Located 10 miles outside Akron, Ohio, Wadsworth is a small city known for its neighborly atmosphere and being the birthplace of the blue tip match. Today, this invention from 1895 and the city's industrial history are still commemorated by the Wadsworth Blue Tip Festival, one of the largest celebrations in the region. "People start saving spots on the parade route at least a week ahead of time. They'll leave picnic blankets or lawn chairs there, and no one will touch them or anything," says Karen Thompson, an area local and Realtor with Howard Hanna.
In recent years, Wadsworth's population has climbed to over 24,700 people. Despite being considered a small bedroom community, the city still offers newly constructed homes, several parks and a historic downtown with walkable boutiques. Wadsworth's largest employers include Wadsworth City School District, factories like Rohrer Corporation and nursing homes like Altercare.
Main Street in Wadsworth is a great place to spend a day shopping.
Wadsworth is a small town with a lot of charm.
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Vintage and new homes in an expanding Medina County market
Homes in Wadsworth range from traditional and Craftsman builds from the early 1900s to new construction on the outskirts of town. The city's market is also strong, with inventory moving quickly. "I say it's a bit like the wild west because homes can sell so quickly," Thompson says. This growth has also led to an increasing median sales price in Wadsworth, reaching $299,000 in 2024. Smaller homes from previous decades can be found selling for as low as $140,000, while large, newly-developed homes fetch prices upwards of $500,000. While most homes in town sit on narrow lots and gridded city streets, newer properties outside of town offer large multi-acre lots and proximity to farmland.
Newer housing developments with colonial style homes are available in Wadsworth.
Older bungalows are popular with residents of Wadsworth.
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Wadsworth City School District and Grizzly Football
Wadsworth City School District receives an A-minus from Niche and is rated as the third-best school district in Medina County. The district serves over 4,400 students with nine different schools and Wadsworth City School District Online Academy. Known as the grizzlies, Wadsworth Middle and Wadsworth High both offer a range of athletics and compete in the Ohio High School Athletic Association. "High school football games are a big deal here. When the players come down Main Street in the vans before games, our office and everyone else comes out to cheer them on," Thompson says.
Wadsworth High School is a great school for our future leaders.
Wadsworth High School football is a popular event on Friday nights.
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The Blue Tip Festival and other historic attractions
The Blue Tip Festival takes place over five days every June, starting with a city-wide parade and the lighting of a twenty-foot match. Attendees can enjoy local food vendors, rides, games and live music. Another community event is Main Street First Fridays. One evening every month, businesses stay open late to meet members of the community. "We give out hot chocolate and homemade cookies. One year we had over 150 people come in," Thompson says.
Wadsworth's industrial history is on display downtown, where residents and their families can visit attractions like St. Mark's Church, a log cabin built in the 1800s and the Johnson House Museum, which has free tours on Saturday mornings. Downtown Wadsworth Historic District is an official site on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Johnson House Museum is full of history in Wadsworth.
The historic St. Mark's church is located in Wadsworth.
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Wadsworth City parks and a Midwestern climate
Wadsworth's Parks department maintains 15 parks throughout the city, from neighborhood parks for kids to scenic walking trails at Holmesbrook Park. "We have really well-kept and beautiful parks, and the city is always growing and undertaking new projects," Thompson says. One park that's soon to come is the Wadsworth Pocket Park. Located downtown, the city is renovating an empty lot to feature a stage and communal gathering space.
Wadsworth has a temperate climate, with warm summers and cold winters that bring an average of 40 inches of snow."We have four different beautiful seasons. Our trees look great when it's time to change colors," Thompson says.
Work has begun on a new park in downtown Wadsworth.
Holmesbrook Park is popular for those wanting to walk or jog.
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Wadsworth's walkable downtown and other shopping
Downtown Wadsworth has historic buildings and large storefronts lining its streets. Within walking distance, residents could find a cup of coffee, go to a hair appointment and peruse some new clothes at several of the district's boutqiues. Several new businesses have also come to the area recently- Cambria's Bistro is an Italian Restaurant that opened in 2024. Wadsworth Crossings is the one of the city's main shopping developments, with big box stores like Target and Kohl's located 3 miles northeast of town. High Street also leads to a number of small businesses, restaurants and a Walmart Supercenter.
Wadsworth shopping is best experienced on foot.
Find your perfect major retailer in Wadsworth at Wadsworth Crossings.
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Getting around Medina County with I-76
Interstate 76 passes right through Wadsworth, connecting with Interstate 77 and cutting the 40-mile commute into Cleveland down to 45 minutes. Akron is also just 15 miles east of Wadsworth, which only takes 20 minutes on Interstate 76. In the case of medical emergencies, Summa Health is about a mile west of downtown on College Street. For connecting flights to Akron or Cleveland, Wadsworth Municipal Airport is 4 miles southwest of the city.
Important to know
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Wadsworth's rates for violent and property crime are both lower than the national average. Since 2015, violent crimes have increased by 50%, while property crimes have decreased by 45%. Kids interested in learning more about what the Wadsworth Police Department does can enroll in the Wadsworth Safety Forces Summer Camp for free.
Marcy Klee has over 44 years of experience in real estate, Marcy Klee has developed one of the most successful and well-respected real estate businesses in Stark County. She has an unparalleled work ethic, treating people right and building long lasting relationships. Marcy earned a degree in Business Management with a Major in Real Estate Commerce from the University of Akron. Her thirst for knowledge and education keeps her on top of her game. Honesty, hard work, dedication to her clients and her 44 years’ experience have been the cornerstones of her successful business. She is respected by her peers and is one of the most highly awarded Realtors in Stark County.
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