Stow Hudson or another place for same sex household (Akron: fit in, rental homes)

[spaholsky528]

My partner and I are having to relocate to Ohio. We are a same sex couple with two children. One is in school now and an infant. I will be a stay at home mom and She will be working in Barberton. I fell in love with Hudson it is so quaint. The school system is reported as excellent. I am leary to move to a smaller town because I don't want my kids shunned due to us their parents. Does anyone have any opinions about this area and raising children in a community with an open mind. I also have looked at some houses in Stow. They seem to be more moderately priced but the schools I am unsure about. Are there any rental homes in any of the communities? Any input would be grately appreciated

Thank you

[IDTwinsMom]

I don't have first hand knowledge, but Hudson doesn't strike me as a good fit for yur family. I think Stow would be a better choice. Hudson has a reputation for being snobby. My husband works in Barberton and we live in Medina. You might want to consider Medina. It has a similar look and feel as Hudson, but a more down-to-earth population.

[YoMikey617]

In most of Ohio, wealthier neighborhoods LIKE HUDSON are almost always more accepting of gay parents than blue collar towns like Stow. You're likely to have bigots anywhere in Ohio, but Hudson's not the kind of town where teenagers vandalize gay people's houses while the parent's pretend not to care (or better yet lie to cover up the crimes that their kids commit).

Stow and Hudson are way different towns in terms of socioeconomics. People in Hudson do in fact look down on Stow but it's only because Stow is poorly zoned. In Stow you're likely to see things like "backyard decks" on the fronts of houses or above ground pools and cars on blocks in the side yard. You can't get away with this in Hudson... Hudson might have a snobbish reputation, but that's only from the outside of Hudson and it's more of an outsider's perception than anything real.

If I were you I would gravitate toward Hudson, or other towns that are higher on the socioeconomic scale. Or maybe towns that have a reputation for being progressive similar to Lakewood or Shaker. OR MAYBE buy a cheaper house in a progressive neighborhood but then spend the surplus sending your kids to private schools.

Oh yeah stay away from Twinsburg I hear that town is full of jesus freak evangelicals.

[gentlearts]

I lived in Stow for 20 years and, honestly, I would not consider it a hotbed of progressive thinking; although it has been 15 years since we lived there and people's attitudes have probably changed with the times.
As a previous writer said, I'd agree that probably Hudson would be more cosmopolitan than Stow.
If I were looking and in your circumstance, I would go to west Akron, Fairlawn, Montrose areas (If you find Rte 18 and Main St, Akron, on a map and follow it west, anything west of Merriman Rd and ending at Rtes. 18 and 21). There is an active gay community there, lovely neighborhoods, and super school systems, especially Fairlawn.

[tribecavsbrowns]

If you like Hudson, move there. Hudson people are wealthy enough that they won't disapprove of gay parents. People that wealthy are often very fiscally conservative, but much more liberal (i.e., they don't care) about what's going on in someone else's bedroom.

Hudson also has large schools; the high school is huge and the elementary schools aren't tiny neighborhood schools. Even if your kids were shunned by some people (and I think that's unlikely), there would be plenty of other fish in the sea.

I think Hudson's snobby reputation is, frankly, due to the fact that much of Northeast Ohio is so downtrodden. If I lived in Hudson, I wouldn't really care what someone from Ravenna or Streetsboro thought of my town. It's probably just jealousy.

West Akron is nice, too (well, NORTHwest Akron -- you'll know the difference).

[LizzyJane]

Go to Hudson, it is more liberal. I don't think you will have too many problems.

[thinkgreen]

Hello,

I am a Southern CA. single mom with two teenage sons. I will be returning to Ohio soon. I will be assisting family with my elderly mothers care. I'm concentrating my search on Hudson, mostly because of schools and natural beauty. I grew up in Stow (private schools). My father would refer to it as "slow Stow". I feel a better fit in Hudson but also have concerns. I would consider myself very open minded and accepting. It would be great to end up neighbors! I think surrounding yourself and children with loving positive people most valuable. The others--wish then well and whatever.

I have not had much luck with realtors in Hudson. It seems talking of green sustainable living puts me in the "outer limits" don't call back . Oh well, I guess it may be up to me to start a trend. I wish you well.

[LizzyJane]

Thinkgreen,

Ohio is a swing state! Very far from being green. Although there are a good number of Prius's in Hudson. We just moved from Twinsburg to Maryland (a bit more green) and before that we moved from NY. In Ohio people don't recycle bottles, they put them right in the garbage. Yes you get a recycle bin but I remember saying to someone when I moved in that I wasn't very confident that my stuff was getting recycled. Also, in the school (I can only speak for Twinsburg) there is no such thing as green. They don't use green chemicals and they DON't recycle. Well... after my daughter sent a petition around for paper recycling they did get paper recycling at the school, it was a big deal. BUT they are sparying dangerous chemicals such as bleach mixtures on desks and cafeteria tables. Many of the teachers make the kids wipe there desks everyday with clorox wipes and make them constantly squirt Purell on their hands...again dangerous. I know most schools in NY are green they recycle everything and use green safe cleaners. Sustainability in OH means you can carry a concealed weapon.

The best you can do in OH is spread the word. We did. I got in many discussions with neighbors about recycling and I know I got them to step it up. No longer was my garbage can full of bottles and cans when I had a get together. If the school doesn't recycle you can start having conversations and eventually people will listen.

I have to say people in OH are very friendly and my family really enjoyed our time there, we would move back if we could. One thing that is great about OH that I feel is way better than any blue state is, is that people don't like big government and don't like being told what they can and can't do. ex. No helmet laws- although dangerous, it's up to the individual to make that decision. Also vaccination, you can take an exemption on having your kids vaccinated based on philisophical or religous beliefs. You would NEVER get that in NY or CA.

Also, another thing, OH gets to the single digits in the winter sometimes for weeks. It is cold for many months. Make sure you find a house with a wood burning stove or efficient wood burning fireplace to help with sustainability. It has great soil for your garden, just make sure you can/jar enough for the winter!

Good Luck!

[buckeye79]

Originally Posted by spaholsky528

My partner and I are having to relocate to Ohio. We are a same sex couple with two children. One is in school now and an infant. I will be a stay at home mom and She will be working in Barberton. I fell in love with Hudson it is so quaint. The school system is reported as excellent. I am leary to move to a smaller town because I don't want my kids shunned due to us their parents. Does anyone have any opinions about this area and raising children in a community with an open mind. I also have looked at some houses in Stow. They seem to be more moderately priced but the schools I am unsure about. Are there any rental homes in any of the communities? Any input would be grately appreciated

Thank you

stow--no
hudson--definately not.
Try the Highland Square or NW area of akron, decent schools VERY open minded people.....

[CityGrrl77]

Originally Posted by spaholsky528

My partner and I are having to relocate to Ohio. We are a same sex couple with two children. One is in school now and an infant. I will be a stay at home mom and She will be working in Barberton. I fell in love with Hudson it is so quaint. The school system is reported as excellent. I am leary to move to a smaller town because I don't want my kids shunned due to us their parents. Does anyone have any opinions about this area and raising children in a community with an open mind. I also have looked at some houses in Stow. They seem to be more moderately priced but the schools I am unsure about. Are there any rental homes in any of the communities? Any input would be grately appreciated

Thank you

HIGHLAND SQUARE area in (Northwest/near downtown) Akron.
Hands down.
(mostly the NORTH side of West Market St.)