How does Cleveland compare to other cities where you’ve lived?

Cleveland is the best of all the cities I’ve lived (Rochester, NY, Albany, NY, Troy, NY and Durham, NC) and combines them into one.

What is your favorite part of living in Cleveland?

My friends. I also love working out at Hurricane Jiu-Jitsu!

What was the most interesting misconception(s) you heard about Cleveland when you lived elsewhere?

People always think of a struggling blue collar, manufacturing town. While Cleveland is heavy in manufacturing, its not your grandfather’s manufacturing. Cleveland is not struggling and our driver industries are cutting edge.

What would be your message/advice to other young professionals thinking of relocating to Cleveland?

Do your research and pick your neighborhood carefully as all areas have their pros and cons.

Where are you originally from or where else have you lived?

I’m originally from Rochester, NY but relocated here from Durham, NC.

Which neighborhood do you currently live in and what are your favorite parts about it?

I live in North Olmsted. The taxes aren’t bad and I can get most places in Northeast Ohio fairly easily.

Why did you choose to move/move back to Cleveland?

I’m close enough to home to visit family with minimal planning. Now I can visit home without losing two days of travel (or purchasing plane tickets for me and my family). I also just love CLE!

How does Cleveland compare to other cities where you’ve lived?

The cost of living is great, but we love Cleveland over other cities for many reasons. The theater and arts are top-notch, you can get anywhere you want in less than an hour and no other city has the same caliber of restaurants we do.

What is your favorite part of living in Cleveland?

It is a hidden treasure to us. It has great theaters and museums, but I can also take a 40-minute ride and get to Amish country. We love the urban, suburban, and rural areas we can visit and explore.

What would be your message/advice to other young professionals thinking of relocating to Cleveland?

The best decision we made was to come back. Cleveland is a great place to raise a family and build a career.

Where are you originally from or where else have you lived?

Scottsdale, AZ, and Chicago, IL

Where would you take a newcomer to show them the best that Cleveland has to offer?

Playhouse Square, Detroit Shoreway area, Little Italy, Crocker Park, Edgewater, or any of the Metroparks.

Which neighborhood do you currently live in and what are your favorite parts about it?

Strongsville – we love the family atmosphere and access to many shops and amenities, but most of all it is near the airport and my mother-in-law, who helps with our child care.

Why did you choose to move/move back to Cleveland?

Cost of living and family support.

How does Cleveland compare to other cities where you’ve lived?

The people are just the BEST — they make you feel welcome everywhere you go.

What did you discover when living here that changed your opinion of Cleveland?

I adore the architecture of the buildings and the homes — they are so unique and have so much history and they all tell their own stories.

What is your favorite part of living in Cleveland?

The lake, the food, and the people. It’s a very manageable big small city rolled into one!

What would be your message/advice to other young professionals thinking of relocating to Cleveland?

You hear people say it all the time, but the cost-of-living cannot be beat. You have the perks of a big city and everything you need at your fingertips, but getting around and blending in is much easier.

Where are you originally from or where else have you lived?

Originally born in India, raised in Oklahoma and have lived in Arkansas, Cregon, Chicago, DC and Texas (twice).

Where would you take a newcomer to show them the best that Cleveland has to offer?

I have an itinerary for anyone who comes to visit! Start off at Lakewood park, swing by Barrio for tacos, then hit up Mitchell’s and the West Side Market, end over by the Cleveland Museum of Art or a hike down in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Which neighborhood do you currently live in and what are your favorite parts about it?

We live in a west side suburb after many years living in Downtown Cleveland and then near Edgewater. We love the proximity to the Metroparks, and the incredible amount of local restaurants that we get to explore.

Why did you choose to move/move back to Cleveland?

I originally moved here to work at News 5, then moved back to work at News 5 again! (and to marry my Akron native husband) — just couldn’t stay away from Northeast Ohio.

How does Cleveland compare to other cities where you’ve lived?

Cleveland to me is the perfect blend of big city amenities (professional sports, high-end and varied dining, historical cultural attractions) with Midwest sensibilities (hard-working and polite people, low cost of living), and potential (a growing downtown with a shifting demographic that is only getting younger and more dynamic).

I lived in South Bend, IN while attending Notre Dame Law School.

What are your favorite parts about your job?

Getting to help clients solve unique problems and seeing the tangible impact that my work can have on a client’s business.

What is your favorite part of living in Cleveland?

For me it’s all about the accessibility of the city as a whole. Not many other cities offer such a broad array of things to do – from the lake in the summer, to the Art Museum and Cultural Gardens, to high-end restaurants like Marble Room and Pier W. The best part is that none of it feels unattainable in the way attractions in other cities can – ask the typical young professional when the last time they got to go to Broadway in NYC or the nicest restaurant in LA and you’ll quickly see we take for granted how available Cleveland makes all of its best attractions.

What was the most interesting misconception(s) you heard about Cleveland?

When I was deciding where to live after law school I had heard that Cleveland did not have much going on downtown and for the most part was a place that did not have a dynamic life available to young professionals. My experience with Cleveland has been that with this city more than most, you get what you put into it. I’ve been to over 30 states and countless cities, Cleveland is one of the few that allows you to choose the pace of life you prefer and create that life for yourself. If you want to have the urban experience where you take public transport to work and have happy hour in the city with other young professionals that’s possible. If you decide you would rather live in the suburbs and get to know each of your neighbors, that’s an option as well. I have been pleasantly surprised that Cleveland offers the ability to choose a lifestyle that fits your personal goals more than most.

What would be your message/advice to other young professionals thinking of relocating to Cleveland?

Provided it makes sense to do so from an employment standpoint, you really have nothing to lose. The low cost of living, variety of world-class attractions at your disposal, and ability to create the life you want means that your downside is limited and you have all the upside in the world.

Where would you take a newcomer to show them the best that Cleveland has to offer?

It depends on the person but when I have visitors I always take them to Tremont for the variety of restaurants and ability to walk around casually from place to place.

Which neighborhood do you currently live in and what are your favorite parts about it?

I live in Tremont and my favorite part of being there is getting to have an urban lifestyle without the usual headaches that are associated with city living. I can walk to all my favorite bars and restaurants, but my commute to the office is still less than 10 minutes.

Why did you choose to move to Cleveland?

I looked at a couple other options in big cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. when I was leaving law school, but ultimately I chose Cleveland because I thought my quality of life here would be higher than anywhere else. The accessibility to the entire city and surrounding areas on any given day, world-class entertainment options, and low cost of living made it a no-brainer for me.

Connect - Discover Cleveland

Diversity

Cleveland is a very diverse and inclusive city. Here are some valuable resources you might want to check out.

Global Cleveland

LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland

Takeover Tuesday

The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio

Urban League

YWCA of Greater Cleveland

Real Estate

If you’re ready to make the move to Cleveland, we’ve rounded up some helpful real estate resources to get you started on your big move. Whether you’re looking to rent or own in the Downtown area or in the suburbs, we’ve got you covered.

Apartments.com

Chestnut Hill Realty

Downtown Cleveland

Howard Hanna

Housing Cleveland

Keller Williams

Live Cleveland!

Progressive Urban Real Estate

RE/MAX

Rent.com

The City Team

Zillow

Religion

Cleveland is rich and diverse with many religions. From the historic Old Stone Church in downtown Cleveland to synagogues, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, and Mosques, you can find it here.

Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

Cleveland Buddhist Temple

Cleveland Churches

Islamic Center of Cleveland

Jewish Cleveland Young Leadership Division

Jewish Federation of Cleveland

Jewish Temples & Synagogues

Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Greater Cleveland

Young Catholic Professionals

Volunteer

Looking for ways to give back? Cleveland is known for its philanthropic community offering a number of volunteer opportunities.

Business Volunteers Unlimited

Civic Engagement Board

Greater Cleveland Volunteers

Child Care

For the littlest Clevelanders, you can find a variety of options for childcare from daycare centers to in-home care and private sitters. “Ohio Job and Family Services provide a helpful resource with all of the registered businesses in the area and Step up to Quality, a program of the State, provides rankings of those centers.

Cleveland East Side Moms

Cleveland West Side Moms

Cuyahoga Kids

ESC of Northeast Ohio

Family Connections

Ohio Job & Family Services

Starting Point

Step Up To Quality

West Side Early Childhood PTAs

Media

If you’re looking to be in-the-know with everything going on in Cleveland, look no further than these bloggers and media outlets to help you stay connected.

Cleveland.com

Cleveland 19 News

Cleveland Bucket List

Cleveland Magazine

Cleveland Radio Stations

Cleveland Vibes

Cool Cleveland

Crain’s Cleveland

FOX 8 News Cleveland

FreshWater Cleveland

News 5 Cleveland

Smart Business Magazine