Is Highland Square safe?
Akron, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Highland Square as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Highland Square
“Go with care. Highland Square is one of Akron's most vibrant cultural and dining districts, offering an engaging, walkable experience during the day and early evening. Visitors should exercise standard urban precautions, particularly late at night around bar clusters and parking areas.”
Local community development groups and police have focused on upgraded lighting and increased evening patrols along West Market Street to curb opportunistic car break-ins and late-night bar altercations.
About the area
Highland Square is an eclectic, historic neighborhood west of downtown Akron known for its artistic spirit, vintage architecture, and independent retail. The main corridor along West Market Street features local coffeehouses, casual eateries, and the historic 1930s Highland Theatre.
- Artsy & Eclectic
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Walkable Dining Hub
- Nightlife Corridor
Walking and biking in Highland Square
Walk score: 77/100 · Bike score: 62/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes on the main corridor, but calm residential grid streets offer decent routes that connect north and east toward the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the valley.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High level of civic involvement and community identity compared to city averages
- Active pedestrian foot traffic along the core commercial stretch provides natural eyes on the street
- Diverse housing stock with strong historic preservation along surrounding residential streets
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates remain higher than national averages
- Pockets of elevated poverty and rental turnover in immediately adjacent blocks
- Occasional late-night disturbances and alcohol-fueled disputes around weekend bar-closing times
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is modest, primarily limited to individuals asking for spare change near transit stops and convenience storefronts along West Market Street; large encampments are not typical in the commercial core.
What Highland Square is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant with residents walking dogs and grabbing coffee along West Market Street.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and welcoming as shoppers, students, and diners frequent the neighborhood business district.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively dining and casual nightlife scene where walking along the main corridor feels generally safe.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Crowds concentrate around neighborhood bars, necessitating greater vigilance due to occasional disturbances and vehicle break-ins.
Transit, parking and getting around
Summit County's METRO RTA operates frequent bus service through the neighborhood via Routes 1 and 3 along West Market Street, linking directly to the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center downtown about two miles away.
Street parking is available on residential side streets, and several free or low-cost municipal and shared commercial surface lots sit directly behind the West Market Street retail strip.
Things to do in Highland Square
- Catch an indie screening or classic film at the historic 1938 Highland Theatre
- Browse local art, records, and vintage boutiques along West Market Street
- Enjoy a morning espresso and local pastry on the patio at Angel Falls Coffee Company
Local favorites
- Highland Theatre · Movie Theater · 4.6★ (1220)Historic Art Deco cinema offering first-run films, indie releases, and community events.
- Angel Falls Coffee Company · Coffee Shop · 4.6★ (690)Long-running bohemian coffeehouse serving locally roasted beans, espresso, and baked goods.
- Mr. Zub's Deli & Bar · Sandwich Shop · 4.6★ (1160)Cult-favorite spot dishing out oversized, pop-culture-themed specialty sandwiches day and night.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
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