A Local Expert's Guide to the Best Affordable Neighborhoods in Toledo, OH
Hello! I'm Catrina, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Toledo, Ohio, and I'm ready to tell you all about the great neighborhoods you can be a part of in this multicultural city.
Toledo is one of the largest cities in the state, and it is also one of the most unique. Bordering Lake Erie, you'll find beaches there. You'll also find riverfront access along the Maumee River, and you'll be just a few minutes away from all the hustle and bustle of busy city life.
To give you more insight into what it's like to live in Toledo, here are the top 10 most affordable neighborhoods that you may want to look into as you search for a new home.
North Toledo
Historically, North Toledo has been a working-class area, which you can tell from its historic buildings and industrial zones. The Port of Toledo is here, which is very cool if you're interested in being near the water; single-family houses, historic homes, and duplexes dot the area around the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Locally, you can enjoy the Marina District, and you can hop onto State Route 51 or I-280 to get out of town.
Franklin Park
Franklin Park is in the northwestern part of Toledo and is a suburb. It's bordered by Talmadge Road, Monroe Street, and Secor Road. If you live in this area, you'll be surrounded by retail shopping centers. The Franklin Park Mall is in Franklin Park, as are a number of big-box chain stores and boutiques.
What I love about Franklin Park is that it's always busy; if you're looking for somewhere to hang out or meet up with family, friends, or coworkers, there are restaurants to try, activities to do, and easy access routes (including I-475) to head home at the end of the night.
Roosevelt
In Central Toledo, Roosevelt is a historically African-American neighborhood. You'll find many smaller single-family homes and duplexes in the area, as well as the local Roosevelt Pool and Community Center.
The nice thing about Roosevelt is that it's a calm area, and it's served by public transportation (Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, or TARTA). It's just a short distance from I-75, too, making it easy to head north or south out of the city.
Olde Towne
I love heading into Olde Towne; this is the architectural glory of Toledo. Bordered by Bancroft Street, Cherry Street, and Collingwood Boulevard, it's fairly close to the medical district (perfect for aspiring medical professionals) and historically has some of the more affordable housing in the city. It is very close to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center.
Onyx
Uniquely named, Onyx is not a well-known neighborhood in Toledo. It borders (and at times overlaps with) Warren-Sherman. You can get there by taking Nebraska Avenue, Bancroft Street, or Detroit Avenue.
This is a mixed-use area. You can find commercial buildings and businesses there, and there are apartments and homes, too. If you work locally, finding your housing within minutes of your job is possible. Dorr Street and I-75 are also within a short drive, so you can get to the downtown area or drive out of town fairly easily.
Polish Village
Polish Village is another name for Lagrange, but it is more hyper-specific. Most locals refer to this as the core of the area, specifically around Lagrange Street. Here, you'll find all the same things you'd see in Lagrange proper, but you'll find even more Polish restaurants and businesses. This specific neighborhood is historic, having been built by Polish immigrants in the late 1800s.
Downtown Toledo
Downtown Toledo, which is off I-75, is the perfect place for business professionals and art lovers alike. There, you'll find the Toledo Museum of Art, Huntington Center (a major arena for hockey and concerts), and the science center, Imagination Station.
This area includes the Maumee Riverfront, which features the Class City Metropark. Locals enjoy going there for the scenery. Says one, "The walking paths are the perfect place to get in exercise without having to worry about traffic, and there is plenty of that in Toledo!"
Moving? You may like staying in River West along the Maumee River, Warehouse District close to Fifth Third Field, or the cobblestone streets of Vistula Historic District.
Warren-Sherman
Just west of Downtown Toledo, Warren-Sherman has plenty of single-family homes, many older and brick. This has historically been a blue-collar part of town, and it is nestled into the manufacturing and industrial area in the city. If you will attend university, then you'll take Dorr Street or Detroit Avenue. Beneficially, you'll also be located close to the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library Main Branch.
Lagrange
Lagrange is a culturally rich area and home to many Polish immigrants. One of the popular festivals I like to go to is the Lagrange Street Polish Festival, which is well known across Northwestern Ohio.
Similar to other neighborhoods in Toledo, this one is also off I-75 and well connected into and out of the city. You'll find single-family homes, historic buildings, and duplexes there, as well as some significant cultural anchors, like the St. Hedwig and St. Adalbert churches.
Collingwood Springs
This is the perfect part of the city to be in if you love art. Collingwood Springs is very close to the Toledo Museum of Art, which rotates its collection (making it an awesome place for an annual pass, in my opinion). It's also a younger part of town, meaning you're going to see young professionals, renters, and graduating artists, for example.
There is public transportation from Collingwood Springs, which is great for students (particularly medical students heading to the medical campus district). If you like to look at mansions and enjoy Gothic and Victorian architecture, this part of the city is the place to be.
Every part of Toledo has its own unique benefits, and you may find that you prefer one over another for its access to the lake, commercial areas, or the University of Toledo. In any case, Toledo is worth a chance; it's a beautiful city with much to offer!
