What’s the best part of Akron?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Akron are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Akron neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Ohio and Akron is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Akron for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Northwest Akron looks to be the best Akron neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Akron that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Akron.
For more Ohio reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Akron
Population: 12,084
Median Home Value: $158,750 (Third best)
Median Income: $91,588 (best)
More on Northwest Akron: Data | Real Estate
Population: 10,343
Median Home Value: $110,085 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $46,670 (Seventh best)
More on Highland Square: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,641
Median Home Value: $165,400 (best)
Median Income: $82,048 (Second best)
More on Fairlawn Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,745
Median Home Value: $162,380 (Second best)
Median Income: $59,502 (Third best)
More on Wallhaven: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,968
Median Home Value: $128,450 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $54,169 (Fourth best)
More on Merriman Valley: Data | Real Estate
Population: 18,716
Median Home Value: $76,356 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $45,547 (Eighth best)
More on Goodyear Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 16,052
Median Home Value: $100,408 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $51,493 (Sixth best)
More on Ellet: Data | Real Estate
Population: 14,889
Median Home Value: $69,454 (13th best)
Median Income: $51,585 (Fifth best)
More on Firestone Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,198
Median Home Value: $76,183 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $33,985 (13th best)
More on Chapel Hill: Data | Real Estate
Population: 15,911
Median Home Value: $75,423 (11th best)
Median Income: $38,185 (Tenth best)
More on North Hill: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Akron, OH Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Akron, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 21 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Akron.” We’re lookin’ at you, Northwest Akron.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Akron, Ohio has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Akron.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Akron
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Akron where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Akron are Northwest Akron, Highland Square, Fairlawn Heights, Wallhaven, Merriman Valley, Goodyear Heights, Ellet, Firestone Park, Chapel Hill, and North Hill.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Akron aren’t all good. Middlebury takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Akron.
The worst neighborhoods in Akron are Middlebury, Summit Lake, Lane-Wooster, East Akron, and University Of Ohio Akron.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Akron For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Akron | 12,084 | $158,750 | $91,588 |
| 2 | Highland Square | 10,343 | $110,085 | $46,670 |
| 3 | Fairlawn Heights | 2,641 | $165,400 | $82,048 |
| 4 | Wallhaven | 4,745 | $162,380 | $59,502 |
| 5 | Merriman Valley | 6,968 | $128,450 | $54,169 |
| 6 | Goodyear Heights | 18,716 | $76,356 | $45,547 |
| 7 | Ellet | 16,052 | $100,408 | $51,493 |
| 8 | Firestone Park | 14,889 | $69,454 | $51,585 |
| 9 | Chapel Hill | 7,198 | $76,183 | $33,985 |
| 10 | North Hill | 15,911 | $75,423 | $38,185 |
| 11 | West Akron | 15,361 | $83,686 | $33,584 |
| 12 | Kenmore | 15,909 | $66,290 | $40,829 |
| 13 | Elizabeth Park Valley | 4,646 | $69,143 | $33,412 |
| 14 | South Akron | 5,586 | $48,550 | $37,464 |
| 15 | Rolling Acres | 2,592 | $70,850 | $35,933 |
| 16 | Downtown | 5,727 | $86,350 | $15,724 |
| 17 | University Of Ohio Akron | 6,913 | $41,960 | $26,718 |
| 18 | East Akron | 11,283 | $57,546 | $32,926 |
| 19 | Lane-Wooster | 5,479 | $53,417 | $28,938 |
| 20 | Summit Lake | 3,042 | $47,950 | $28,858 |
| 21 | Middlebury | 4,993 | $49,643 | $26,477 |