Might move to Canton Ohio (Columbus, Akron: good schools, taxes, living in)

[mkeller234]

I guess on the subject of the original question. As far as private christian school, Central Catholic first comes to mind, I have heard good things about it, I am sure there are others in Canton. Archbishop Hoban is in Akron and seems to be pretty elite as far as schools go.

If price is no option, the nicest suburban areas in Canton are North Canton, Green, Jackson (the welthiest) and Perry township. Each neighborhood has its own feel and would depend on your taste. You will probably miss the weather of Southern California. Spring can be cloudy, and winter can be bleak, you will probably miss the sun for 40% of the year.

About your husband and his photography studio: Canton has had a recent arts movement over about the last 5 years. Downtown has recently become host to around 4 blocks of art studios, murals, sculptures etc. Another resident is actually converting a historic car storage building into a photagraphy studio right now. So the arts are new to us, but growing. First friday events downtown support the arts pretty well. Check out the artsinstark.com site if your curious.

Canton is a rustbelt city with rustbelt problems. The 70s 80s and 90s were bad for the city. Suburban shopping centers and neighboring townships sapped alot of life from the inner city. Canton is trying to reinvent downtown as an entertainment district and has had some sucess, but it's still an uphill battle.

[silver42]

I have lived in Jackson Township (toward massillon) this year and have been very happy. It's a quiet community, not a whole lot going on if you like nightlife, but they have been building new businesses (shops, grocery stores at Nobles Pond) and they have a great YMCA. There are a ton of restaurants and shops in Belden Village and there's never really been a business that wasn't nearby. I think it's a nice, safe place to live and the public schools are great.

[IonRedline08]

The suburbs of Canton are not bad. There are things to do. Yes, the area is kind of boring, but tons of things to do are within an hour or so, and, if you live in Southern California, an hour driving is not that big a deal.

I will say, if you like nice weather, this area is not for you. I moved away, and have not missed that aspect at all! The winter stinks!

[wlmh65]

Add to all that, you're within an easy day's drive of all the major Ohio cities, Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York, Boston, Toronto, Detroit, Washington, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Philadelphia and everything in between. Nowhere in the west gives you that kind of proximity and choice. I think Ohio has a lot to offer.

[mkeller234]

Also just a few hours from Canada. Of course unemployment is hitting Stark county hard, I have read that it is hovering around 10.4 percent....yikes!

[htlong]

why not move between akron and canton? you would have a more rural setting low crime,good schools,and the housing prices should be a fraction of what it is in California, and you would be close to both towns they are only about 10 miles apart. and you would have the portage lake state park for swimming and boating in summertime.

I retired and left my home down south due to the heat in summer,they are really mild here, but for winter.......I left in november and I am thinking of returning in april (Ithink it should be safe by then?)

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by htlong

why not move between akron and canton? you would have a more rural setting low crime,good schools,and the housing prices should be a fraction of what it is in California, and you would be close to both towns they are only about 10 miles apart. and you would have the portage lake state park for swimming and boating in summertime.

I retired and left my home down south due to the heat in summer,they are really mild here, but for winter.......I left in november and I am thinking of returning in april (Ithink it should be safe by then?)

Akron to Canton is more like 20 miles than 10, but to your point, the areas in between are nicer alternatives such as Hartville, Green, North Canton, or Uniontown to be in than inside either city's limits.

I will agree, that July & August are typically much more pleasant to be in Ohio than in the south when we are between 90-100 degrees everyday, but I can handle the extreme heat for 2 months when the other 10 months of the year are better here than Ohio. We hit 85 degrees yesterday in Columbia and are going to be around 80 again today, granted the average high is supposed to be around 70 for this time of year, but either way, that's not too bad for the 2nd week of March! Not to mention it is much sunnier here year-round.

[ILOVEOHIO]

Originally Posted by PhotoRN

My husband is from Canton and really wants to move back. I have lived in Southern Calif. all of my life. What can you tell me about this city? I have only been there once about 9 years ago. I am ready for a change but not sure that is where I want to be. We are in our 50's and will be retireing shortly. We do however have a fairly young child (6) and want to know about Christian private schools in that area. We also would like to open a photography studio (we would not be dependent on a certain income from this venture, it is something we just love). Are there areas on the outskirts that have less crime? Thanks for any input.

I don't know if you moved yet. It has been a while since you first posted . Just in case anyone else reads this and is interested...

I have said it a million times on here, I think. I live in Canal Fulton, Ohio. It's not far from Canton and the crime rate is practically nonexistent. It's small and quiet. There is an amazing Catholic Elementary school in town St. Phillip and St. James Home Page - Saints Philip and James School. Canal Fulton is close to everything you need whether it be shopping, entertainment or even just a walk (the towpath is right here). OK, I'm done bragging about my town, for now at least.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by ILOVEOHIO

I don't know if you moved yet. It has been a while since you first posted . Just in case anyone else reads this and is interested...

I have said it a million times on here, I think. I live in Canal Fulton, Ohio. It's not far from Canton and the crime rate is practically nonexistent. It's small and quiet. There is an amazing Catholic Elementary school in town St. Phillip and St. James Home Page - Saints Philip and James School. Canal Fulton is close to everything you need whether it be shopping, entertainment or even just a walk (the towpath is right here). OK, I'm done bragging about my town, for now at least.

While I agree, Canal Fulton is a nice little town, have a couple good friends that live there, just make sure you send your kids to that catholic school or another private school b/c Northwest can't pass a levy and are slashing programs left and right, and last I heard, they were considering dropping out of the NBC in a couple years. So keep that in mind if you decide to move there.

[l3lacksheep]

Do not move to Canton... It's a terrible place. I lived there for 2 years and I was depressed for every minute of it. I never had an incident but I never felt safe either. I own a home (to this day ) in the NE part of Canton proper and the mailman was shot in head during a drive-by about 7 blocks from my house a few years ago.

Overall it's just a doomy gloomy town; it's got no hope and no future and the residents wear it on their sleeves. I've never been around a more discourteous area, I shared a driveway with my neighbors and they NEVER talked to me. I talk with my current neighbors in MI every day and it's the same situation in demographics so it just boils down to the area.

The entire Akron-Canton area is blighted with gangs, crime, terrible drivers, awful weather and rude people. When I go back to visit the house I bought (horrid mistake) I honestly feel a tightness in my chest, like an anxiety that lasts until I'm back on 77, moving at top speed either north or south.

I cannot intelligently express how much I despise the Akron-Canton area. If you feel you must move back to NE Ohio, move to Cleveland (the Hudson area is nice) and visit from time to time. NEVER BUY PROPERTY!