Moving from Florida to Ohio Norton area??? (Columbus, Cleveland: middle-class, hazard insurance)

[misschris84]

I'm currently residing in Florida - have been all my life..However, I'm moving to upper Ohio this fall (for various resons) and having never even seen snow before so I'm not quite sure what women would wear - Professionally I mean. My boyfriend tells me about some of the clothes people woudl wear to play in the snow or long johns..stuff like that. But what do you women wear? I'm trying to get what I can ahead of time.

I know I'm not moving to mars or something but having been in FL all my life I would just like any tips or advice yall can share Thanks in advance!!

[yagisenin]

The only Norton that comes to my mind in Ohio is the suburb in the SW Akron/Barberton area, so that would put you in the Northeast/"Cleveland" region of the state. It can get pretty icy cold in this area for the winter months, roughly from the beginning of November through about mid-March with the peak of the deep freeze usually taking place from January through early February.

I'm not exactly a fasion maven, but most professional women in these parts during the winter seem to opt for sweater/knit type shirts and casual pants, sometimes multi-layer clothing, such as suits (particularly if she is a manager or an executive) or perhaps button-up knit sweater "jackets" that can be worn or removed, depending upon office setting. The sweater jackets seemed to be a particular favorite of the women whom I worked with on a job a couple of years ago. The setting there was business casual, i.e. blouses/polo shirts and casual pants.

It really just comes down to the standards and culture of where you will be working, though. If you are just going out and about, probably a pull-over sweatshirt and jeans will do, even when playing in the snow. I don't think most people in these parts get too elaborate when it comes to the clothes they wear, except perhaps in executive-level corporate, political or special occasion (i.e. wedding, funeral) settings.

[yagisenin]

Norton is a suburban/semi-rural community that has only recently started to push for more development and housing, so it still has a very nice "country" feel about it, and the people there are reflective of that type of environment (take that as you will). Most of the existing houses there were built on deep country lots, so if you are buying a house and would like to have a lot of outdoor space, Norton is a very good place. The schools aren't bad either, though they are not the newest of buildings.

Barberton has some nicer spots around its outskirts, particularly closer to the New Franklin border on the south side of the city, and around the west side, closer to Norton. The city of Barberton itself in general is an old, rust-belt industrial town that has definitely seen better days. The downtown/central district and the area that extends northeast towards the Kenmore community of Akron in particular could definitely use some form of urban renewal/revitalization. Oddly, it's not really noted as a high-crime area, perhaps because Barbertonians are well known for taking great pride in their community.

I guess as I tell everyone who has never been here before, it mostly depends upon what you are looking for most. If you and your boyfriend are in your 20s or early 30s, and looking for a social life, you might be more interested in the Northwest corner of Akron, also known as "The Valley". Over 35, or if you are just looking for a modest, suburbanesque, middle-class community in which to settle and start and/or raise a family, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls or Ellet (on Akron's far east side) are probably the most ideal, and I would count Norton among them.

[htlong]

WHAT ARE YOU WORRING ABOUT WINTERS OVER, IF YOU MOVE TO BARBERTON WHAT EVER YOU WEAR MAKE SURE ITS PURPLE...THE STREETS ONCE WERE PAINTED PURPLE !!! (excuse the caps i didnt know they were on,sorry yacky)

[robinsondcr]

just wondering if you had a chance to experience the winter here in ohio~~~~

[mattvj5]

mischris84....we just found out today that we have 2 choices, stay in/near Pensacola or go back to Ohio where we are from and it looks like we are going. We have been here for 2 years and love the beaches and weather, but there's not much else we like. I'm from Akron, Ohio, and spent 28 years in Ohio and know the whole state. Housing is a big concern for us...down here what we pay for our modest size house would get us double the square footage in Ohio. Tax's even with the so called savings passed still kill us along with hazard insurance increasing every year. It went up 600 this year, causing our house payment to go up 200.
The winters are tough, especially in/near Akron/Cleveland, but I'm used to them and would rather be closer to family/friends with out 7 month old.
You definately want to have stuff to do in Ohio, people to hang out with because it's generally gray and gloomy...

[mattvj5]

Mischris...I just got an offer from my company to stay here near Pensacola, or go back home to Ohio and we are going home. For us it makes sense money wise. Our property tax and housing insurance have increased every year(2) we have been here, and it's resulted in a 200 dollar increase in our house payment. I grew up in Akron, 20 minutes from Norton and look forward to our daughter/us being closer to family/friends.
The winters suck, there's no way around it, but you get used to it...I'm not a big fan of Ohio cities besides Columbus so Norton/Barberton are good choices...although some call Barberton Barbertucky....

[gentlearts]

Barberton, Norton is a blue collar area with housing that runs the gamut from trailer park to old inner city houses to rural areas. There are some nice newer neighborhoods too. Nice people, but nothing fancy or fashion forward.
We really haven't had any bad winters in a few years. A professional woman would need a good pair of boots, a nice wool overcoat and warm gloves... Skirts and pants with nice blouses and sweaters or jackets for workwear. As long as you have an ice scraper in your car and decent tires, you'll be fine. It's not like we're Minnesota.

[pasharon]

i had a friend who lived off johnson road outside of barberton and norton.

[Traveler87]

Barberton is a great suburb. What about Cuyahoga Falls and Tallmadge? Fairlawn and Portage Lakes are nice too.