Is Lawndale safe?
Akron, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Lawndale as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Lawndale
“Go with care. Lawndale is a quiet, working-class residential neighborhood that is generally safe for casual daytime visits despite its lack of conventional tourist attractions. Visitors should take basic precautions regarding vehicle security and avoid walking down unlit side streets late at night.”
Recent local coverage in south Akron highlights municipal infrastructure repairs and neighborhood revitalization initiatives alongside periodic police reports of opportunistic property crimes.
About the area
Lawndale is an established, modest residential neighborhood situated in southwest Akron near Kenmore and the Barberton border. Dominated by older single-family bungalows and tree-lined streets, it features a quiet community atmosphere with commercial dining and retail concentrated along surrounding arterials.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Lawndale
Walk score: 39/100 · Bike score: 44/100
There are no bike-share stations in Lawndale, but neighborhood streets offer light-traffic routes connecting eastward toward the regional Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to higher-density urban core districts in Akron
- Quiet residential atmosphere dominated by established single-family homes and yards
- Convenient access to recreational green space like Mud Run Golf Course and nearby lakes
Cons
- Elevated incidence of opportunistic property crime including car break-ins
- Below-average median household income and pockets of deferred home maintenance
- Very few commercial amenities, restaurants, or cultural venues within the neighborhood boundary
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within Lawndale's interior residential streets, though occasional panhandling occurs along the commercial stretches of Manchester Road and Kenmore Boulevard.
What Lawndale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and safe as residents commute to work and local school buses pass through.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are pleasant and low-key with occasional neighborhood dog walkers and light local traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are peaceful, though pedestrian visibility drops quickly along dimly lit residential blocks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights are very quiet; solo walking is not recommended due to isolated streets and auto theft risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by METRO RTA, offering bus routes along surrounding thoroughfares like Manchester Road that connect directly to the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center in Downtown Akron.
Parking is exceptionally easy and free, with plentiful on-street parking on residential streets and dedicated driveways for most properties.
Things to do in Lawndale
- Play a round or practice your swing at the nearby Mud Run Golf Course & Driving Range
- Spend a relaxing afternoon fishing or birdwatching at adjacent Nesmith Lake
- Browse vintage comics, graphic novels, and collectibles at Kenmore Komics & Games nearby
Local favorites
- Pierre's Brooklyn Pizza & Deli · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (780)Longtime local staple serving New York-style specialty pies, subs, and classic appetizers.
- Kenmore Komics & Games · Comic Book Store · 4.8★ (420)Historic, well-known neighborhood comic and gaming shop operating continuously since the 1980s.
- Lay's Drive-In · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (560)Retro drive-in diner famous for fast-casual burgers, milkshakes, and homestyle comfort food.
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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