Is South Akron safe?
Akron, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates South Akron as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on South Akron
“Go with care. South Akron contains pockets of community revitalization and key access points to regional trails, but elevated rates of property and violent crime warrant vigilance. Travelers should generally visit during daylight hours, keep personal belongings secure, and stick to well-traveled thoroughfares.”
Local news coverage frequently covers municipal efforts to reduce gun violence and remediate vacant properties across South Akron.
About the area
South Akron is a historic, working-class neighborhood shaped by the city's twentieth-century industrial rubber boom. Today, it is characterized by older single-family homes, industrial corridors, and close proximity to the Ohio & Erie Canal and Summit Lake.
- Working-Class
- Post-Industrial
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in South Akron
Walk score: 54/100 · Bike score: 48/100
The neighborhood borders the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, offering exceptional off-road cycling connectivity, though on-street bike lanes on local roads remain sparse.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Direct connection to the scenic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
- Affordable neighborhood eateries and long-standing local diners
- Proximity to Downtown Akron and major highways including I-76 and I-77
Cons
- Elevated rates of violent and property crime compared to national benchmarks
- High poverty rate and significant portions of aging, vacant housing stock
- Uneven commercial density with persistent post-industrial blight
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, primarily concentrated near major road intersections, abandoned industrial parcels, and transit corridors connecting toward downtown Akron.
What South Akron is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm as residents commute, making it a fine time for a brisk walk along main corridors.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with local traffic and commercial activity, generally safe along major streets like South Main.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Foot traffic drops sharply at dusk, requiring heightened awareness around dimly lit side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Not recommended for walking due to reduced visibility and elevated risks of street crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
METRO RTA serves the neighborhood with regular bus routes along South Main Street, South Arlington Street, and East Waterloo Road, providing direct connections to the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center downtown.
Free residential street parking is plentiful throughout the neighborhood, and commercial businesses offer dedicated surface lots without meters.
Things to do in South Akron
- Bike or hike along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
- Visit the nearby Summit Lake Nature Center for birdwatching and educational exhibits
- Take a self-guided drive to view historic rubber-era factory architecture
Local favorites
- Bob's Hamburg · Hamburger Restaurant · 4.5★ (1150)Historic, no-frills roadside burger diner serving classic sliders since 1931.
- Waterloo Restaurant · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (2350)Longtime family-owned staple known for comfort food, hearty breakfasts, and homemade pies.
- DeVitis Fine Italian Foods · Italian Grocery & Deli · 4.7★ (820)Generations-old specialty grocery offering imported Italian goods, cured meats, and deli subs.
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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