Any opinions on Wooster area? (Columbus, Cleveland: to rent, transfer, buying)

[Unicorn hunter]

We visit there once a week, as it is about 30 minutes from where we moved. I think you would like it. We rented in Cleveland for 6 months, and although it was fun, I really wanted a more suburban/country feel. I think any of the towns around North Central Ohio might work for you....others mentioned Orrville and Loudenville. I think Loudenville is too small. Orrville is also nice. We regularly drive to Columbus and occasionally to Cleveland. Cleveland is about an hour north and Columbus about 45 minutes south. What I love about this area is it is safe, beautiful and affordable and a reasonable drive to both large cities. WRNative has the best specific information of anyone on this board about the area! Hope you find what you are looking for!

[october2007]

Originally Posted by Unicorn hunter

We visit there once a week, as it is about 30 minutes from where we moved. I think you would like it. We rented in Cleveland for 6 months, and although it was fun, I really wanted a more suburban/country feel. I think any of the towns around North Central Ohio might work for you....others mentioned Orrville and Loudenville. I think Loudenville is too small. Orrville is also nice. We regularly drive to Columbus and occasionally to Cleveland. Cleveland is about an hour north and Columbus about 45 minutes south. What I love about this area is it is safe, beautiful and affordable and a reasonable drive to both large cities. WRNative has the best specific information of anyone on this board about the area! Hope you find what you are looking for!

Sounds like you’re in a sweet spot between both cities but yet in a more peaceful area. I will have to look further into that area, specifically Orville. Thanks!

[216facts]

Rubbermaid's large building in Wooster has been taken over, to some degree, by Gojo of Akron. This is good in that the employment has rebounded since Rubbermaid/Newell left.

Some have mentioned Orrville and I would second this. It is a big company town and this benefits the town immensely. Smuckers continues to grow both organically and by acquisition, meaning that they are well managed and therefore unlikely to go away. If they ever did, Orrville would suffer quite a bit.

I would vote for Wooster first just because it is closer to the Mohican area which I frequent many times during the year. Loudenville is nice but it is just too small and is mostly a summer tourist mecca. Wooster and Orrville are not touristy but more economically stable throughout the year due their large employers.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by 216facts

Rubbermaid's large building in Wooster has been taken over, to some degree, by Gojo of Akron. This is good in that the employment has rebounded since Rubbermaid/Newell left.

Some have mentioned Orrville and I would second this. It is a big company town and this benefits the town immensely. Smuckers continues to grow both organically and by acquisition, meaning that they are well managed and therefore unlikely to go away. If they ever did, Orrville would suffer quite a bit.

I would vote for Wooster first just because it is closer to the Mohican area which I frequent many times during the year. Loudenville is nice but it is just too small and is mostly a summer tourist mecca. Wooster and Orrville are not touristy but more economically stable throughout the year due their large employers.

Would a single 63 year old woman feel comfortable in that area (in general)?

[216facts]

Originally Posted by october2007

Would a single 63 year old woman feel comfortable in that area (in general)?

Absolutely.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by 216facts

Absolutely.

Thanks.

[gentlearts]

I will just weigh in, since I moved from that area 9 years ago. I suggest you look at Westfield Center/Seville/Lodi/ Chippewa Lake areas. They lie just north of Wooster. There is zero crime, and the people are nice.

It is rural, yet affords easy access to Akron, Cleveland and Columbus. It is about a 15 minute drive to Wooster. I went to Cleveland Clinic doctors at their satellite center in Wooster, so there is great medical care.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by october2007

Sounds like you’re in a sweet spot between both cities but yet in a more peaceful area. I will have to look further into that area, specifically Orville. Thanks!

Did you ever check out the Willoughby or Mentor areas. They aren't rural, but nearby Kirtland and Kirtland Hills offers more rural areas (at higher price tags). However, Willoughby and Mentor are close to great metroparks, nature preserves and Lake Erie beaches. Many festivals and activities take place in Lake County. Eastern Lake County has good wineries.

A key difference compared to the Wooster area is that Willoughby and Mentor are within half an hour of University Circle and downtown Cleveland.

Laketran in Lake County offers point-to-point shuttle service, including to UC hospitals such as the main Clinic campus.

Painesville, adjacent to Mentor, offers much better housing values.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I will just weigh in, since I moved from that area 9 years ago. I suggest you look at Westfield Center/Seville/Lodi/ Chippewa Lake areas. They lie just north of Wooster. There is zero crime, and the people are nice.

It is rural, yet affords easy access to Akron, Cleveland and Columbus. It is about a 15 minute drive to Wooster. I went to Cleveland Clinic doctors at their satellite center in Wooster, so there is great medical care.

Thanks...I think I’d prefer to be a bit closer to Columbus but worth looking into.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Did you ever check out the Willoughby or Mentor areas. They aren't rural, but nearby Kirtland and Kirtland Hills offers more rural areas (at higher price tags). However, Willoughby and Mentor are close to great metroparks, nature preserves and Lake Erie beaches. Many festivals and activities take place in Lake County. Eastern Lake County has good wineries.

A key difference compared to the Wooster area is that Willoughby and Mentor are within half an hour of University Circle and downtown Cleveland.

Laketran in Lake County offers point-to-point shuttle service, including to UC hospitals such as the main Clinic campus.

Painesville, adjacent to Mentor, offers much better housing values.

I passed through Mentor and Willoughby but didn’t see Painesville. I wasn’t too enamored with Cleveland although I thought the cultural amenities were wonderful. In considering areas for future I would prefer a less urban environment with some access to a city. Columbus seems like it might be more appealing to me than Cleveland so I would rather be a bit closer to it than in the northeast area of the state.