Cleveland Neighborhoods · Cleveland, OH

Houses for Rent in Little Italy, Cleveland

Little Italy is a small east-side district centered on Mayfield Road, about five miles from Downtown Cleveland and directly adjacent to University Circle. House rentals directly in Little Italy are limited; citywide, similarly sized 2- and 3-bedroom homes typically rent between $1,100 and $1,350 a month as of mid-2026.

Renting a house in Little Italy

Little Italy is one of Cleveland's smallest and most distinctive residential districts, centered on Mayfield Road within the city's University-area neighborhoods, roughly five miles east of Downtown Cleveland. The district sits directly against Lake View Cemetery to the east and blends into University Circle to the south, putting renters within walking distance of Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and Severance Music Center.

Housing stock here is dense and older — largely narrow-lot single-family and two-family homes built in the early 1900s along streets like Coltman Road, Random Road, and Cornell Road, with small yards and on-street parking typical of the era. Because the footprint of Little Italy is small, the number of standalone houses for rent at any given time is limited, and renters searching this specific pocket of the city often expand into the surrounding University Circle rental market, which has a larger supply of both houses and apartments.

If you're specifically trying to live near Mayfield Road or University Circle, tell our leasing team what you're looking for and we'll tell you honestly what's realistic given current availability, rather than promising a listing that may not exist yet.

How much does it cost to rent a house near Little Italy?

There is no rent index published specifically for a district as small as Little Italy, so the most reliable reference point is Cleveland's citywide rent data by bedroom count. Per Zumper's rent report dated July 2026, the citywide median for a 2-bedroom home is about $1,100 a month and about $1,350 for a 3-bedroom, up 4.2% year-over-year. Homes close to University Circle employers and institutions tend to price toward the higher end of these citywide ranges rather than the lower end.

For a second reference point, RentCafe's report dated July 2026 on professionally managed Cleveland apartments puts the citywide average at $1,564 a month for a unit averaging 787 square feet. That figure skews higher because it reflects newer, professionally managed buildings rather than the older, individually owned houses more typical of a district like Little Italy — treat it as a ceiling rather than a typical price for this kind of home.

Getting around Little Italy and University Circle

Little Italy benefits from some of the best transit access on Cleveland's East Side. GCRTA's Red Line heavy rail connects the University Circle station directly to Downtown's Tower City and on to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, while the HealthLine bus rapid transit runs along Euclid Avenue between Public Square and University Circle in a dedicated median busway. Together, these two lines make it realistic to live in Little Italy without a personal vehicle for many Downtown or University Circle commutes.

• Transit: Red Line heavy rail + HealthLine BRT serve University Circle
• Nearby institutions: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Music Center
• Green space: Lake View Cemetery borders the neighborhood
• Distance: About 5 miles east of Downtown Cleveland

Section 8 and vouchers near Little Italy

Our current rental portfolio is concentrated in Cleveland's East and Southeast-side neighborhoods — areas like Slavic Village, Collinwood, Glenville, and Buckeye-Shaker — rather than directly in Little Italy, so we can't promise a specific voucher-friendly home in this exact district today. That said, every home we manage anywhere in Greater Cleveland accepts Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) and is HUD-inspection-ready, and our available inventory changes as we add homes across the city.

If you hold a voucher issued by CMHA (Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority) and want something near University Circle, tell us what you're looking for and we'll point you to comparable available homes, or read our Cleveland Section 8 guide for how the local voucher process, waitlist, and inspections actually work. You can also review CMHA's own Housing Choice Voucher application page directly.

Little Italy's landmarks and everyday life

Beyond housing, Little Italy is anchored by the small business district along Mayfield Road, with restaurants, cafes, and shops within a few blocks of most homes in the area. Lake View Cemetery, one of the city's largest historic cemeteries, borders the neighborhood and offers walking paths open to the public. For broader Cleveland house-hunting beyond this specific pocket, see our full guide to houses for rent in Cleveland.

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.