I moved from Florida to the Midwest. I was skeptical, but my new home has the perfect mix of city life and suburban charm.
A former Florida resident shares her positive experience moving to Shaker Heights, Ohio, highlighting the balance between suburban community and urban accessibility. She notes that despite initial skepticism about the cold climate, the walkability and historical charm of the Cleveland area have made it an ideal home for her family.
Why it matters
This reflects broader trends of internal migration in the U.S. as families seek affordable, walkable, and community-oriented living spaces outside of major coastal hubs.
I moved from Florida to Shaker Heights, Ohio. Yelena Alpert Four years ago, I moved from Gainesville, Florida , to a suburb outside Cleveland. My new home has the perfect mix of suburban charm and metropolitan excitement. I've gotten used to the cold winters, and love spending time outside in any season. The first time my husband mentioned moving to Cleveland , I rolled my eyes. At the time, all I really knew about the city was that winters are beyond cold and last forever. Coming from Gainesville, Florida, the notion of not seeing the sun for months at a time was frightening. But over the years, it became clear that we missed the conveniences and culture of the major cities we had previously lived in — especially the historical architecture and walkability.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in