent humidity and 62 to 77 degree temperature range.

While Cleveland sits on the shores of the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie, Akron is farther inland about 30 miles south of Cleveland. Canton is about 20 miles south of Akron. For those retirees who enjoy time spent on or near water, 14 of the 19 retirement communities in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area are within ten miles of Lake Erie.

Recreation, Culture, and Entertainment

There are a variety of recreational options in the area, including several highly rated golf courses, ski resorts, numerous museums, zoos and natural areas for hiking and camping.

Golf courses:

• Forest Hills Golf Course in Elyria
• Manakiki Golf Course in Willoughby
• Firestone Country Club in Akron
• Mayfair Country Club in Green
• Pleasant Hill Golf Course in Chardon
• Fox Meadow Country Club in Medina
• Weymouth Country Club in Medina
• Briarwood Golf Club in Broadview Heights
• Carlisle Golf Course in Grafton
• Thunderbird Hills Golf Course in Huron

Performing arts:

• The Cleveland Orchestra
• Cleveland Play House
• Akron Civic Theatre
• Canton Palace Theatre
• Players Guild Theatre in North Canton
• Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield
• The Mansfield Playhouse
• Huron Playhouse

Museums & historical sites:

• The Cleveland Museum of Art
• Cleveland Museum of Natural History
• Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland
• Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland
• International Women’s Air & Space Museum in Cleveland
• Simon Perkins Stone Mansion in Akron
• McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton
• Canton Classic Car Museum
• MAPS Air Museum in North Canton
• Akron History Center

Hiking, boating, & gardens:

• Cleveland Botanical Garden
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Rockefeller Park & Greenhouse in Cleveland
• Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cleveland
• Western Falls of Cascade in Elyria
• Sandy Ridge Reservation Wetland & Wildlife Preserve in North Ridgeville
• Nature Realm Visitor Center in Akron
• Snow Trails Ski Resort in Mansfield
• Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve in Mansfield
• Huron Lighthouse Lake Front Park and Beach

Other activities:

• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• JACK Cleveland Casino
• NASA Glenn Visitor Center
• Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village
• Akron Zoo
• Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton
• Gervasi Vineyard in Canton
• Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield
• Quarry Hill Winery in Berlin Heights

Professional Sports:

• Cleveland Guardians – Major League Baseball
• Cleveland Browns – National Football League
• Cleveland Cavaliers – National Basketball Association
• Lake County Captains – Minor League Baseball
• Cleveland Monsters – American Hockey League

Healthcare

The Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area has a number of hospitals available, most of the hospitals in the region are also designated trauma centers.

• Cleveland Clinic Akron General – Level I trauma center with 511 beds
• Summa Health Akron Campus – Level I trauma center with 750 beds
• University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center – Level I trauma center with 1,030 beds
• Aultman Hospital in Canton – Level II trauma center with 1,032 beds
• Cleveland Clinic Fairview – Level II trauma center with 488 beds
• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital – Level II trauma center with 326
• Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton – Level III trauma center with 337 beds
• Mercy Health Lorain Hospital – Level III trauma center with 338 beds
• University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center – Level III trauma center with 387 beds
• Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk – Level III trauma center with 99 beds