Parma neighborhood guide
What it's like to live in Parma, Ohio.
Living in Parma means Cleveland's largest suburb right at your doorstep: a city of roughly 81,000 people (per the 2020 U.S. Census) with parks, pools, shopping, restaurants, and a straight shot to I-480 and downtown Cleveland. It is the 7th-largest city in Ohio, yet it keeps a distinctly neighborhood feel. This guide covers what everyday life here is actually like, using verifiable facts about the city and the block around 3021 Tuxedo Ave.
#1
Largest suburb
of Cleveland, and the 2nd-largest city in Cuyahoga County
#7
City in Ohio
by population, per the 2020 census
81k
Residents
roughly 81,146 in the 2020 census
~10
To downtown
minutes by car from the front door
Where Parma sits
Ten minutes from downtown, a lifetime from the pace of it.
Parma sits just south of Cleveland in Cuyahoga County. From 3021 Tuxedo Ave, I-480 is minutes away, downtown Cleveland is about ten minutes by car, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is roughly twenty minutes out. Ridge Road runs as the city's main street, and Pearl Road heads straight toward the city, so work, shopping, and weekend plans all stay within easy reach.
- I-480 access minutes from the door
- About 10 minutes to downtown Cleveland
- About 20 minutes to Cleveland Hopkins Airport
- Ridge Road, Parma's main street, runs right through town
A city with a story
Settled in 1816, named for an Italian shield.
Parma's roots go back to 1816, when New Englanders settled land in the Connecticut Western Reserve. The settlement was first known as Greenbriar, then renamed Parma in 1826 after Parma, Italy (the word evokes a round Roman shield). It incorporated as a city on January 1, 1931, and grew more than fivefold between 1940 and 1960 as postwar families moved out from Cleveland to the suburbs.
First settled by New Englanders on the Connecticut Western Reserve
Renamed Parma, after Parma, Italy; earlier known as Greenbriar
Incorporated as a city on January 1
Population grew more than fivefold as postwar families arrived
The character
Cleveland's largest suburb, on a human scale.
By the 2020 census, Parma is home to roughly 81,146 people, making it Ohio's 7th-largest city, the state's largest suburb, and the 2nd-largest city in Cuyahoga County after Cleveland. That scale brings real amenities without the city-centre pace, and the community keeps a distinctly family-suburb character.
Eastern European heritage
Polish Village along Ridge Road and Ukrainian Village are official cultural districts
Polish-American community
in the country, per census ancestry data
Community traditions
a Polish Constitution Day parade and major Paczki Day celebrations
A real restaurant row
institutions like Das Schnitzel Haus and Rudy's Strudel & Bakery
Everyday life
Parks, pools, shopping, and a splash pad.
Parma treats its parks like a city that wants you outside, and it keeps the errands close to home. Here's the practical side of living here.
Parks and outdoors
- West Creek Reservation, 120-plus acres of trails and picnic land nearby
- Big Creek Reservation adds more green space and trails
- Ball fields, tennis courts, and an 18-hole disc golf course around town
- Pools plus Anthony Zielinski Park's splash pad for hot summer days
Shopping and essentials
- The Shoppes at Parma, the outdoor redevelopment of the 1956 Parmatown Mall
- Giant Eagle and ALDI supermarkets on Snow Road, near the 44134 side of town
- Specialty grocers and bakeries along Ridge, State, and Pearl roads
- Everyday retail, restaurants, and services on Parma's main streets
Schools
Parma City Schools serve this corner of town.
The 44134 area is served by the Parma City School District. Schools near this part of southern Parma include Dentzler and John Muir elementary schools, Shiloh Middle School for grades 5 through 7, and Normandy High School. Attendance boundaries can vary street by street, so confirm the exact assignment for a specific address with the district before you decide.
Elementary
Dentzler Elementary
Elementary
John Muir Elementary
Grades 5–7
Shiloh Middle School
High school
Normandy High School
Services and community
Healthcare, college, and city services close at hand.
Parma is big enough to keep the important things nearby. Here are a few anchors of daily life that make the city self-contained.
MetroHealth Parma Medical Center
On Snow Road, with a 24/7 emergency department and broad primary and specialty care.
Learn moreTri-C Western Campus
Cuyahoga Community College's Western Campus, opened in 1966 on the site of the former Crile General Hospital.
Learn moreParma Parks & Recreation
The city's recreation department runs parks, programs, pools, and facilities across Parma.
Learn moreThe local agent
A Realtor who knows Parma up close.
Lisa Nickel serves Parma, Parma Heights, and more than a dozen surrounding communities across the west and south of Cleveland. With The TLC Group at EXP Realty, the focus is on guiding you through life's transitions, whether that's downsizing to a smaller home, upsizing to your next one, or combining households.
- Parma is in Lisa's service area, along with Parma Heights and nearby suburbs
- Works with buyers, sellers, downsizers, and upsizers
- Explains each step of the move with clarity and care
- Listed on MLS NOW and licensed in Ohio
Parma, Ohio
The neighborhood's ready when you are.
Facts in this guide draw on the 2020 U.S. Census, the City of Parma, Cuyahoga County, and the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Commute times are approximate and by car. Attendance boundaries are set by the school district.