Berea, OH vs Portage Lakes, OH

Berea, OH and Portage Lakes, OH have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.2% difference in their overall index. Berea scores 78 while Portage Lakes scores 80 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Berea is $981/month compared to $1,125/month in Portage Lakes — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Berea has cheaper rent, Portage Lakes actually has lower median home values ($165,500 vs $187,600).

Median household income in Berea is $71,896 compared to $66,027 in Portage Lakes (+8.9%). Berea offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Berea spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 20.4% in Portage Lakes.