Moving to Northeast Ohio...Where would you recommend I live? Willoughby? Mentor? Painesville?

Question

I have taken a job in Northeast Ohio and i need to live in Lake or Trumbull County. The largest cities are Willoughby, Mentor, Painesville, and Warren. I need to be close to freeways, shopping, etc. I am young and I was looking at Willoughby the most because it is closest to Cleveland. Asking for some suggestions as I choose either an apartment or house to rent. Thanks in advance for anyones help.

I am from Ohio. I grew up near Sandusky and lived in Columbus for years before moving to Phoenix. I know what to expect for the most part, but I don't know the area that I am moving to very well and just wanted suggestions regarding where to live.

Answer 1

Willoughby is a fine choice if one of your priorities is living close to Cleveland, and, if that is your priority, you probably would prefer Lake County over Trumbull County. Willoughby has a very quaint downtown area.

One of the great attractions in Willoughby is the Fine Arts Association, located on Mentor Avenue near the Mentor border. Residents from all over Lake County use the center.

http://www.fineartsassociation.org/

If you don't mind high-rise apartments, you should check out the Pine Ridge apartments in Willoughby Hills. They are very close to Route 90, a good-sized shopping center, and have easy access to Route 2 via Route 91.

http://www.goldbergcompanies.com/residential_details.cfm?PID=10

Pine Ridge is one of the best places in the county for busy persons not desiring a walkable community.

Mentor is one of the largest retail centers in Ohio, with most big box stores and Great Lakes Mall, but both Willoughby and Painesville are only 10-15 minute drives from Mentor.

Be certain to check out the custard and yogurt at East Coast Original Custard, near the Wendy's and between Rt. 306 and Great Lakes Mall. The Mentor Ave. Crunch yogurt served only on Saturday and sometimes on Sunday is worth a special trip.

Mentor has much the superior amenities of any of the three Lake County cities that you mentioned, but housing is more expensive than in Painesville.

http://www.cityofmentor.com/

The Painesville area actually is a collection of three political jurisdictions -- the city of Painesville, Painesville Township, and Concord Township. If you will be commuting to Trumbull County frequently, or to eastern Lake County, the Painesville area would be more convenient than Mentor or Willoughby.

Painesville's well landscaped city square and the Lake Erie College area have considerable charm. However, you should be very careful if you consider one of the large apartment complexes located in the city. Checking with the Painesville police would not be a bad idea before considering a specific housing choice in Painesville.

You might be able to buy in Painesville for what it would cost to rent in other communities, especially if you don't mind fixer-up projects.

Morley Library in Painesville is quite nice. It serves the greater Painesville area.

There is a relatively new, fairly small apartment complex at the corner of Rt. 20 and Walnut that appears quite nice, but it probably has limited vacancies. It's a short walk from the Central YMCA, which is a quite large facility with multiple pools and gyms. It might be worth visiting the Central "Y" if you decide to investigate Painesville City.

http://www.lakecountyymca.org/dynamic/default.aspx

Painesville, once a retailing center, now is relatively devoid of retail outlets, with most retail areas located along Mentor Avenue in Painesville Township and extending into Mentor. There are a couple remnants of its retail past, particularly Joughin's Hardware, a very large, historic, independent hardware store. It's a walk into the past, and great place for personal advice.

In both Painesville Township and Mentor, there are many large condominium complexes located off Mentor Avenue, some probably offering rental opportunties.

Parts of Concord Township have good freeway access, and some very nice, more expensive housing opportunities. There are condominiums, and a beautiful golf course, in the Quail Hollow area east of Route 44.

When making your housing selection, don't overlook Holden Arboretum or the Lake County Metroparks system if you enjoy the outdoors:

http://holdenarb.org/Aboutus/holdenfactsheet.htm

http://www.lakemetroparks.com/

My impression is that there are more rental properties in Painesville than in other Lake County communities.

One other point. The cities all have income taxes, generally 2 percent. The townships don't, but this won't matter if you work in cities with income taxes.

Lake County offers many living options! BOL!!!

Answer 2

Hi. I live in Mentor. There are several apts. near the freeway, and the Mall. But like the other person mentioned, Painesville would have a better price for apts.
Some areas of Painesville though are not so good(drugs), but there are some nicer areas of painesville too. Near Lake Erie college you can usually find some apts for rent that are nice.
Willoughby has nice apts/houses but like Mentor would be a little more expensive.
There is also Eastlake, which is just West of Willoughby and a little closer to cleveland. they have some apts too, like on Vine St. and close to the freeway. Probably not as expensive as mentor or willoughby.
Good luck on your search.

Answer 3

I lived in Painesville for 2 years, worked in Willoughby and went to church at the East Shore Unitarian Church in Mentor.
It is a great environment, but I think Painesville has the cheapest housing. Mentor is great, too, and only about 20 minutes from Cleveland. My husband worked at the Federal Building downtown.
Don't miss sledding at Fairpoint Harbor. The Victorian Plaza in Painesville looks great at Xmas. The Flats in Cleveland, and the cool jazz clubs downtown. Good times.
I miss Cleveland and the good friends up there. Check out the UU church, it is great.They even have a Wiccan group there.
Good luck.

Answer 4

I think you should try Mentor because they are close to the freeway and there are a lot of shopping centers in Mentor. I am sorry I am not familiar enough with the area to suggest a house or an apartment. I just know when us Clevelanders want to save a little on sales tax we go out to Mentor Mall because there are so many other places to go and shop.
Congratulations on the new job, good luck!

Answer 5

You should move to Willoughby. They have this really nice old stlye town center there. It has brick buildings and lots of restraunts and specialty stores. I think it's called Historic Downtown Willoughby. It is great. Oh, and this restraunt there is OUTSTADING!!!! It is called Burgers and Beer. So cheap and soooooooooo good!!! Right in this little section.

Good Luck on your new life

Answer 6

i also live in ohio. i would recommend that u chose somewhere u can afford w/ ur job and the community that suits ur need like shopping and stores. u dont need someone to tell u where and not to live. ur a big girl, u can find somewhere that's close to ur work(no more than 20min.). if u want the exciting life move to las vegas , there will be tons of shopping,malls,high end luxury things for u to enjoy, resturants and stores will be close. i plan to move there in a couple of yrs. good luck

Answer 7

Why do you have to live in lake or trumbull? Is it a job requisite? The east side sucks...way too much snow and cold. Id live in Cuyahoga and drive, or find a better job. Good Luck!

Answer 8

thanks for all the answers!