With five lakes and miles of fields and forest in every direction, the city of New Franklin is all about outdoor fun. This lakefront community has plenty of locally-owned restaurants, hobby stores and many activities on the water and land. Turkeyfoot Lake, in the northeast corner, is the city's focal point, with parks, beaches, docks and restaurants. The rest of the city is farmland, residential areas and thickets of trees with parks and walking trails. The wide range of house prices and styles combined with these other features make the area a tempting place to settle down south of Akron.
Turkeyfoot Lake allows fishing and boating
Outdoor recreation is one of New Franklin's biggest draws, with everything from deep woods camping to speedboating. "It's a fun place to live," says John Scaglione, a top Realtor with Caldwell Banker Realty. The city has 411 acres of park and over 1,000 combined acres of water, making up the Portage Lakes. Turkeyfoot Lake allows licensed fishermen to catch the local largemouth bass, carp and catfish from boats and the shore. Other watery activities include water skiing and boating. Turkeyfoot Lake also has a beach open for swimming in the daytime. Back on land in Portage Lakes State Park, a fenced dog park offers a space for people to let their pets off-leash. "Some take their dogs on the boat, then stop by the Dog Park for a break and let them run around," says Scaglione. The park also has a dedicated archery range, with equipment provided by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The Towpath Trail is on the east side and stretches 90 miles to Akron and Cleveland. New Franklin also has two golf courses on either side of town. The Turkeyfoot Golf Course is on the east side, while Spring Hills Golf Course is on the west and has a clubhouse. Both 18-hole courses are open to the public.
Lakeside ranch houses are common
Homes are on the east and west sides of the city, with a few lone properties in the middle having lots bigger than an acre. The most common styles are traditional, raised and split-level ranch houses. These houses cost between $80,000 and $500,000. A few rare properties list for as much as $2 million. "Houses are pretty expensive once you get on the water," explains Scaglione. These more expensive homes have custom designs merging modern and traditional features and have as many as five bedrooms and 3 acres of land.
There is a wide variety of home styles in New Franklin.
New Franklin is surrounded by lakes and places to hike.
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People jump into the lake for the local food bank
New Franklin has many recreational and community-building activities. "There are lots of charity events like the Polar Bear Jump for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank," says Scaglione. The event consists of locals plunging into the icy waters of the Portage Lakes to raise money for the food bank. The Lakeside Oktoberfest is another big occasion and features polka music and beer in October. The city also hosts a summer concert series. Performers for 2024 include Soul Town Live, a soul music band, and Teddy Robb, a Portage Lakes native and country music star.
Upper Deck has dockside dining
New Franklin has many restaurants and small shops, while grocery stores are in neighboring communities. Upper Deck is one of the city's most popular restaurants. Positioned on the lakeshore, the restaurant has outdoor seating and a dock where people can tie their boats and have a bite to eat. The restaurant also has live outdoor music. Lala's in The Lake is a popular spot further inland. The restaurant's biggest draw is its atmosphere, with a candlelit dining area and window views of the surrounding trees. Other local restaurants include Wil's Grille & Pub, Galluch's Pizza and Manchester Tavern. Some popular local shops are Bounce Archery Center, a bow store with an indoor range, and Fisherman's Central, a fishing supply and bait store. The closest grocery store is Acme Fresh Market, 6 miles north in Portage Lakes. There is also a Giant Eagle close to 7 miles northwest. Harps Harvest Farmers' Market is also some distance, with a 5-mile drive south. The nearest mall is 17 miles north in Fairlawn with Summit Mall.
Local shops in New Franklin.
Great food and spirits at The Upper Deck in New Franklin.
LALA's in New Franklin is the local hot spot for fine or casual dining.
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Manchester High School has a new building
Kids in New Franklin attend the Manchester School district, typically starting with Nolley Elementary. Manchester Middle School is around a half-mile from Nolley and is the last step before heading to Manchester High. The district is constructing a new building for the high school with new athletic facilities, including a basketball court and a multi-use field for track, soccer and football. Students will move into the new building in September 2024. Nolley and Manchester Middle earn an A-minus from Niche, while Manchester High gets a B.
Children are offered a great education at Nolley Elementary School.
Manchester Middle School challenges students by offering an all-encompassing curriculum.
Friday night lights at Manchester High School in New Franklin.
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The closest highways are outside of town
New Franklin has two vital thoroughfares: Manchester Road, running through the east side, and West Turkeyfoot Lake Road, running through the northeast corner of town. Manchester Road is home to many local shops and provides a 15-mile drive to downtown Akron. West Turkeyfoot Lake Road attaches to Interstate 277, around 8 miles north. The interstate leads to some southern Akron neighborhoods and connects with Interstate 77, leading to Cleveland 50 miles north.
Flood zones along the rivers and creeks
New Franklin has many flood zones. Due to the many rivers, creeks and brooks, people living within these areas may see more than 3 feet of water during and after heavy downpours. The area also has a CAP Index crime score of two, half of the national average.
Written By
Tina Davis
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Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
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.
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On average, homes in New Franklin, OH sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in New Franklin, OH over the last 12 months is $390,500, up 45% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 1298 Swigart. This completely renovated 3br 2 ba with a finished basement and egress will amaze you. There was nothing left untouched. Move in ready and a peace of mind since everything is new from floors to walls and all the mechanicals. Not only does it have a 1 car attached garage, there's plenty of space for all your stuff with an oversized 2 car garage with separate bays! Hot area
Prepare to fall in love! Nestled on .53 acres in a peaceful Portage Lakes neighborhood, this fully renovated modern ranch is a stunning blend of rustic charm and sleek luxury. Every detail was thoughtfully redesigned in 2023, and it shows!From the bold James Hardie board siding in Midnight Soot that is lit up beautifully at night with the exterior lighting, to the vaulted ceilings and
Step into this beautifully updated 3-bedroom, 2 full bath home offering over 1,400 sq. ft. of stylish living space. Set on a fully fenced-in lot with exceptional privacy, the backyard is a true retreat—perfect for kids, pets, or simply relaxing by the newly installed fire pit. The exterior has been meticulously maintained and upgraded, featuring a new roof and siding (2019), brand-new water
Welcome to 1298 Swigart. This completely renovated 3br 2 ba with a finished basement and egress will amaze you. There was nothing left untouched. Move in ready and a peace of mind since everything is new from floors to walls and all the mechanicals. Not only does it have a 1 car attached garage, there's plenty of space for all your stuff with an oversized 2 car garage with separate bays! Hot area
Prepare to fall in love! Nestled on .53 acres in a peaceful Portage Lakes neighborhood, this fully renovated modern ranch is a stunning blend of rustic charm and sleek luxury. Every detail was thoughtfully redesigned in 2023, and it shows!From the bold James Hardie board siding in Midnight Soot that is lit up beautifully at night with the exterior lighting, to the vaulted ceilings and
Step into this beautifully updated 3-bedroom, 2 full bath home offering over 1,400 sq. ft. of stylish living space. Set on a fully fenced-in lot with exceptional privacy, the backyard is a true retreat—perfect for kids, pets, or simply relaxing by the newly installed fire pit. The exterior has been meticulously maintained and upgraded, featuring a new roof and siding (2019), brand-new water
Portage Lakes main chain Waterfront with two bedrooms with boat dock at your back door. This open floor plan is ideal for living with open space from kitchen, dinning, living rooms and a fireplace and a wall of windows from floor to ceiling. this open living space opens up to a large deck that leads to a one acre yard at the end of a private island. The views from every room are breathtaking.
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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