Medina, with over 26,000 residents, is a bedroom community for Akron, 22 miles east and Cleveland, 32 miles north. Yet this area has its own identity, cemented by highly rated schools, low unemployment rates and a high quality of life. Medina's historic Public Square is the city centerpiece, drawing out-of-state visitors with small businesses and hometown festivals, a collaboration between Main Street Medina and the city. According to Mayor Dennis Hanwell, who has held the office for 15 years, this sort of collaboration defines Medina. Whether it's the shared recreation center on the high school campus or shared emergency services with nearby townships, these collaborations add recreation, culture and necessities for residents. While many workers commute outside the city, Medina's industrial west side houses employers such as Carlisle Brake and Friction, Sandridge Crafted Foods and Drug Mart.
The Gazebo at Gazebo Park is located on the square in downtown Medina, Ohio.
Sandridge Crafted Foods is a major employer in Medina, Ohio.
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High-demand homes and historic neighborhoods
The median price for a single-family home is $365,000, compared with the national median price of $429,000. Because of the high demand and low inventory, homes can sell for above asking price here. Properties spend an average of 27 days on the market, compared with 44 days nationally. Surrounding the historic Public Square are historic residential areas with 19th-century Victorian, Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and Italianate homes. The South Court Historic Neighborhood is a tight-knit area showcasing its houses with garden parties and home tours. Development has reached the outskirts of town, where stately Colonial Revival and New Traditional properties date from the 1990s through the early '00s. "What we're seeing now is the townships around us are growing, and all those people come to the Square and take part in the activities," Hanwell says.
This Italianate-style home can be found in the historic neighborhood in downtown Medina.
Modern Colonial Revival style homes are found through out Medina Ohio.
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Medina High School excels in extracurriculars
Medina City School District, serving 6,200 students, earns an overall A from Niche. The school system features an entire pipeline within the city, including one preschool, five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, most of which earn either an A-minus or an A grade. The A-minus-rated Medina High School, the city's only 9-12 school, earns high marks for its extracurricular options. The Speech and Debate team ranked among the top competitors at the 2024 Princeton University Tournament. The high school campus is home to the city recreation and performing arts centers, shared by students and everyone else for performances, camps and group fitness classes. "The summer camp programs can double or triple the size because they are able to use the large rooms at the school," Hanwell says.
Welcome to Medina High School in Medina, Ohio.
Welcome to Sidney Fenn Elementary School in Medina, Ohio.
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Award-winning playscape at Allardale Park
Afternoons and weekends are often spent outdoors. The city maintains 800 acres of parkland, divided into divided into 12 different sites. Many parks showcase the local flora and fauna with nature areas and hiking and biking trails – there are 40 miles of trails to explore throughout the county. Reagan Park is a sprawling 226 acres, with hiking and mountain biking trails, a track for radio-controlled cars, sledding hills, a skate park and various other sports fields and courts. Friends of Medina County Parks, a local nonprofit, helps raise funds for park improvements. In 2024, Medina County earned the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association's Award of Excellence for its Allardale Park Playscape project, which included a 30-foot slide, giant tire swing, balance beam and other play features.
The Lodge at Allardale Park is available to host events in Medina, Ohio.
The local wildlife enjoys a sunny day in Sam Masi Park, Medina, Ohio.
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Casual and formal eats on the Public Square
Medina's Public Square was one of the city's first landmarks, anchored by Uptown Park and its towering trees. Today, it's still the town's commercial and cultural center. Restaurants, bakeries, record stores, popcorn shops, coffee shops and boutiques fill the eight blocks in this historic district. Thyme2 offers two unique dining experiences: a candle-lit dinner in the fine dining room, or a casual dinner at the downstairs pub. With these storefronts at capacity, development is expanding into the reimagined South Town District, another walkable commercial area just south. "The city and Chamber of Commerce have worked hard to promote it and provide opportunities for new businesses to come here," Hanwell says.
North Court Street, on the north side, is the city's other commercial center. It hosts a collection of big box stores, including Walmart, Target and Home Depot, and grocery stores such as Aldi, Marc's, Buehler's and Giant Eagle. As surrounding townships grow, new shops and restaurants are opening in Medina to fill the demand. A new Meijer is set to open at the site of the former North Court Street Kmart, and a new Acme Fresh Market is also under construction on South Court Street.
Thyme2 Restaurant features both casual and fine dining in downtown Medina, Ohio.
Cool Beans Coffee Shop is a locally owned coffee shop in Medina, Ohio.
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Intricate sculptures at the winter Ice Festival
The Public Square buzzes with activity most weekends. Medina attracts out-of-state visitors with mainstays like the February Ice Festival. Professional ice carvers create intricate sculptures — from motorcycles to dogs to Star Wars characters — which are illuminated for a better nighttime view. "When you're walking up and down the street, it's not unusual to see 12 out-of-state-plates for these events," Hanwell says. "It's a regional draw because of the ambiance and the ice carvings that people can't see most other places. " Main Street Medina, a nonprofit and a certified Ohio Main Street Program, coordinates these events with support from the city. It hosts regular events such as community band concerts on Friday nights in the summer and a Farmer's Market from May through October. They're free to the public.
The annual Medina Light Parade celebrates the holiday season in Medina, Ohio.
Boyert's Farm Thanksgiving Farmer's Market is in Medina, Ohio.
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Interstate 71 to Cleveland
Commuters use state roads and interstates to get to work. Interstate 71 leads north to Cleveland. State Route 18 is an east-west route that underwent a $43 million widening and improvement project in 2024. It connects with Interstate 77 to Akron. Rush-hour traffic can lengthen commute times. Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital is the city's only in-patient facility, providing around-the-clock emergency care. Medina does not have fixed bus routes, but Medina County Public Transit offers on-demand rides for county residents. Pedestrian access continues to be a priority for the city, with plans to increase pedestrian safety with curb extensions at the Public Square. The Multi-Use Path Plan proposes adding over 25 miles of multi-modal connections throughout the city over the coming decades.
Lower-than-average crime rates in Medina
Medina crime has remained steadily low over the past five years. According to FBI data, violent and property crime rates were significantly lower than state and national rates between 2020 and 2024. However, property crime rates did increase between 2023 and 2024, nearing those state and national rates. The Medina Police Department connects with the community by hosting women's self-defense classes and events such as Shop with a Cop. "[The neighboring] Lafayette Township was so impressed by our community policing model, they asked us to take over policing rather than have their own force," Hanwell says.
I have been a resident of northeast Ohio for almost 30 years and involved in different areas of real estate for the last ten. A majority of my work life was spent as a PGA golf professional which allowed me to live and work in many areas of the country. I am now a retired PGA Life Member. My hobbies include golf, basketball, and playing guitar. I also am a big fan of music, particularly 80's rock. I look forward to helping you with all your Real Estate needs.
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