*Bay Village
*Bratenahl
*Solon
*Chagrin Falls

These are the only cities to live in if you can afford it.  They have the best public school systems in Cuyahoga Cty. and are the safest cities as well.  Cleveland has many top rated Catholic schools so that's never going to be a problem.
The east side has all the culture, food and old money of Cleveland, big time snow too.  The west side is the young, new money in Cleveland, especially on the lake.  West side is also easier to navigate your way around and is less congested.

There are two schools that put all other schools to shame in NE Ohio.
East - University School
West - Lake Ridge Academy

Edit:  Wanted to add a few more worthy cities...
East - Moreland Hills & Pepper Pike
West - Rocky River & Westlake

DoubleE wrote: Congrats, you just picked Aurora

casca20 wrote:
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--- piddylolo wrote:

I live in Twinsburg - it's a nice town.  You mentioned schools are important, so I'm assuming that's your top priority.  What else is important to you?  If it's strictly the school system (and you're looking to stick with public schools) Chagrin Falls, Orange and a few other local school systems are some of the top public schools in the nation.  Twinsburg has a good school system (they've scored "Excellent w/ Distinction" on the last several Ohio Report Cards), but there are a few other school systems in the area that are at an elite level.  Of course, property values, tax dollars, etc. in those areas reflect this fact.

If you give us a list prioritizing what you're looking for, we could probably steer you in the best direction(s).  What you'll find from most Clevelanders/NE Ohioans is that we're either "East-siders" or "West-siders".  Both sides offer great communities, but once you live here for a little bit, you'll realize which side you prefer.

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I guess my list would be..

Safe area for the family
Good schools
Parks and other rec areas (golf, bike trails etc)
Would like an area that historically has held its property value
Within roughly 30 mins of downtown
Not near the bar or college scene.

LOL - no doubt.  I'd say that list encompasses (at least on the East/South side):

Aurora
Twinsburg
Hudson
Solon
Chagrin Falls
Bainbridge
Beachwood
Gates Mills/Pepper Pike/Orange/Moreland Hills/Hunting Valley

That should be a good start - all those communities are very nice, family-friendly communities with good school systems, parks, etc.

West side. Olmsted Falls area is nice.

Chagrin Falls has an excellent school system. It is also a very nice town for families. My son and his family live there and I visit often.

casca20 wrote: Thanks again for everyone's input. I'll take a look at the areas suggested.

Did you say where you'll be working?  If so, I missed it.

I grew up on the east Side, Mayfield/Highland Heights/Gates Mills are.  Most of the advice you're getting is good, but I think some of the east side locations are suggesting you move too far out of town. . .a few locations that are starting to be more closer to Akron than Cleveland and your commute factors into your quality of life.

MrBuckeye wrote:
Did you say where you'll be working?  If so, I missed it.

Most of the advice you're getting is good, but I think some of the east side locations are suggesting you move too far out of town. . .a few locations that are starting to be more closer to Akron than Cleveland and your commute factors into your quality of life.

Yes, he mentioned he'd be working "mostly in the Twinsburg area".  Living in Twinsburg, I can tell you it's a 30 minute commute to downtown Cleveland (assuming normal traffic) and about a 35-40 minute commute to downtown Akron.