The residents of Streetsboro should be standing tall over the latest findings of SafeWise, a company that objectively reviews the dozens and dozens of home safety and security products on the market, then passes on the info to residents who can make their own choices of a security system.
In their latest findings regarding Ohio, which included a review of cities across the state who had at least 15,000 residents, they crowned Streetsboro the runner up of safest cities, second only to Broadview Heights.
Following is a portion of the blog post found on the Safewise site:
Home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and 262 miles of Lake Erie shoreline, Ohio offers its over 11 million residents a great place to call home. And Ohio is consistently ranked in the top five economies in the nation, its business-friendly tax rates and capital gains rate makes it a top destination for anyone looking to relocate.
SafeWise understands why Ohioans love their home and why people want to make the move here. There are a lot of cities in the state making great strides toward being the safest around. Based on our own research, as well as the latest FBI Crime Data report from 2011, we’ve put together the 50 safest cities in Ohio, with populations over 15,000 people.
2. Streetsboro
Just 22 miles east of Broadview Heights is Streetsboro, a suburb of Akron. Rich on history and tradition, Streetsboro is home to the Singletary House, which was the first framed house built in Streetsboro in 1828. Meticulously preserved by the Streetsboro Heritage Foundation, it serves as a museum focusing on the significance of Streetsboro, Portage County, and Ohio’s Western Reserve.
Streetsboro is an excellent place to raise a family. In fact, with just 11 students per teacher, GreatSchools rated Streetsboro Middle School one of the top schools in Ohio.
Streetsboro is also a place where residents take great pride in helping the less fortunate through community involvement. Each year the Streetsboro Police Department sponsors the “Fill-A-Cruiser” food drive, encouraging residents to fill a police car with non-perishable food items used to help the needy through the holidays.
You get the best of both worlds in Streetsboro. It’s a small city just far enough off the beaten path to have its own identity, yet close enough to Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Youngstown to entice residents to explore and discover the all that northern Ohio has to offer. It’s easy to see why Streetsboro is one of the most desirable and safest destinations in Ohio.
I must add here, that along with the famed Streetsboro Family Days, the recent addition of both The Jump Palace and ZipCity USA, has made Streetsboro one of the most FUN places to raise a family!
Also worth mentioning are two other cities in Portage County that made the SafeWIse list.
9. Aurora
If education is a top priority for you and your family, then Aurora, located in northeast Ohio, should be on your list of cities worth considering as a place to call home.
The Aurora City School District was designated an Excellent District by the State Board of Education, and every school in the city has earned the Achievement of Excellence award, bestowed by the Ohio Partnership for Excellence. The City of Aurora has also earned the prestigious “Schools of Distinction” award for its obvious commitment to educational excellence.
No murders or rapes and just a single car theft in Aurora reported in 2011 can, in part, be attributed to well-educated kids who feel like they will accomplish great things in life.
Additionally, it’s a beautiful city and was named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. This prestigious designation is bestowed on cities that establish a Tree Board, passes a Tree Care Ordinance, and establishes a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per resident.
41. Kent
Situated just 20 minutes from Akron and 40 minutes from Cleveland, Kent is a true college town with local Kent State University as its largest employers and single largest influence on the city’s demographics, including politics, median age, and income.
The city offers a wide range of arts and environmental activities and festivals, including the Kent Heritage Festival every July, coinciding with typical Independence Day activities and celebrations, drawing more than 25,000 additional festival-seekers to the town.
Residents of Kent place a premium on education, which means families of school-aged children can attend schools in a great school district. The Kent City School District has been awarded the United States Department of Education’s Excellence in Education award and consistently rates as Excellent by the Ohio Department of Education.
Sound appealing to you? Kent is an awesome place to call home and ranks well behind towns of similar size in terms of property crimes.
Are you a resident of one of these honored cities? What do you love about it? Share your comments below!