Is Spicertown safe?
Akron, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Spicertown as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Spicertown
“Go with care. While Spicertown is a bustling student district bordering the University of Akron campus, it experiences elevated property crime and occasional nighttime disturbances. Visitors will find safe daytime access along major corridors, but side streets require heightened awareness after dark.”
Campus safety bulletins periodically report off-campus vehicle break-ins and occasional late-night robberies along residential streets bordering the university.
About the area
Spicertown is an off-campus residential neighborhood located directly south of the University of Akron. Dominated by student housing, casual quick-bite eateries, and university infrastructure, the area maintains a distinctive college-town energy. Its close proximity to campus gives it substantial pedestrian activity throughout the academic year.
- College Town
- Student Hub
- Bustling
- Late-Night Activity
Walking and biking in Spicertown
Walk score: 74/100 · Bike score: 62/100
The neighborhood features basic on-street bike lanes near campus and connects roughly two miles west to the regional Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, though citywide bike-share is limited.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Coordinated patrol presence between Akron Police and the University of Akron Police Department
- Direct walking proximity to university sports facilities, performance halls, and campus greens
- Abundant affordable, student-oriented dining options along East Exchange Street
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime including car prowls, theft, and residential break-ins
- High rental density with numerous aging, landlord-owned student rental houses
- Frequent late-night noise, weekend parties, and alcohol-related disturbances
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is relatively low to moderate, with individuals occasionally asking for assistance near retail parking lots and busy intersections on East Exchange Street. Primary emergency shelters and social services are concentrated to the northwest in Downtown Akron.
What Spicertown is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and generally quiet as students and staff begin commuting to morning classes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with heavy pedestrian movement between campus halls, apartments, and dining spots.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively along the East Exchange Street corridor, though quiet residential side streets require situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Safety drops notably due to off-campus party traffic, alcohol-fueled disputes, and increased risk of opportunistic theft.
Transit, parking and getting around
METRO RTA serves the district with key bus routes including Route 1 and Route 2 along Exchange and Brown Streets, providing direct connections to the downtown Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center. Akron does not operate a light rail or BRT system.
Street parking on residential side streets is often tightly regulated or restricted by university and city permits. Visitors can utilize paid campus parking garages and surface lots situated along East Exchange Street.
Things to do in Spicertown
- Attend college athletics and community events at nearby InfoCision Stadium and Rhodes Arena
- Walk through the landscaped University of Akron campus and adjacent historic campus architecture
- Sample casual student-budget eateries and pubs along East Exchange Street
Local favorites
- Euro Gyro · Greek Restaurant & Bar · 4.1★ (820)Longstanding student hangout known for gyros, pizza, beer specials, and late-night bites.
- Penn Station East Coast Subs · Sandwich Shop · 4.3★ (460)Busy fast-casual counter serving made-to-order cheesesteaks, fresh-cut fries, and lemonade.
- Twisted Tomato Pizzeria · Pizza Restaurant · 4.2★ (290)Popular local spot dishing up specialty pizzas, calzones, and wings for the campus crowd.
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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