Cortland Ohio (Youngstown, Warren, Boardman: sales, real estate, crime)

[January66]

I am orginally from PA but moved to the UK 7 years ago. Was looking to move back home some time next year. I was considering Cortland Ohio. The house prices are very reasonable and I've also checked out the census and the crime levels, which I was impressed with both. However, I have been unable to find out anything about the economy. What's that like? I'd be willing to travel 30-45 minutes to work.

[CortlandGirl79]

January,

Well, you're in luck, i grew up in cortland, and lived there 22 out of 28 years. So, i know a lot about the town, and probably a lot about the the people that live there! haha! As you probably noticed it's a pretty small town, basically a bedroom community of about 6800. It's a charming little city and a very desirable area in the mahoning valley. It's also a great place to raise kids and the schools are outstanding. There are several good and bad points to living in the area:
Good:
small quiet town (if you're into that)
reasonable home prices w/decent sized yards
an hr's drive to both pittsburgh and cleveland
10-15 minutes from the eastwood mall
Mosquito Lake is in our backyard
close to pa and major interstates
lots of things to do w/in an hours drive
Bad:
Lack of good paying jobs (unless you're in trucking or nursing)
weather (i like it, but lots of people don't)
negative attitudes of people who live around here
aging population
brain drain

Our area's biggest employers are Youngstown State, GM Lordstown and the hospital systems........other than that, there are really no big employers like there were back in the day. I used to work at Delphi Packard Electric and they recently reduced their hourly employees from 3800 to 700, so the area has taken a hit in recent years. Many of my classmates have moved to columbus or out of state to get jobs and it's kind of sad. But you will hear these stories all over the rustbelt, so it's not something that's just happening here. I myself would love to stay here. It's a great place to live if you have a good job. In fact, i know lots of people that commute to cleveland, akron or pittsburgh, and still choose to live in the valley because it is a great place to raise a family.

You're also in luck, because i happen to be really interested in Cortland/Bazetta real estate. I pretty much know selling prices and price per sq/ft for everything that's sold the past 2 years. I have noticed that most homes that are selling in the area are priced 150k and below. If a seller has a home 250k or above, they aren't having much luck selling. Although, it seems that, recently, people have started to buy some homes in that price range again. If you are thinking of stayinig long term and can afford it i say go for the 250k house..........you could probably get a pretty good deal. In my parent's neighborhood there are two houses that were origionally priced at $350k, both have been reduced, one to $338 and the other to $329k. I don't think they'll sell for much more than $300k.

I hope my assessment of the area helps. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like! Good luck finding a place to live.

Cort

[January66]

Cort:

Cheers for that! As my children are grown (YEAH!!!), the educational system doesn't really interest me. You mentioned weather.... I grew up between Buffalo NY and western PA (but I call PA my home), I LOVE the snow, saddly I live in the Southwest of England and haven't seen snow in 7 years. I'm very much looking forward to having 4 proper seasons again. Although I'm nearing my "sell by date" I still very much love to play in it, shovel it and just sit and look out the window at it...LOL How sad am I?

I know how small towns work, I lived in one for many years prior to moving here. When you say negative attitudes...my other half is English....would the locals have a problem with foreigners? When we go back home to visit my family in PA he's always well received by the locals, but he's just visiting then...and not moving in and "taking a job from a local".

He and I live a very simple life...he drives truck for the Royal Mail and I work in Intelligence for the Police. We work Monday to Friday and on the weekend like to go out on a saturday night to the pub/bar, hear a band, chat with our friends, etc. We currently live in a 2 up and 2 down mid-terranced house (that's only about 12ft wide). I being from over there are accustom to a little more elbow room if you know what I mean. But the property prices over here are out of this world. This house, as small as it is, is worth about $280,000 (with the exchange rate the way it is). I've pretty much left the deciding where we live up to the other half...my only requirements are that the house we get have 4 bedrooms, so friends and family can stay when they visit, the living room is big enough to put a massive christmas tree in and that it's within walking distance to the pub. He wants a bit of land, as our front and back yards are as big as a postage stamp here, and a swimming pool. I also think he secretly wants a riding lawn mower...LOL

[CortlandGirl79]

Well, look at that, it's snowing outside right now!

When i said negative attitudes, i just meant that a lot of people around this area complain about the weather and lack of jobs. It's like that all over NE Ohio and Western Pa. I think people just get sick of the snow and gray and they think the beach is the best place to live. Also, most people remember when we had a lot of good paying steel jobs, etc. and they know they're never coming back.

As for your hubby being accepted, i don't think that will be a problem. People will love his accent and want to know all about england. I actually used to work w/a girl who's husband was origionally from england and they live in the area. I don't think he's ever had a problem. People will just be curious, i think.

As for your requirements, you shouldn't have any problem finding a 4 BR house w/high ceilings for your huge X-mas tree. If you are planning on spending 220k or more you can have just about any kind of house you want, brick, w/land, whatever! If you want more land that just a regular neighborhood lot i would check out Bazetta or Champion Townships. You could probably get at least an acre or more there. The only problem you may have is the pub requirement. Cortland itself was a dry town until about 5 yrs. ago and there are no bars. They just sell beer at gas stations now. There is one bar on the outskirts called the Tracks Inn, but it's pretty dumpy if you ask me. Now that i think about it, the local bowling alley has a bar as well. I suppose you could walk there, but it would probably be a pretty long walk. I guess you will just have to come and check it out for yourself.

If i can be of anymore help, just let me know!

[January66]

Oh good snow! Whoo hoo! People moaning about the weather doesn’t bother me much, if it did I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I have in England…their national pastime seems to be pissing and moaning about the weather..LOL NT

No bars?! What do people do on a Saturday night then? What I mean is how do people socialise? Not that we’re raging alcoholics or anything, but we both work long hours during the week and the weekend is the only time we get to catch up with friends, as everyone we know works all week and have familial commitments. The only familial commitments we have is our three cats and they don’t care what we do as long as they have food in their tummies.

As far as the more land bit, I think someone is biting off more than he can chew…he’s got a hard time maintaining the grass levels on the tiny front and back yards…LOL I think the having land business is just a novelty to him. He was born and raised in the town we live in and everyone is in everyone else’s pockets if you know what I mean. The houses are built on top of one another. And unless you live in a rural area you always have people who can see right in your windows as they walk passed.

As far as that bar you mentioned, I looked them up on the net the review goes as follows: Tracks Inn: If you’re looking for slanted floors, pool tables, and patrons, this is the place for you. “Rustic” is being kind, to describe the décor. The prices are low but so is the company. At least the place is infest free, even the pests prefer to go elsewhere to drink! Definitely have to check it out…LOL

We already have a flying trip to the States planned for February, say hello to the family and check out a few areas we’ve come across on the net.

[metald13]

hi,
Cortland's economy is affected by Trumbull County happenings. As you know, Delphi and GM Lordstown are the 2 big employers in Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Cortland is in Trumbull County and Mahoning County has Youngstown, Boardman, Austintown, Poland and other smaller communites in it. There are jobs in the area depending on your skill and education level. For example, right now, my company is looking for an outside sales rep for print advertising and it has been difficult to find someone qualified to fill all the requirements. This area Youngsown-Warren is a good place to live in. It has its share of problems, but what metropolitan area doesn't? I think if you accept the place you choose to make your home, you'll be home.

[CortlandGirl79]

There are plenty of bars in the area, just not in Cortland. Some popular ones off the top of my head are in warren and niles: BW3, Up-A-Creek, Bailey's, Leon's, Cleats (sp?), knockouts.......plus there are plenty of neighborhood bars. The only problem is you pretty much have to drive to them, but there are cabs in the area in case you've had too much to drink.

[rollo1949]

I just discovered this site and have read the Cortland comments. Thought I would put my 2 cents in. If you would like to read about the current events of our city then go to The Cortland News - "The Good News Newspaper" . Our city paper is posted on line ads and all. I have lived in Cortland for 54years and am very active in our community. Besides managing the Cortland News I am also on city council and am a 27 year active Rotary member. I hate our weather and at my age will be spending part of my time (the winter period) in Nevada someday soon. I have too many children and grandchildren around here to move away for good. This is home though, I grew up here and graduated from Lakeview High as well. Most people that move here make the same 2 comments about the area. 1.) home prices very resonable - YOU GET A GREAT BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! 2.) people are very friendly
As far as bars, well the best one in my opinion has been left out of the previous posts and that is The Lake Tavern, Mecca, Ohio. It is situated on the Mosquito Lake and is located just a short 5 mile drive North on state route 46. Great food and wonderful entertainment. Check out their web site. You can get to it from a front page link at our newspaper home page.
Good luck and I hope you choose our area to make your new home!