Forest Park, OH vs Lakewood, OH

Forest Park, OH and Lakewood, OH have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.4% difference in their overall index. Forest Park scores 82 while Lakewood scores 83 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 Forest Park is $1,172/month compared to $1,013/month in Lakewood — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Lakewood has cheaper rent, Forest Park actually has lower median home values ($163,200 vs $241,500).

Median household income in Forest Park is $67,201 compared to $65,925 in Lakewood (+1.9%). Forest Park offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest Park spend roughly 20.9% of their income on rent, more than the 18.4% in Lakewood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.8°F vs 52.4°F). Forest Park receives more rainfall at 41.4" per year compared to 41" in Lakewood.