Cleveland Apartments · Cleveland, OH

1 Bedroom Apartments for Rent in Lakewood, OH

Lakewood, a Lake Erie suburb directly west of Cleveland, has a large stock of early-1900s apartment buildings that commonly include one-bedroom units. Regionally, one-bedrooms run roughly $1,195 to $1,451/month depending on the source (per two independent July 2026 market reports), with Lakewood's own pricing varying by building age and condition.

What one-bedroom apartments in Lakewood look like

Lakewood is a Lake Erie suburb located immediately west of Cleveland's West Side, and much of its rental housing consists of early-20th-century multi-family apartment buildings, many of which offer one-bedroom floor plans alongside studios and larger units. This older building stock gives renters more one-bedroom variety than many newer-construction suburbs offer.

Because it was largely built out before car-centric suburban development took hold, Lakewood's apartment buildings tend to sit closer together on smaller lots, often within walking distance of a commercial strip, rather than spread across large complexes with surface parking. One-bedroom layouts in these older buildings vary more than in standardized new construction, so floor plans, closet space, and natural light can differ meaningfully from one building to the next even at a similar price point.

Our own managed portfolio is concentrated in Cleveland proper — Slavic Village, Collinwood, Glenville, Fairfax, Hough, and Buckeye-Shaker — not in Lakewood specifically. If Lakewood is where you want to live, tell our leasing team what you're looking for and we'll flag it against current availability or point you toward comparable East Side options.

How much does a 1-bedroom cost in the Lakewood/Cleveland area?

There's no dedicated Lakewood rent index, so the closest available benchmark is the broader Cleveland-area market. Per Zumper's July 2026 report, the Cleveland-area one-bedroom median is $1,195/month. Per RentCafe's July 2026 report, which weights larger professionally-managed complexes more heavily, the Cleveland-area one-bedroom average is $1,451/month for roughly 690 square feet.

Lakewood's mix of older conversion buildings and a smaller number of larger managed properties means actual asking rents can fall anywhere across that range — confirm the current price on a specific listing rather than relying on either citywide figure alone.

Getting around Lakewood without a car

Lakewood is served by Greater Cleveland RTA (GCRTA) bus routes connecting to downtown Cleveland and neighboring West Side communities, as part of GCRTA's countywide network. There's no rapid-transit rail stop located in Lakewood itself, so if commuting by transit matters to you, confirm specific bus routes and travel times directly with GCRTA before signing a lease.

If a one-bedroom isn't quite right, see our companion guides to studio apartments in Lakewood and 2-bedroom apartments in Lakewood for the sizes on either side.

Can I use a Section 8 voucher for a 1-bedroom in Lakewood?

Whether a Lakewood landlord accepts a Housing Choice Voucher depends on that individual landlord's policy. Ohio has no statewide source-of-income protection law, and Lakewood is not among the small number of Cuyahoga County communities — Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, University Heights, Warrensville Heights, and Linndale — with a local ordinance barring this kind of discrimination. Confirm directly with any landlord before applying.

Vouchers are administered countywide by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), which takes preliminary applications year-round with lottery-based selection. Every home we manage across our own Cleveland-area portfolio accepts Section 8 and is HUD-inspection-ready — read our Section 8 housing guide for the full process.

What to budget for beyond monthly rent

Ohio law governs your security deposit wherever you rent, including Lakewood. Under Ohio Revised Code 5321.16, if your deposit exceeds $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater) and you stay six months or longer, the landlord must pay 5% annual interest on the excess. When you move out, the landlord has 30 days from the date you deliver possession and provide a forwarding address to return your deposit along with an itemized written statement of any deductions for unpaid rent or damage. Wrongfully withheld deposits can be recovered along with an equal amount in damages and reasonable attorney's fees. This is general information, not legal advice — verify current statute language before relying on it.

Also ask upfront whether heat and water are included in a Lakewood one-bedroom's rent, since older buildings vary widely on what's billed separately, and confirm any pet policy or application fee before you tour.

Rent Finder Cleveland is an equal housing opportunity provider and does business in accordance with the Fair Housing Act. Availability, pricing, and terms are subject to change.