Fairlawn has top schools, nearby parks and easy drives to Akron
Fairlawn is an Akron suburb that attracts buyers with its blend of highly rated schools and easy access to the city, which is around 10 miles away. The area is filled with a variety of home styles, including ranch-style and New Traditional houses, and there are popular restaurants and a shopping mall within a few miles. Green spaces like Croghan Park are used for outdoor fun and host events like the popular Fairlawn Fest, and larger areas like Hampton Hills Metro Park are close by.
What buyers can pay for ranch-style and New Traditional homes
Fairlawn has plenty of ranch-style, split-level and colonial homes from the mid- to late 1900s. They often sell between the lower $200,000s and the mid-$700,000s. New Traditional houses built more recently can run from the upper $300,000s to the lower $800,000s, and condos often range from the upper $100,000s to the mid-$400,000s. The community tends to be roughly as expensive as nearby suburbs like Copley. "There are a lot of new homes being constructed, though, so the price is skewing up," says Larry Triola, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.
Students are zoned for two highly rated school districts
Students are split between two highly rated school districts. Most fall under the Copley-Fairlawn City School District, and Copley High School offers college credit courses through the University of Akron. Other students are zoned for Revere Local Schools. Private options include the top-rated Spring Garden Waldorf School.
Easy commutes to Akron and Cleveland
Drivers have easy access to Interstate 77 and state Route 18, which cut through the city. Downtown Akron is less than 10 miles away, and commuting there can take 10-20 minutes in rush hour traffic. Cleveland is close to 30 miles out, or a 30- to 45-minute drive. Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority buses make several stops along West Market Street and can take riders across the region. While some residents commute to larger cities, others work from home, something made easier by the city's FairlawnGig fiber-optic internet service.
There are sports courts in town and hiking and biking trails nearby
Fort Island/Griffiths Park is a large multiuse park with an elevated boardwalk, paved trails and sports courts. Park visitors can check out the Learning Resource Center to see live animals. The Schocalog Run creek flows through the park, attracting herons, ducks and turtles. Croghan Park provides a playground, picnic tables and more sports facilities, including handball courts. You're less than 5 miles from Hampton Hills Metro Park, which has extensive hiking and biking opportunities. Further north near Boston Heights, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is home to the 60-foot Brandywine Falls, one of the region's most popular sights.
The dining scene ranges from wing joints to Italian coffee bars
Fairlawn has a mix of fast-food eateries and independent restaurants, with even more variety a few miles away in Copley and Montrose-Ghent. You can try places like:
- Boss ChickNBeer, a counter-service spot for wings and 1990s decor
- Burntwood Tavern, a rustic tavern that serves New American dishes
- Rockne's, a casual cafe with sandwiches, salads and comfort food
- Café Arnone, an Italian coffee bar known for its gelato
- Vicious Biscuit, a regional chain with southern-style breakfast fare
Groceries can be picked up from Giant Eagle. People can go shopping for clothes at the Summit Mall, which is home to stores like Dillard's and Macy's.
You can attend Fairlawn Fest and the Copley Heritage Days celebration
The city's events calendar includes Fairlawn Fest, a July celebration at Croghan Park that brings a street fair, food trucks and a drone show to town. The Fairlawn Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show showcases goods from the region's artists. A few miles away, the summer Copley Heritage Days festival includes live music and a pancake breakfast.
