Spend time in Youngstown, and one might spot a truck with "Revitalize" painted on it in bold, black letters. It's operated by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, and "Revitalize" succinctly sums up one of this Northeast Ohio city's goals. Like many places in the region, Youngstown was hit hard by declines in the manufacturing sector in the latter part of the 20th century. Once a rapidly growing city with a booming steel industry, the changing economy increased unemployment and poverty. However, with the help of its government and the people who call it home, Youngstown is rising again and redefining itself as a Rust Belt area on the upswing and improving. "There are new restaurants and businesses downtown, and the city is building a ton of new housing," says Bob Roberts, a sales associate Realtor at Mayo & Associates Realtors who has been in real estate for 36 years. "The university is also growing and continues to build new dorms for more students." In recent years, population decline has slowed, new companies have invested in the area and unemployment numbers have fallen. Locals enjoy a growing restaurant scene and the large parks around the area or soak in the city's art scene. The area's visitors bureau proclaims that Youngstown has "something for everyone."
Youngstown owes its name to surveyor John Young, who purchased 15,000 acres in 1797 and began establishing the city. Canals and railroads supported industrialization over the 19th century. The population grew, benefiting greatly from the country's booming steel industry. The city's manufacturing focus shifted from iron to steel, and in the early 20th century, Youngstown was the second-largest steel-producing hub in the nation, only behind Pittsburgh. "From the early 1920s up until the '70s, people came from all over the world to work at the steel mills before they shut down," Roberts says. When the steel industry's fortunes changed in recent decades, the change hit Youngstown hard. Campbell Works, a major mill here, closed on Sept. 19, 1977, a day that put 5,000 employees out of work, becoming known as "Black Monday." The Campbell Works closure had a domino effect that contributed to the loss of tens of thousands more jobs in the area in the following years. Youngstown's population, which was once around 170,000, dipped dramatically, too. The city's population is now about 59,000.
The population drop has largely stabilized, partly due to the city's unveiling of the Youngstown 2010 Citywide plan in 2005. The project included a framework for embracing its smaller size and enhancing the area's present-day character. The efforts outlined in the plan are ongoing, and relatively recent developments include clean energy company Zoetic Global's plans to open a manufacturing facility in the city and the city's use of $8 million of American Rescue Plan funds toward improving housing. Today, the two largest employers in the city are Youngstown State University and Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, which employ about 1,500 and 1,200 people, respectively.
The city of Youngstown is named after surveyor John Young, who purchased the land in 1797.
Artist George Segal's "The Steelmakers" sculpture celebrates the City of Youngstown's history.
Youngstown State University is one of the largest employers in the city of Youngstown, Ohio.
Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital employs over 1,000 people in Youngstown.
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Concerts, sporting events and shows centered around downtown
"There's always something going on downtown," Roberts says. “There are rodeos, truck shows, concerts or festivals most weekends." Locals enjoy live music at venues like the Covelli Centre, which seats up to 7,000, and the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, which seats 4,800 people at Wean Park. The amphitheater hosts outdoor concerts during the spring and summer months. From June to August, it also hosts a summer movie series. The summer concert and movie series are among the city's annual events, including RiverFest in June, a celebration centered around the Mahoning River and based at Spring Commons Park, which features kayak trips, food and music. Winters in Youngstown are cold and snowy, and the streets become quiet as activities move indoors to convention centers and stadiums.
Youngstown State University, home of the Penguins, has athletic facilities and Stambaugh Stadium, a 20,000-seat arena where fans watch the university's home football games. In addition to hosting live music, the Covelli Centre is also home to the Youngstown Phantoms, a junior hockey team in the United States Hockey League.
The city's arts scene has boomed in the last 15 years. Live productions have increased in the area, attracting people from surrounding Mahoning County who enjoy theater. The Youngstown Playhouse opened in 1924 and is considered the oldest active community theater in the country. Its teams produce several productions yearly and recently added family-friendly shows like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Shrek Jr." The Summer Festival of the Arts takes place downtown in July, and work from local artisans is on display. The city is also home to the Butler Institute of American Art, where works by American artists dating back to the early 18th century have been on display since 1919.
The Youngstown Phantoms hockey team plays at the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Youngstown Playhouse celebrates over 100 years of entertainment in the Warren neighborhood.
The Youngstown State Penguins football team plays at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Youngstown State Penguins football team plays at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio.
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Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University is one of the city's most prominent institutions and largest employers. The public university has almost 11,000 students in about 115 undergraduate and 40 graduate programs at its 145-acre campus near downtown.
Young students in the city attend the Youngstown City School District, which has an overall grade of C-minus on Niche. The district has invested in STEAM education through the Y-STEAM program, which contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve classrooms at East and Chaney middle schools. Private options in the city include Ursuline High School and Cardinal Mooney High School. The two schools have an A grade on Niche and nearly 100% of students pursue higher education after graduation.
Middle school students may attend Cheney Middle School in the Schenley neighborhood.
Students receive an excellent education at Ursuline High School in the Wick Park neighborhood.
The 145-acre Youngstown State University campus is located near downtown Youngstown, Ohio.
Cardinal Money is a private school in the Erie neighborhood of Youngstown, Ohio.
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Homes priced well under the national median
Homes in Youngstown sell, on average, from $10,000 to $350,000. Despite the vast price range, "Youngstown is one of the most affordable places in the country to buy a house," Roberts says. "It's a major draw." In the first quarter of 2024, the surrounding Youngstown area had a median home price of $142,500. The current national median is $416,700, nearly three times the price of Youngstown. The condition, size and curb appeal of homes vary greatly from one neighborhood to the next, and the house prices reflect the vast differences. Workers' cottages, bungalows and American Foursquares from the early 1900s are usually among the least expensive homes, while well-maintained brick Colonial Revival mansions from the same time are the most expensive. In addition to the large Colonial Revivals, ranch-style homes and Tudor Revivals are more common towards the outer ends of the city limits, where lots are larger and can accommodate a wider footprint.
The "At Home in Youngstown" program aims to increase homeownership by offering $10,000 to approved applicants to use on down payments and closing costs. An additional $15,000 is available to people who are adding energy-efficient upgrades. The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Roof Replacement program fixes and sometimes replaces leaking roofs free of charge for those who qualify under certain income eligibility requirements. Empty lots where demolished homes once stood sell for as low as $400 close to the city’s center and can reach $50,000 towards the city’s outer edges.
A Victorian Workers Cottage style home in the Erie neighborhood of Youngstown, Ohio.
You are able to find single-story homes inn the Landsdowne neighborhood.
Updated colonials give Wick Park its up and coming vibes.
Homes in need of repair can be found throughout the Arlington neighborhood.
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Mill Creek Park is the gem of the city
Youngstown is both dotted with and surrounded by green space. The 2,658-acre Mill Creek Park includes 45 miles of trails and the Wick Recreation Area. Grass tennis courts, a hockey rink, an 18-hole par-3 golf course, multiple sand volleyball courts and athletic fields are in the park's main area. Locals tour through the Fellows Riverside Gardens, where there are 40,000 blooming flower bulbs every spring. The park has multiple fishing spots like Lake Glacier and Lake Cohasset, where anglers can catch bass, trout and perch. Wick Park is on the northern end of the Mahoning River and has walking trails, tennis courts and a disc golf course. The park is one of the locations that host a National Night Out Event annually on the first Tuesday of August, giving residents a chance to connect with law enforcement and discuss ways to reduce crime in their neighborhoods.
Mill Creek Golf Course features two 18-hole championship courses in nearby Boardman, OH.
Visitors enjoy the beauty of the Fellows Riverside Gardens in the Schenley neighborhood.
Visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of Lanterman's Mill in the Kirkmere neighborhood.
Rent a kayak at the Lake Glacier Boating Center in the Schenley neighborhood.
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Major shopping is south in Boardman
Downtown Youngstown is experiencing renewal with the addition of shops and restaurants filling empty storefronts. The Federal, formerly named Martini Brothers Burger Bar, was featured on "Bar Rescue" in 2015. One of the longest-standing restaurants in the city is Cassese's MVR, an Italian restaurant that has been open since 1927. In addition to classic dishes like pasta, pizza and shrimp scampi, the restaurant has multiple covered bocce courts on site.
Small markets and grocery stores are in the city, but for extensive shopping, most residents head south along Interstate 680 or Market Street to Boardman. Boardman is Mahoning County's main shopping hub, with an indoor mall, strip malls, national big box stores and home improvement centers. Sam's Club, Walmart, Aldi and Giant Eagle Supermarket are just a few grocery stores in the shopping destination 5 miles south of Youngstown's city center.
Youngstown residents dine at the Federal Restaurant in downtown Youngstown.
Youngstown residents shop at the Southern Park Mall in Boardman.
Youngstown residents shop at Roscoe's Poultry in the Steelton neighborhood.
Cassese's MVR features classic Italian dining and Bocce Courts in downtown Youngstown, Ohio.
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Crime
The FBI reports that in 2023, the most recent year the data is available, the average violent crime rate in Youngstown was 251 incidents per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 115 incidents per 100,000 people. Property crime is also higher than the national average, with Youngstown having, on average, 267 incidents per 100,000, compared to 163 incidents per 100,000 nationwide.
The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CRIV) is a collaborative project in Youngstown that reduces crime through partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The community is also actively involved in the project through programs at local schools, churches and neighborhood associations.
Interstates around the northeastern Ohio quadrant
Drivers take Interstate 680 to connect to Interstate 80 for trips northwest to Cleveland, about 75 miles away. Pittsburgh is just under 70 miles from Youngstown along Interstates 680 and 76.
Youngstown can use the Western Reserve Transit Authority bus system for getting around the city. The WRTA system features 30 routes across Mahoning County, of which Youngstown is the seat.
The Youngstown area has its own airport, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, but the facility hasn't had a regular passenger flight schedule in several years. In 2023, the airport applied for a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant to help bring back regular passenger service. For regional or international flights, residents can head west to the Akron-Canton Airport, about 60 miles from Youngstown, or southeast to Pittsburgh International Airport.
Buying or listing your home is something you don't do everyday. The average person may do it 2-3 times in their lifetime. So you want a Realtor that can take the anxiety of all the unknowns away allowing the experience to be joyful and pleasurable. You want a Realtor who is sharp and on top of the market. You want a Realtor who will alert you to concerns while at the same time knowledgably in possible solutions. You want a Realtor who can manage an ever changing market and guide you through that as a consumer.
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I have had the privilege of experiencing several different careers in my life! From the medical field to transportation, and now as a Realtor! One of my greatest joys, no matter what season my clients find themselves in, is being that key factor of eliminating stress and guiding my clients in pursuing their goals and accomplishing their dreams! My clients have found me to be trustworthy and dependable, with integrity. I take the time to explain the process providing a greater assurance of confidence as my clients make decisions. Real Estate is not my job, it's the heartbeat of my life!!!
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.
