Decent areas near Sandusky? (Cleveland, Lorain: crime rates, homes, neighborhoods)

[chevere33]

My husband has a job opportunity near Sandusky. What I'm seeing on city-data and other sites is not very encouraging as far as crime.

Please give me some encouragement. What areas within half an hour of Sandusky have crime that's at least lower than the national average and are diverse, with homes in the $150-350K range? Ideally, we'd like a largish backyard or acreage. Water views would not hurt at all. Schools are not a concern.

[on3]

Clyde maybe? 30 minute drive. Clyde crime rates are 55% lower than the national average · Violent crimes in Clyde are 87% lower than the national average.

[WRnative]

Perhaps check out the Village of Milan or surrounding area. It has a great melon festival annually, old-fashioned small town America at its best? What are your diversity goals? They may difficult to realize within a half hour of Sandusky given your other parameters. Oberlin is 45 minutes from Sandusky. It's likely the most progressive city in Ohio as the home of the renown Oberlin College, and it's diverse. Use the Ohio forum search engine to find several threads that discuss Oberlin, which is 30-45 minutes from most Cleveland attractions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan,_Ohio

https://www.ohiotraveler.com/milan-melon-festival/

Milan has a well-ranked high school, if public schools are a concern. Great Schools provides information on racial diversity.

https://www.greatschools.org/ohio/mi...berlin_milan)/

https://www.greatschools.org/ohio/mi...Race_ethnicity

If you don't mind a half hour commute, perhaps check out Vermilion, generally considered the most beautiful Lake Erie port city in Ohio. Its high school isn't ranked as high as Edison High School that serves Milan.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/vermilioncityohio

https://www.greatschools.org/ohio/vermilion/

https://www.discoververmilion.org/visitors-guide

Perhaps one advantage of Vermilion is that the many attractions in Cleveland are within 30-60 minutes. Here's a dated travel article.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g...Cleveland.html

One of the great attributes of living in much of Ohio are its metroparks (county parks and nature preserves). Many Ohioans enjoy living within a short distance of a favorite park. Perhaps something to consider when choosing a residence. BTW, IMO living on Lake Erie is overrated; living in close proximity to a good Lake Erie beach is preferable. West of Cleveland, bluffs don't protect residents from the vagaries of Lake Erie water levels or fierce storms.

https://eriemetroparks.org/parks/

https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkxo31KYSdQ

Perhaps also check out Lakeside or Marblehead.

https://www.shoresandislands.com/

Good luck!

[Cleverfield]

Try Vermillion, it’s a pretty nice suburban community along the lake with some very nice homes.

[WRnative]

Firelands school district is located in townships north of Oberlin. Firelands High School only is 38 minutes from Sandusky, according to Google. Firelands High School is well-rated, but diversity still will be an issue. However, if children aren't an issue, you'll be close to Oberlin for a nearby diverse community. Perhaps you'll be able to find a much better home for your budget with more land.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firelands_High_School

https://www.greatschools.org/ohio/ob...s-High-School/

Amherst is 37 minutes from Sandusky.

The Margaretta Local School District is just east of Cedar Point.

https://www.margarettaschooldistrict...ctProfile.aspx

Candidly, you probably should find a good realtor or two with familiarity of both Erie and Lorain counties, assuming you want to be as close to Cleveland as possible.

Again, good luck!

[chevere33]

Originally Posted by WRnative

What are your diversity goals? They may difficult to realize within a half hour of Sandusky given your other parameters.

I'm not as concerned as much about diversity as I am that my very dark-skinned husband be accepted (or not be targeted?). The chief concern would be safety—not interested in having to bolt the patio furniture down! He says he wouldn't mind a 45-minute commute but that seems like a lot to me.


Thanks again.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by chevere33

I'm not as concerned as much about diversity as I am that my very dark-skinned husband be accepted (or not be targeted?). The chief concern would be safety—not interested in having to bolt the patio furniture down! He says he wouldn't mind a 45-minute commute but that seems like a lot to me.


Thanks again.

My advice would be to check with church leaders in any community of interest and ask whether skin color is likely to result in harassment or worse. Sadly, it only takes one person. You also could call the county sheriff department, which is the chief law enforcement agency in most townships in Ohio, and ask if there have been any incidents of racial targeting. Cities have their own police departments as do many, but not all villages.

As Cedar Point is a major tourist attraction, I would guess that nearby communities have a fairly high tolerance level, but I might be wrong.

BTW, use Google to confirm the commute time between any work address and any prospective residence. If your husband will work on the east side of Sandusky, that might cut the commute time. Also, when Cedar Point is open, there can be significant congestion that would greatly increase commute times depending upon the time of the commutes....

When checking crime statistics, be certain to distinguish between serious crimes and crimes associated with retail activity or a tourist attraction such as Cedar Point.

[chevere33]

Originally Posted by WRnative

My advice would be to check with church leaders in any community of interest and ask whether skin color is likely to result in harassment or worse. Sadly, it only takes one person. You also could call the county sheriff department, which is the chief law enforcement agency in most townships in Ohio, and ask if there have been any incidents of racial targeting. Cities have their own police departments as do many, but not all villages.

As Cedar Point is a major tourist attraction, I would guess that nearby communities have a fairly high tolerance level, but I might be wrong.

BTW, use Google to confirm the commute time between any work address and any prospective residence. If your husband will work on the east side of Sandusky, that might cut the commute time. Also, when Cedar Point is open, there can be significant congestion that would greatly increase commute times depending upon the time of the commutes....

When checking crime statistics, be certain to distinguish between serious crimes and crimes associated with retail activity or a tourist attraction such as Cedar Point.

Thank you! All of these are good points. I've already used google maps to confirm the distance, but hadn't considered the fact that Cedar Point might increase the commute time.

I also hadn't thought of Cedar Point increasing the crimes. Even just in looking at the table on city-data, it looks like most of the crimes are thefts and burglaries. While I'm comforted that there are virtually zero murders most years, the huge chance of having our home burgled isn't all that comforting. Anyway, I'll still try to figure out when/where crime is happening because those few categories raise the average quite a bit. I'm glad you commented.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by chevere33

Thank you! All of these are good points. I've already used google maps to confirm the distance, but hadn't considered the fact that Cedar Point might increase the commute time.

I also hadn't thought of Cedar Point increasing the crimes. Even just in looking at the table on city-data, it looks like most of the crimes are thefts and burglaries. While I'm comforted that there are virtually zero murders most years, the huge chance of having our home burgled isn't all that comforting. Anyway, I'll still try to figure out when/where crime is happening because those few categories raise the average quite a bit. I'm glad you commented.

I've read that if you install a good security system, especially a monitored one, or buy a big dog, both are significant deterrents to home burglaries. I'm also certain some neighborhoods are more prone to burglaries than other neighborhoods; again, local police departments can help in determining safer neighborhoods.

A good security system likely is cheaper than a longer commute, especially if any value is placed on the commuter's time.

Also, where your husband works may mitigate the risk of Cedar Point impacting the commute time. Employees at the prospective employer should be able to provide guidance in this regard.

[IT_sailor]

Everything mentioned here applies: https://www.city-data.com/forum/60673773-post9.html

In general, don't be put off by the crime statistics. However, outside of Sandusky city limits is plenty of surburbs or rural areas if you desire acreage and very safe. Sandusky is the most diverse and progressive of any city in the area by far and you would fit right in.