Shaker Heights Economy Rapidly Expanded During 5-Year-Stretch

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — Between 2013 and 2018, no suburb in Cuyahoga County saw more jobs growth than Shaker Heights, according to a new report by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

The county released the “Our Communities: The 2021 Data Book,” last week. The report contains demographic, economic, housing, land use and transportation data for every city in Cuyahoga County, including Shaker Heights.

From 2013 to 2018, Shaker Heights increased its jobs base by 68.4 percent, with 4,854 jobs created locally, the report found. Only the city of Cleveland saw more job growth (by pure job numbers). No city saw more of a percentage increase in their job base.

While the jobs base has rapidly expanded locally, 8.5 percent of Shaker Heights residents were still living in poverty in 2019, the report found. That's 2,307 residents.

“In the second iteration of the Data Book, we have updated our metrics with the most timely data available and expanded the number of data sets we are tracking for our communities,” said Mary Cierebiej, executive director of the planning commission. “Our goal is to provide an up-to-date, easily understandable tool for use by our communities and residents; producing this report each year offers that service to our County.”

Population Changes

Between 2014 and 2019, Shaker Heights saw its population dip by 862 residents, a decrease of 3.4 percent. That's actually worse than the average Cuyahoga County city's population loss during that time.

Only Pepper Pike, Brecksville, Olmsted Township, Walton Hills, Hunting Valley and Orange saw increases in their residential population during that five-year-stretch.

In terms of age, Shaker Heights has a large population of children, young adults and working-age adults (together forming 81.6 percent of the city's population). Only 31 percent of Shaker properties are one-person homes, so the city is primarily populated by young families. The average Shaker home has 2.4 residents, the report said.

How the Report was Made

Information in the Data Book comes from a variety of sources, including U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates and the 5-Year American Community Survey, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, the Northern Ohio Data and Information Service, and the County Fiscal Office, among others.

The full "Our Communities: 2021 Databook" can be accessed online.