Akron is a city that is on the rise for a variety of reasons. Over the past few years, more people than ever have been moving to this lovely place that has a fairly small cost of living to consider. It’s the fifth largest one in Ohio, with a population of almost 200,000 fine citizens. The weather there is basic Midwestern fare with snow in the winter and plenty of sun in the summer with a higher level of humidity. It doesn't get as much snow as the Cleveland area, which gets that lake effect snow that can be troublesome during the cold months. That makes it easier for seniors to drive around in since the roads are cleaner. Akron not only caters to the up and coming young professional crowd who love the city for its fine art galleries, unique shops, and trendy dining options, but more people hitting retirement age are lining up to settle down there because of its slower pace and friendly atmosphere. The national age of retirement is 67, but you can get early retirement benefits as young as 62 so that increases the number of retirees making this place home. Downsizing from major houses that are too much to care for has given way to a growth in popularity of single story homes, condos, and easy to care for apartments that are happy to rent to retirees. Here are four of the best neighborhoods in Akron for retirees.
This is widely considered a nice quiet community within the Akron city limits. An estimated population of around 5200 people make it a mid-sized community that caters to its residents with close by shopping and dining options that locals enjoy. The median age of the people here is 35-years-old with an income on average of $28,000. It’s a family oriented community with the Summit Lake Community Center offering a variety of programs that seniors will like to sign up for, which include various art classes and fitness options to keep fit in those later years. There isn’t a ton of traffic that barrels through the area so the streets are more quiet than some in busier cities. That makes it especially appealing for retirees that want some peace and quiet. Plus, the greenery of the area is fetching with clean streets, and friendly folks who are happy to say “hello” to their neighborhoods when walking their pets in this pet friendly area. Being a bit of the main streets of Akron make this town feel smaller than it really is. The only downside is that the crime rate runs a little high, an average it's 50% higher than Akron.
Many retirees call this neighborhood area home for many reasons. The quiet charm of the area is a prime one for many people. The cost of living is very low, and most people will find that the rentals are affordable. The crime rate runs a little hot here at 10 % higher on average than Akron itself. The median age of residents here is 44-years old with an income of $32,000. There is also a major shopping mall in the area, Chapel Hill Mall that is very nice to walk around in, or spend an afternoon looking over the latest fashions. Two major departments stores are there, Macy’s and Dillard's which provide large cosmetics, home goods, and clothing options. Plus, there is a movie theater there that shows all the latest films. They do give a special discount to retirees that hold the Ohio Buckeye Card, so they don’t have to pay full price. It’s only a 14 minute drive to downtown Akron where there are many art galleries, and theaters to watch special event productions at. EJ Thomas Hall is especially great for orchestral concerts and traveling Broadway shows to take in that are a great option for a night on the town.
This area has a population of around 4500 people, so it makes being close to Akron a plus since this area is on the smaller side of things. Plus, the crime rate is great here at 16 % lower on average than Akron. Most of the residents are in the age range of 45-67, so it is perfect for the retirement demographic. The median income is $52,000. There is a high percentage of females in the area, so women who are at retirement age will feel at home here. Most people own their homes here with a variety of smaller homes that are the perfect choice to downsize into the senior years. There are a ton of restaurants in the area that have home cooked food in a diner type atmosphere. Check out Swenson’s for a fantastic burgers and fries made to order, and c and Cafe for Italian fare that will tickle your taste buds. The lasagna is a must have there for sure! Cafes that have excellent coffee are also highly accessible here so getting that perfect daily latte on your walk isn’t a problem. Grab a newspaper and chat with your neighbors as you stroll through the neighborhood for something fun to do each day. The city websites are very good at providing information to the residents about what's going on around town as well.
The majority of the North Hill area is quite neighborly, which is a bonus since there is a 33 % higher crime rate here than in Akron. So hopefully neighbors will watch out for each other. Many people like to retire in this area since it’s quieter than most of the larger suburbs. It’s estimated that the large middle age population is around 10,000 people with 16,000 total of all ages. The median income is $32,000. There is a great website provided by the city that offers assistance to those residents that need it, it's AkronOhio.gov. One of the best diners in town is Fred’s which caters to a local crowd that shows up almost daily to get their breakfast, lunch and early bird dinner specials. You can’t miss the Chicken Fried Steak, it’s just that good! The pie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream is made fresh everyday.
