Are you in search of a peaceful city where you can settle down and raise a family? Living in Ravenna might be a good option.
Ravenna is an Akron suburb offering reasonable housing prices and easy access to amenities. It’s known for its glassworks, which was established in 1848 and became the city’s first major industry. First settled by Ohio Senator Benjamin Tappan in 1799, the name Ravenna was a suggestion from his wife, Nancy, who was inspired by the city of the same name in Italy. Although, it was not officially incorporated until 1853.
Today, Ravenna, OH, offers a welcoming community with a small-town charm and affordable living. The city provides excellent schools, parks, and local amenities, making it ideal for families and individuals alike. Its convenient location near major highways allows easy access to nearby cities and attractions. With a blend of historic and modern living, Ravenna, Ohio is a good place to live. So if you’re thinking about moving to Ravenna, OH here is everything you need to know.
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Where Is Ravenna, OH?
Ravenna is in Portage County in northeastern Ohio. It’s within the greater Akron metro area. Enveloped in nature, there are several parks surrounding the community, including Shaw Woods Park and Triangle Lake Bog State Nature Preserve. It’s also close to Lake Rockwell and the Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir.
Ohio State Routes 14, 44, 58, and 88 all pass through Ravenna, offering convenient access to other parts of the state. Public transportation in Ravenna is provided by the Portage Area Regional Transport Authority (PARTA). It’s also close to other cities and towns such as Campbellsport, Rootstown, Kent, Shalersville, and Charlestown.
It’s about 21 miles or a 28 minute drive from Akron, Ohio to Ravenna, Ohio.
Ravenna Population & Demographics
The Ravenna, Ohio population is 11,329. It has a fairly spacious, suburban atmosphere with a population density of 2010.2 residents per square mile. However, the population is declining slightly and decreased by 3.4% between 2010 and 2020.
Residents of all ages love living in Ravenna. About 19% of residents are under 18, while 19% are over 65. The median age is 41, which is slightly higher than the statewide median, but about the same as the rest of the Akron area. Many notable residents have lived in Ravenna, including best-selling author, David D. Busche, and classical pianist Curt Cacioppo.
The racial and ethnic breakdown is 80% White (77.8% White, non-Hispanic), 10.6% Black or African American, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.3% Asian, and 6.4% two or more races.
Other Ravenna demographics
- 51% of the Ravenna population is female and 49% is male
- The median household income is $48,221 (about 3/4ths of the median in Ohio).
- 2.5% of residents were born in a different country
- 87.9% of Ravenna residents have a high school diploma, while 19.6% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
Ravenna, Ohio is safe. Although it may be wise to lock your doors as it suffers from minor property crime. The overall Ravenna Ohio crime rate is 2,478 crimes per 100,000 people, making it 19.4% more dangerous than the rest of Ohio and 6.6% more dangerous than the rest of the US. Although, the violent crime rate is only 177 crimes per 100,000 people, which is 39.7% lower than the state and 52.1% lower than the country. It’s the property crime rate that’s 29.1% higher than the state and 17.7% higher than the country.
So you should always take the proper precautions, although living in Ravenna isn’t much more dangerous than the typical US city.
With the assistance of 23 officers and 13 civilian support staff, The Ravenna Police Dept controls crime in the city.
Cost of Living in Ravenna
Moving to Ravenna, OH is quite affordable, with a low median home price compared to the national average. A good way to get a sense of how much it costs to live in an area is to examine the cost of living index. With the national average representing 100, the COLI compares the affordability of common consumer goods to the rest of the country.
The COLI for Ravenna is 87, indicating it’s about 13% less expensive than the average US city. According to data from the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator, the typical family of four (two adults and two kids), needs to earn $97,673 to afford the Ravenna cost of living.
Typical Ravenna living expenses
- Loaf of bread: $4.09
- One dozen eggs: $2.37
- Doctor’s visit: $107.17
- A gallon of gas: $3.44
- Average Ravenna OH energy bill: $144.29
Source: Payscale
The affordability of Ravenna real estate is a major part of what makes the cost of living so affordable. Redfin reveals that the median price of homes for sale in Ravenna Ohio is $210,000. That makes Ravenna OH real estate 52% less expensive than the median in the US. The median price per square foot of Ravenna homes for sale is $127.
Any renters who plan on moving to Ravenna, OH will find a range of options as well. In Ravenna, 72% of apartment buildings are small scale complexes with less than 50 units, and 21% are single family rentals. Rentcafe shows that the average rent in Ravenna is $819. Rents start around $780 for a 1 bedroom and go up to $2,200 for three or more bedrooms.
Ravenna Neighborhoods | Where To Live in Ravenna
As a relatively small, close-knit community, Ravenna doesn’t have many distinct neighborhoods. The Ravenna Main Street Historic District is a one mile stretch in downtown Ravenna with several buildings that have been included in the National Register of Historic Places.
Outside of downtown, the most affordable Ravenna Ohio real estate tends to be in the north, while the most desirable tends to be in the central part of the city. However, regardless of where you look, moving to Ravenna, OH offers peaceful streets, friendly neighbors, and reasonably priced homes.
Ravenna Climate & Weather
According to the Koppen classification system, Ravenna’s climate is humid subtropical. That indicates snowy, freezing winters and warm, partly cloudy summers. The best time to visit Ravenna is typically from June through September. Temperatures in the winter typically get down to about 20°F, although it can get as cold as 3°F. In the summer, it typically gets up to about 82°F but can get as hot as 89°F.
Remember to pack a rain jacket and snow shovel if you plan on moving to Ravenna, OH because the city averages 40 inches of rain and 52 inches of snow every year. The area is also prone to high wind speeds, so watch out for tornado warnings in Ravenna Ohio.
Things to Do in Ravenna
For a relatively small city, you’ll find an interesting range of things to do in Ravenna Ohio. The Ravenna Balloon Affair is an annual event held each September and hosts a range of exciting activities such as ax throwing and magic shows. The Ravenna car show also takes place in August and showcases hundreds of race cars, hot rods, classic cars, and motorcycles.
You’ll find plenty of fantastic boutiques, restaurants, and grocery stores along Main Street, including the Copper Kettle Antiques Mall, Tinker Box, and Gypsy Sol Boutique. Other than shopping, here are a few of the best things to do in Ravenna.
Ravenna City Park
Ravenna City Park is a 25 acre community green space equipped with state of the art recreational facilities, including playgrounds, ball fields, and a skate park.
165 Oakwood St, Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 296-2864
Battlegrounds Game Center
Battlegrounds Game Center is a local store and event space selling tabletop games, paints, tools, miniatures, and other collectibles with room rentals and recurring community events.
320 E Main St Suite 301, Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 814-3194
Bear’s Vintage Metalworks
Bear’s Vintage is a motorcycle museum showcasing a massive collection of old Harley’s, accessories, and memorabilia with frequent events and bike shows.
408 W Main St, Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 297-7755
Additional Ravenna Attractions
For those searching for more fun things to do in Ravenna, Ohio the local Parks and Recreation Department has a list of events on its website.
Ravenna Restaurants
Anyone looking for good food in Ravenna Ohio will be pleasantly surprised. You’ll find a wide variety of Ravenna Ohio restaurants serving everything from steaks to Italian cuisine. Here are a few of the best places to eat in Ravenna Ohio.
West Main Street Winery and Brewery
The West Main Street Winery and Brewery is a local hotspot serving a curated selection of fine wines, craft beer, and cider with pizza and appetizers and live music.
234 W Main St, Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 839-8042
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Arnie’s West Branch Steakhouse
Arnie’s West Branch Steakhouse is one of the top Ravenna OH restaurants if you’re in the mood for a filet mignon or a ribeye and lobster with an extensive menu of steak and seafood.
5343 OH-14, Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 297-1717
Siciliano’s Pizzaria
Siciliano’s Pizzeria is a family-owned and operated Italian restaurant in Ravenna Ohio that serves specialty pizzas, chicken, garlic bread, and other classic entrees in a comfortable setting.
974 E Main St, Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 297-1000
Jobs in Ravenna
Living in Ravenna offers access to a strong job market and business culture. The major industries in the area include health services, manufacturing, government, trade/transportation, and light manufacturing. The Portage County job labor force is about 87,300, and the unemployment rate is 5.6%.
University Hospital Portage Medical Center is a major employer in the city. The vast majority of residents living in Ravenna are employed in healthcare practitioner and technical occupations, office and administrative support or production roles. However, the highest paying occupations are management, legal or computer, and mathematical occupations.
Some of the largest providers of Ravenna Ohio jobs include:
- Performance Elastomers
- Allen Aircraft
- Sirna & Sons
- Paris Industries
- Parker Hannifin
According to the Economic Research Institute, jobs in Ravenna, Ohio pay an average salary of $62,894. From lawn technician to caregiver, you’ll find an interesting selection of Ravenna jobs available if you’re looking for employment. City of Ravenna Ohio jobs are likewise available if you’re interested in working with local government.
Ravenna Schools
Students living in Ravenna will have access to excellent schools. The Ravenna School District consists of one preschool, three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one alternative school.
West Park Elementary School serves kindergarten students, while Willyard Elementary offers grades one and two, and West Main Elementary School serves grades three and four. Students in grades 5-8 attend Brown Middle School, while Ravenna High School serves students in grades 9 through 12. Ravenna High School enrolls about 582 students and has a student-teacher-ratio of 14:1.
The Maplewood Career Center is a vocational school serving high school students in Portage and Summit County, is also in Ravenna. The Bio-Med Science Academy, a public STEM school offering grades 2-12 is also in town on the former campus of Fortis College, which closed in 2018. Kent State, one of Ohio’s top public universities, is also close by in the neighboring city of Kent. For books and other media, residents should stop by the Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna, Ohio.
Ravenna Statistics & Information
- County: Portage County
- Ravenna area: 5.68 square miles
- Ravenna zip code: 44266
- Ravenna area code: 330 and 234
- Ravenna elevation: 1,112 ft
- Ravenna time zone: Eastern Time Zone (UTC -4 and -5)
- Closest airport to Ravenna: The Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK) is 30 miles away.
Map of Ravenna, OH
Discover more Ravenna restaurants, attractions, and fun things to do with this map.
Planning a relocation to this laidback city? Trust our expert Ravenna movers to make your upcoming move organized and efficient. Call (330) 359-1491 today for a free quote.
