Oberlin, OH

Located about 35 miles southwest of Cleveland, Oberlin is a small Lorain County town with a population of roughly 8,500. Life here centers around historic Tappan Square, where the Oberlin College campus meets a charming, walkable downtown filled with local coffee shops, independent bookstores, and favorite neighborhood eateries. The town offers a relaxed pace of life with quiet, tree-lined residential neighborhoods that give way to open countryside just past the city limits.

The town is well known for its progressive roots and historic role as a major hub on the Underground Railroad, as well as being one of the first higher education institutions in the country to admit women and Black students. Today, Oberlin retains that strong civic identity alongside a thriving arts scene, with the renowned Conservatory of Music filling the local calendar with free concerts and performances. For outdoor recreation, residents can hop right on the paved North Coast Inland Trail for biking and walking, while Route 20 provides an easy drive to Elyria and greater Cleveland.