Is Kenmore safe?
Akron, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Kenmore as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Kenmore
“Go with care. Kenmore is worth visiting during the day or evening for its niche music stores, live performances at The Rialto Theatre, and local eateries along Kenmore Boulevard. However, caution is advised when straying off the main strip into surrounding residential streets due to elevated crime and economic distress.”
Community-led revitalization projects continue to invest in the Kenmore Boulevard business corridor despite recurring Summit County policing focus on regional property crime and firearm incidents.
About the area
Kenmore is a historic working-class neighborhood in southwestern Akron centered around a dedicated commercial strip known as Music Row. While community initiatives have brought new energy to Kenmore Boulevard, adjacent residential areas face challenges with aging infrastructure, vacancy, and above-average crime rates.
- Working-Class
- Arts & Music Strip
- Historic
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Kenmore
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is currently no municipal bike-share system in Kenmore, but cyclists can access the nearby Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail just east of the neighborhood near Summit Lake.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Niche cultural hub with historic music shops, recording studios, and indie entertainment venues
- Active community development and facade improvement efforts along Kenmore Boulevard
- Abundant free street parking and direct access to major Akron thoroughfares
Cons
- Poverty rate remains elevated above 20% alongside higher-than-average vacancy and housing distress
- Above-average rates of property crime including theft from vehicles and residential burglaries
- Elevated violent crime rates on residential side streets compared to regional suburban benchmarks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low across residential blocks, though occasional unhoused individuals and minor panhandling can be observed near convenience stores and bus stops along Kenmore Boulevard.
What Kenmore is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and quiet as commuters travel along the boulevard and local shops prepare to open.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Moderate activity around local eateries and storefronts, offering a comfortable environment for daytime visitors.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- The Boulevard remains active around venues and diners, but caution is warranted when walking side streets after dark.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Activity drops significantly and the risk of property or violent crime increases, making late-night walking unadvisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
Akron METRO RTA operates bus routes such as Route 8 and Route 9 through Kenmore, connecting directly to the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center in Downtown Akron. The region has no passenger rail or BRT system.
Free on-street parking is readily available along Kenmore Boulevard and side streets, and several storefronts offer small free surface lots.
Things to do in Kenmore
- Browse vintage instruments and custom repair work at the renowned Lay's Guitar Shop
- Catch a live concert, comedy set, or open mic night at The Rialto Theatre
- Enjoy casual neighborhood comfort food and pizza along the Kenmore Boulevard corridor
Local favorites
- The Rialto Theatre · Live Music Venue · 4.8★ (320)A community-centric performance hall and bar hosting local bands, comedy shows, and art events.
- Lay's Guitar Shop · Musical Instrument Store · 4.8★ (185)A nationally respected repair and custom guitar shop operating in Kenmore since the 1960s.
- Pierre's Brooklyn Pizza & Deli · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (360)A neighborhood staple serving hearty New York-style pizza, subs, and deli sandwiches.
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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