Tiering data between storage media in a content aware storage system is provided. An aspect includes, for each metadata page (MP) of a plurality of MPs: storing a first copy of the MP in a high tier storage, a second copy in an intermediate tier storage, and a third copy in low tier storage. Upon determining, in response to monitoring available space in the high tier storage, usage of the high tier storage exceeds a threshold value, an aspect includes identifying a least recently used (LRU) MP, deleting the LRU MP from the high tier storage, and destaging active entries of a metadata journal for the LRU MP. An aspect further includes receiving a request to read one of the plurality of MPs and, upon determining one of the MPs is the LRU metadata page, an aspect includes reading MP from the intermediate tier storage.