Just outside of Akron, Norton is a quiet rural environment where folks spend summer evenings at the drive-in theater and come together every fall for an apple cider festival. "You can live close to downtown and feel like you're near the city or live a little further out and feel like you live on a farm," says Laura Ross, a Keller Williams Elevate Realtor and longtime resident. While new housing developments have suburbanized the environment, the city of roughly 11,000 maintains a sense of small-town familiarity. "We're not a small place, but everybody still knows each other," Ross says. "It's always nice to go into the grocery store, find someone you know, and take the time to chat."
Norton is full of green spaces and natural beauty.
Experience the movie magic under the stars at Blue Sky Drive-In Theater in Norton.
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Midcentury homes and newly built Contemporary styles
The median single-family home price is roughly $245,000, below the national median but above Akron's median. Prices range from $140,000 for early 20th-century fixer-uppers to $340,000 for newly built homes. Common home types include ranch styles, Contemporary styles, bungalows and split-levels. Since the city is full of lakes and creeks, many of the houses are threatened by flooding during rainstorms.
Owners take great pride in maintaining their homes in Norton.
Newer large custom built homes can also be found throughout the neighborhood of Norton.
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Norton High School was rebuilt in 2017
The Norton City School District has a B Niche rating and an 87% graduation rate. Its math and reading proficiencies are above state and national averages. The high school's new $34 million building opened in 2017 and includes a multi-purpose stadium.
Kids excel at Norton High School, Go Panthers.
Spend a Friday night watching Norton High Varsity Football after enjoying dinner downtown.
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Fishing on Barberton Reservoir
Ten public parks have amenities like soccer fields, playgrounds, tennis courts and walking paths. There is also a public golf course and a lakefront campground. Many residents fish at Barberton Reservoir, on the city's north end.
Kids play a game of basketball at Columbia Woods Park in Norton.
Norton Cider Festival celebrates rural culture
Most folks seek out entertainment in Akron, but Norton has several options of its own. Columbia Woods Park hosts the annual Norton Cider Festival, which includes three days of festivities, including live bands, concessions, a parade and a fireworks show. "Between the games and shows, it feels like a big carnival," Ross says. "People come from all over Summit County to see it." On the city's west end, Blue Sky Drive-In Theater has opened every summer since 1947. Folks can also catch drag races at Norton Raceway Park.
Discover the beauty of Columbia Woods Park, a nature lover's paradise.
Experience the thrill of speed at Norton Racetrack.
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Shopping and dining on Cleveland Massillon Road
South Cleveland Massillon Road has fast-food franchises, a grocery store and local options like an ice cream parlor, a coffee shop and a sports bar. There is also a nearby tavern and winery. On Norton's southwest corner, Seiberling Farm operates a daily market. The neighboring City of Wadsworth has additional dining and retail options.
Sip on rich flavors and enjoy the picturesque vineyard backdrop of Wolf Creek Winery in Norton.
Norton residents love going to Wolf Creek Tavern for the great food, service and entertainment.
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Commuting to Akron
Summa Health System has a general hospital in the neighboring City of Barberton. While some local employers, like Compass Systems & Sales and Albert Screenprint, are located nearby, many workers commute about 10 miles northeast on Interstate 76 to downtown Akron. Norton Avenue is lined with Akron METRO stops. For domestic flights, Interstate 77 takes residents about 17 miles southeast to Akron-Canton Airport. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is roughly 40 miles north via I-77.
According to FBI data, violent and property crime rates are below state and national averages. Over the past five years, violent crime has increased, and property crime has decreased.
On average, homes in Norton, OH sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Norton, OH over the last 12 months is $346,985, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Jim West, CRB, SRES – Realtor®, Appraiser, Community Leader Licensed Realtor Since 1969 | Licensed Residential Appraiser Since 1991 Howard Hanna Real Estate Services – President’s Circle (President-Elect, 2024)
With over five decades of real estate expertise, Jim West brings unmatched experience, leadership, and dedication to his role as a Realtor® at Howard Hanna. Licensed since 1969 and a state-licensed residential appraiser since 1991, Jim is a Certified Residential Broker (CRB) and a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), consistently recognized among the top 5% of real estate professionals nationwide by The Realty Alliance.
Jim is a Life Member of Howard Hanna’s President’s Circle of Excellence and currently serves as its elected President for 2024. He is also the host of the long-running WNIR Real Estate Advice Line radio program (100.1 FM), airing bi-weekly since 1989.
Leadership in the Industry 2005 President, Ohio Association of Realtors (OAR)
Past Director, National Association of Realtors
President, Akron Area Board of Realtors (1990 & 1996)
Realtor of the Year, OAR (1991)
Realtor Emeritus, National Association of Realtors (2009)
Trustee & Past President, OAR Charitable & Educational Foundation
Community Service & Recognition President, Tallmadge Rotary Club (twice); Paul Harris Fellow (twice)
President, Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce (2013 & 2014)
Humanitarian of the Year, Tallmadge Chamber & State of Ohio (2014)
Citizen Member, Moral Commission – City of Tallmadge (since 2011)
Director, Warriors Journey Home Ministry – First Congregational Church
Volunteer, Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone (30+ years)
Board Member, Community Improvement Corporation – Cuyahoga Falls
Additional Honors & Roles President, Fairway Villas HOA – Catawba Island (2015–2020); Director since 2014
MCS Valuations Advisory Panelist (CoreLogic Collateral Solutions, since 2014)
Lone Star Fraternity Hall of Fame, University of Akron (2017)
Secretary, President's Circle, Howard Hanna (2023)
Pension Trustee, Ohio Association of Realtors (since 2013)
Personal Background Jim and his wife, Dee, a retired preschool teacher of 25 years, raised their three sons in Tallmadge, Ohio, where the family remains deeply rooted.
Jay & Shari West, Tallmadge residents with two children, Brianna and Gavin. Jay is IT Manager for multiple states at Chicago Title; Shari is a registered nurse at Akron General.
Jon & Bonnie West, reside in West Chester, Ohio, with children Jake and Gracie. Jon is Assistant City Manager for Indian Hill, Cincinnati; Bonnie works in R&D at Procter & Gamble.
Doug West, based in Dayton, Ohio, with twins Alexandra and Andrew. Doug is a pilot with United Airlines and a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, flying C-17s out of Wright-Patterson AFB.
The West Team at Howard Hanna Jim is proud to work alongside an outstanding team of professionals: I'm an expert real estate agent with Howard Hanna in Stow, OH and the nearby area, providing home-buyers and sellers with professional, responsive and attentive real estate services. Want an agent who'll really listen to what you want in a home? Need an agent who knows how to effectively market your home so it sells? Give me a call! I'm eager to help and would love to talk to you.
Members of the West Team at Howard Hanna are: Dave Evans 330.603.7230 SHERRY HANNA 330.524.3823 ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. GIVE ONE OF THESE PROFESSIONALS A CALL AND MYSELF .
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.
