Suburban living and affordable homes in Howland Center
Howland Center, found in northeast Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line, is a quiet suburban community with sizable homes, diverse outdoor recreation and a popular commercial area. Part of the larger Howland Township, the area had barely any residents until the mid-20th century, when a huge Clifton-Hyde housing development was built. Since then, Howland Center has only grown as a favored suburb of Warren and Youngstown. "It's definitely a higher-end suburb of Warren, but it's pretty affordable," says April McGahagan, a local Realtor and Howard Hanna Howland office manager. "We definitely got a lot of people moving here from Cleveland and Pittsburgh because of how affordable it is."
Diverse architectural styles for price points reasonable for the area
Howland Center's streets loop and curve through neighborhoods shaded by full oak trees and are busiest during commuting hours as residents head to and from work. Sidewalks aren't typical in the community, but the quiet nature of Howland Center's residential areas allows kids to safely play in cul-de-sacs and out in their front yards by low-traffic neighborhood streets. Prospective buyers can find midcentury ranch-style homes or contemporary townhouse condos selling for $150,000 to $250,000. Beyond that price, spacious split-levels, New Traditional properties and Colonial Revivals range from $300,000 to $500,000. The CAP Index Crime Score for Howland is 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
The local Howland School District
Children can attend public schools in the Howland School District, advancing through kindergarten to fifth grade by attending B-rated Howland Springs Elementary and B-plus-rated Howland Glen and Mines Elementary schools. After fifth grade, students move on to Howland Middle School, rated a B-plus, and Howland High School, rated B. Through Howland High's Community Partner Program, local businesses and organizations offer career advice and on-site experience to students interested in various job fields. Parents can apply to enroll their children in a district of their choice with Ohio's school choice program.
Quick access to commuter routes
Sandwiched between Routes 11 and 82, Howland Center's location means people can quickly get around, whether it's just an errand run or to get to work. "It's a great place for people commuting to Cleveland, about 45 minutes away," McGahagan says. "And we're so close to the Pennsylvania line, so you can also get to other small towns over there. Pittsburgh, too, though it's a little farther away." Public transportation doesn't extend to Howland, so residents are mainly car-dependent.
Local businesses along Market Street and nearby big-box stores
Market Street is the area's main commercial corridor, lined with grocers, locally owned restaurants, coffee shops and office buildings. At the eastern end of the street, located in the Grand Resort, The Chophouse is open to the public and known for its quality steak and classic Italian recipes. Located just south of Howland Center off Route 46 are big retail plazas that orbit Eastwood Mall, featuring big-box stores like Target and Sam's Club, sit-down chain restaurants and movie theaters.
Local athletics, tee time and boating around Howland
On the western side of the community, children play baseball and other sports at the Howland Township Park. The park also has a paved walking trail, a disc golf course, playgrounds and a small nature preserve with views of wandering wildlife. Local youth sports are not limited to the township park, as the Howland Athletic Club also maintains ball fields and other facilities next to Mines Elementary. Avalon Country Club offers members access to the prestigious Old Avalon Golf Course and the more modern Avalon Lakes Golf Course. Howland is bordered to the north by Mosquito Creek Lake, one of Ohio's largest lakes, which spans nearly 7,000 acres of water. It is extremely popular for fishing, boating and swimming in designated areas.
Community gatherings at Orwig Park
In the summer and fall, local vendors set up at Richard E. Orwig Park on Saturday mornings to sell produce and specialty goods at the Howland Farmers Market. In the warmer months, Howland Food Truck Fridays are held at Orwig Park, where residents come to chat, get good food and listen to live music.
