Norton

Hametown’s large lot sizes and forested surroundings lend the neighborhood a quiet, secluded feel. Homes here are within arm’s reach of Silver Creek Metro Park, an enormous natural expanse centered around a lake. “Most of the people who live in Hametown chose it because of the park,” says Realtor Sonja Halstead, a top seller in the neighborhood who leads The Halstead Team with Keller Williams Elevate. “It’s also close to Akron, so you get easy access to Route 21, but it’s rural, it’s country living.” Akron is a 13-mile drive, while Cleveland is 36 miles north. The small towns of Norton, Barberton, Doylestown and Wadsworth immediately surround the neighborhood, granting easy access to restaurants, big-box stores, gyms and civic resources like post offices. “Silver Creek Metro Park is absolutely beautiful,” Halstead says. “The people that work there take such good care of it, too. People love to live near the park; When houses go up for sale around the lake, they sell quick.” The park encompasses more than 1,000 acres of recreational space, with amenities for disc golf, archery, boating and hiking. In the winter, the relatively flat Pheasant Run Trail remains open to cross-country skiers. In 2023, Summit Metro Parks launched a master planning process to improve park facilities. Proposed projects, based on public feedback, include a natural materials playground, self-service kayak rental and trail restoration. The department has already installed new docks and updated roads throughout the park. Most homes here sit on lots sized between .25 and .5 acres. This way, residents can enjoy ample personal space while still feeling part of a neighborhood. Properties to the southeast of Silver Creek Metro Park tend to have more acreage and privacy. Though there are no sidewalks, most homes have driveways deep enough for multiple cars and trailers. Buyers will find ranch-style homes, split-levels and Cape Cods built between the 1940s and then 1970s. On the lowest end, fixer-uppers generally start around $60,000, while updated builds on up to 2.5 acres can sell up to $400,000. Most properties hover around $225,000. Old Stone Jail Bar and Grill is a Hametown staple. “Their food is amazing,” Halstead says. On Wednesdays, diners can get a $6 hamburger with fries, and on Thursdays, wings are only 75 cents. “It’s a cool place. It’s in an old stone building — it looks like something you’d see at the end of a railroad track.” Locals swing by for a round of pool or karaoke. More dining options are available in Norton and Barberton, including El Jalapeños, a Mexican restaurant 2 miles east of Hametown. For daily necessities, residents can head to Acme Fresh Market 3 miles away, or north to Wadsworth Crossings shopping center, which has a Target, Kohl’s and Lowe’s, as well as a Giant Eagle Supermarket. Kindergarteners attend Norton Primary School, then head to Norton Elementary School. Both receive an A-minus from Niche. Norton Middle School serves fifth through eighth graders and gets a B-plus. Norton High School has a B-minus and offers a wide array of career pathways through partnerships with three nearby school districts. Subjects include culinary arts, veterinary science and media communications. Students can also attend Hametown Christian Academy within the neighborhood. Hametown Road and Ohio State Route 21 run through the neighborhood — both potential starting points on the path to Akron 13 miles away. To reach Cleveland, drivers stay on Route 21, which turns into Interstate 77, for about 36 miles. The neighborhood’s rural atmosphere limits walkability, meaning residents predominantly rely on cars to reach jobs, restaurants and other daily necessities. There are a few bus stops along Wooster Road that lead into Barberton. The city of Norton hosts an annual Cider Festival held on the first weekend of October. For more than 35 years, Norton residents have gathered to enjoy live music, a parade and a fireworks show. To accommodate region-wide interest in the festival, the city moved the event in 2008 to the sprawling Columbia Woods Park, where vendors still offer cider tastings and baked goods, and the local Boy Scout troop hosts a pancake breakfast. Hametown has a high density of houses of worship, which also keep residents active in their community. Institutions include St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church and three Baptist churches: Liberty Free Will, Hametown and Union Missionary. According to Risk Factor, homes closer to Silver Creek Metro Park and along Route 21 may have an elevated flood risk. The city of Norton has a history of flooding, which has sometimes led to closures of Interstate 76.