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Akron's neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You've got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there's a neighborhood for everyone in Akron.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in Akron. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.
So the question arises, which Akron neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?
Today, we'll use science and data to determine which Akron hoods need a little tender loving care - the sore thumbs of the Akron area if you will. Realistically, you can't expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Highland Square ranks way above the rest.
We examined 21 of Akron's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Akron's reputation.
The Worst Neighborhoods In Akron For 2022
So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Akron for 2022? According to the most recent census data, Downtown looks to be the worst neighborhood in Akron.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Akron that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don't blame the messenger.
Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Akron.
For more Ohio reading, check out:
The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Akron For 2022
/10
Population: 5,012
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $49,200 (4th worst)
Median Income: $14,041 (worst)
More on Downtown: Data
/10
Population: 5,835
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $43,900 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $23,695 (5th worst)
More on Middlebury: Data
/10
Population: 11,635
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $54,612 (7th worst)
Median Income: $26,239 (6th worst)
More on East Akron: Data
/10
Population: 3,598
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $43,483 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $21,995 (4th worst)
More on Summit Lake: Data
/10
Population: 7,617
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $34,986 (worst)
Median Income: $18,009 (2nd worst)
More on University Of Ohio Akron: Data
/10
Population: 6,766
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $58,525 (9th worst)
Median Income: $21,063 (3rd worst)
More on Lane-Wooster: Data
/10
Population: 3,953
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $50,025 (5th worst)
Median Income: $32,567 (9th worst)
More on Elizabeth Park Valley: Data
/10
Population: 2,506
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $73,150 (13th worst)
Median Income: $31,150 (8th worst)
More on Rolling Acres: Data
/10
Population: 6,037
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $55,633 (8th worst)
Median Income: $28,818 (7th worst)
More on South Akron: Data
/10
Population: 6,690
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $69,880 (11th worst)
Median Income: $33,246 (11th worst)
More on Chapel Hill: Data
Methodology: How we determined the worst Akron neighborhoods in 2022
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Akron:
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one's willing to pay to live here)
- High crime (Estimated)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Akron, Ohio for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a "Worst Score".
The neighborhood with the lowest "Worst Score" ranks as the worst neighborhood of Akron.
Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Akron to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 21 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Akron
Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in Akron with Downtown landing at the bottom of the pack.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Akron aren't all bad. Highland Square takes the cake as the best place to live in Akron.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more Ohio reading, check out:
Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Akron For 2022?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downtown | 5,012 |
| 2 | Middlebury | 5,835 |
| 3 | East Akron | 11,635 |
| 4 | Summit Lake | 3,598 |
| 5 | University Of Ohio Akron | 7,617 |
| 6 | Lane-Wooster | 6,766 |
| 7 | Elizabeth Park Valley | 3,953 |
| 8 | Rolling Acres | 2,506 |
| 9 | South Akron | 6,037 |
| 10 | Chapel Hill | 6,690 |
| 11 | Kenmore | 15,733 |
| 12 | West Akron | 15,512 |
| 13 | North Hill | 15,861 |
| 14 | Goodyear Heights | 19,778 |
| 15 | Ellet | 17,085 |
| 16 | Firestone Park | 14,566 |
| 17 | Merriman Valley | 7,748 |
| 18 | Wallhaven | 4,239 |
| 19 | Fairlawn Heights | 2,875 |
| 20 | Northwest Akron | 10,910 |
| 21 | Highland Square | 10,828 |
