The home of Kent State University is full of music
Fifteen miles northeast of Akron and home to Kent State University, the city of Kent is a hot spot for college students around northeast Ohio, but it doesn't have a college-town feel. "Kent doesn't have a lot of big apartment complexes like you would see with other university towns. It's a lot of houses," says local Realtor Ricardo Simonelli. "It's more of an artsy kind of town than anything." Kent's downtown has a booming nightlife. Most bars have their own stage booked with performances from local bands. While Kent State's campus takes up much of the city's east side, the west side is full of single-family homes, parks and public schools that fan out into the city limits.
Kent State University is Kent, OH first choice for furthering a student's education.
An aerial view looking over Kent State University.
The Kent Stage is a great venue for live music in Kent.
You can enjoy live music at Dominick's in Kent.
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The Kent Heritage Festival shuts down downtown
People in Kent enjoy events nearly all year round, whether it’s a small gathering in the parks or a city-wide celebration. Some events take up the whole downtown area, such as the Beatles Festival and Kent Blues Festival. The blues festival is a free event held in mid-July, where downtown streets are filled with performers playing somber tones on guitars and drums, whether it's solo or in a band. Venues such as the 157 Lounge, Barflyy and Bell Tower Brewing Company host performances with free entry while the bars serve drinks. Some local bands include Jim Dotson and Joey Pinkl, Rockside Band and Bent String. There is also the Kent Heritage Festival, celebrating the anniversary of the city's founding. The early July festivities include live musical performances, a car show, 5K and an evening fireworks display. "Thousands of people attend," says Dennis Campbell, executive director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce. "We close down most of downtown's streets for the event."
Kent features several music fests the year.
Bell Tower Brewing in Kent Oh is located in an old church
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Ray's Place is the oldest bar in town
Most locals go to the city's edges to shop for necessities in stores such as Acme Fresh Market in the east. Alternatively, University Plaza along South Water Street offers thrift, hardware and grocery stores. Haymaker Farmers' Market opens on the redbrick Franklin Avenue every Saturday from April to October. The nearest mall is Summit Mall, a 22-mile drive through Akron. Back in downtown, Ray's Place stands out among its neighbors as the oldest bar in the city. The bar carries a scrappy charm with brick walls, neon signs, a mounted moose head, and pictures of patrons stabled to the furniture.
Ray's Place in Kent is one of the oldest sports bars in the country.
Enjoy the many beers on tap and the daily specials at Ray's Place in Kent.
Residents can get all of their fresh ingredients at Acme Fresh Market in Kent, OH.
The Kent Farmers Market is located on Franklin Street.
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Most homes are on the west side
Kent's west side has a mix of gridded and winding residential streets blanketed with tree shade. Midcentury and Colonial Revival designs built between 1900 and 1970 dominate, separated by around 20 feet from their neighbors. Bungalows, national-style homes and Cape Cods sell for prices starting at $85,000 and range from needing repairs to moving-in-ready. Between $140,000 and $400,000, ranch houses, Neoclassical and Colonial Revivals join the selection. These houses range from 800 square feet to 2,400 square feet. From $400,000 to $515,000, houses get as large as 2,500 square feet and sit closer to city limits.
This beautiful brick Colonial is located near campus in Kent.
Stunning custom-built homes nestled in the Kent, OH neighborhood.
Many lots in Kent, OH are split-level homes featuring towering trees and wide front lawns.
Farmhouse-style homes can be easily spotted in Kent, OH.
This small bungalow can be found in Kent.
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Theodore Roosevelt High has career education programs
Families in every part of Kent live within a mile of an elementary school, including Longcoy Elementary School, Walls Elementary School and Holden Elementary School, all of which have a B score from Niche. From there, students typically move on to the B-scoring Stanton Middle School before joining the B-plus-rated Theodore Roosevelt High School. The school offers a Career Technical Education program, which prepares students for engineering, healthcare, and sports management jobs.
Kids can participate in a variety of competitive programs at Theodore Roosevelt High in Kent.
Longcoy Elementary in Kent, OH offers students many different challenging courses.
Students are challenged to excel at Davey Elementary in Kent, OH.
Walls Elementary School in Kent, Ohio.
Holden Elementary School in Kent, OH.
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The Jessie Smith Nature Preserve is big with hikers
Parks are in every part of the city, from multi-use greenspaces downtown to hiking trails connecting neighboring cities. Fred Fuller Park is accessible via Stow Road, 4,000 feet from downtown. Parkgoers enjoy playgrounds, baseball fields and hiking trails. The Portage Hike & Bike Trail runs through the park and flows from Akron in the southwest to Ravenna in the northeast. The more than 10 parks within Kent work together to provide locals with recreation, event space, and environmental education.
The Jessie Smith Nature Preserve is located In Kent OH.
Walk along the river on the Portage Hike and Bike Trail in Kent.
Fred Fuller Park in Kent is a great place to hang out in your hammock.
A view from above of River Edge Park in downtown Kent.
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Ohio Route 59 and 43 intersect downtown
Downtown has sidewalks and crosswalks to make walking from a home nearby to a local establishment easy. The Portage Area Regional Transit Authority provides the city's public transportation, with routes running through major thoroughfares such as Main Street and Water Street and minor roads such as Franklin Avenue. Cars remain the most popular travel option, especially for those living closer to city limits and with work out of town. To make these commutes, many drive on one of the two highways intersecting downtown—Ohio Route 59 merges with Main Street, providing travel to neighboring Ravenna, Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. Ohio Route 43 provides northward and southward travel, leading to Streetsboro and Cleveland.
RR. 59 runs through the town of Kent.
Traffic runs down Rt. 43 through Kent OH.
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Noise pollution in the south
Locals in Kent's south side report a high noise factor due to machinery from a local manufacturer. Community members tried to solve the issue by petitioning the city government. While the city is filing a lawsuit against the company, sound pollution is still a factor for south-side residents.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Parks in this Area
John Brown Tannery Park
Baseball/Softball
Fishing
Walking Paths
The Portage Hike & Bike Trail
Bike Trails
Picnic Area
Skateboard
Al Lease Park
Basketball
Volleyball
Playground
Kent Skate Park
Skateboard
Franklin Mills Riveredge Park
Trails
Kayak/Canoe
Fred Fuller Park
Bike Trails
Boating
Picnic Area
Dan Smith Community Park
Picnic Area
Tom S Cooperrider-Kent Bog State Nature Preserve
Hiking
Plum Creek Park
Basketball
Picnic Area
Volleyball
Transit
Airport
Akron-Canton Regional
33 min drive
Bus
Ken Summit & Depeyster Wb
Bus
Ken Main & River Wb
Bus
Ksu Alumni Building
Bus
Ken Main & Lincoln Eb
Bus
Ken Main & Water Wb
Bus
Ken Water & Erie Sb
Bus
Ksu Architecture & Env Design Sb
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Kent CBD
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
8
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
101
Median Year Built
1920
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,596
Below the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,903
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,653
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Amy McDougald - Eckard,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,066
Median Age
29
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
17.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.3%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$23,279
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$58,413
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
89.7%
College Graduates
33.9%
Advanced Degrees
10.1%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.1%
On par with the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
20''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
89/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
