Wooster, Ohio

What It Is Like to Retire in Wooster

Wooster, a vibrant college town, is located in northeastern Ohio, with a population of 26,119 (2010 census), and is the county seat of Wayne County.  The town was established in 1808, and named after David Wooster, a general in the American Revolutionary War.  It is home to The College of Wooster, a private, liberal arts school of approximately 1,800 students, and is consistently ranked among the nation's top liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News and World Report.  Wooster is also dedicated to the "industry of education” and remains an agricultural center for Ohio. It has two subsidiaries of The Ohio State University: the Agricultural Technical Institute and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which is a teaching and research facility dedicated to agricultural science.   With Wayne County considered  “The Gateway to Amish Country”, it is not unusual to see traditional Amish farmers come to Wooster by horse and buggy. Picture of Downtown Wooster courtesy of Wikipedia and Riboyer (public domain); photo of f the Liggett-Freedlander House, built in 1861, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, courtesy of Wikipedia and Nyttend (public domain).

Where to Retire in Wooster and Home Prices

Zillow reports the median home value was $165,803 in early 2020. (See link on left for communities in Wooster)

What Is Special about Wooster

Wooster is a very walkable community and has a thriving downtown with shops and restaurants, along with being the headquarters for several industries and small innovative firms;  The College of Wooster offers music, arts, and lectures, as does Wayne Center for the Arts, a community based arts center;  the Parks and Recreation Department maintains several parks with swimming pools, playgrounds, trails, and activities for all seasons.

What Is Not Special about Wooster

It is a little isolated, with Akron being the nearest city 35 miles away, and it's approximately 50 miles to Cleveland; The average January temperature is just 26 degrees, and it does snow in Wooster (about 32 inches each winter).

Who Will Like Retirement in Wooster

Retirees who want a college town with a low crime rate and a low cost of living would enjoy living here.  The College of Wooster offers lectures and classes retirees can attend, along with cultural events.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Manufacturing and Education

Climate and Physical Environment

Wooster's average January temperature is 26 degrees, the average July temperature is about 72 degrees. Wooster gets over 30 inches of snow each winter.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

There are many opportunites for residents to enjoy the arts.  Wayne Center for the Arts, which is a visual and performing arts organization offers exhibits, art workshops, and dance, along with performances and community events;  on the campus of The College of Wooster is The Ohio Light Opera which has been producing operettas and musical theater for over 35 seasons; Wooster also has town festivals such as Feista Italiana which is a biannual event and celebrates its Italian heritage with music and culinary and artisan demonstrations.

Crime

The town has a low crime rate.

Medical facilities

Wooster Community Hospital

Transportation

Wayne County does have a small airport that serves the many businesses in the area; Akron-Canton Regional Airport is 42 miles away; Cleveland Hopkins International is about 50 miles away.

Valuable Links

The City of Wooster

The Ohio Light Opera

Wayne Center for the Arts