Despite the continuing economic challenges, attachment to the Akron area remains basically flat in 2010.

In the Akron area, social offerings (entertainment infrastructure, places to meet people), aesthetics (an area’s physical beauty and green spaces) and openness (how welcoming a place is to different kinds of people) are the most important factors emotionally connecting residents to where they live.

Aesthetics – particularly the parks, playgrounds and trails – is seen as a strength.

Social offerings continues to be seen as an area needing improvement, even though Akron has had significant gains in the perception of nightlife over the past year. So is openness - it is still rated as least welcoming to job seeking college graduates and significantly less welcome to immigrants in 2010.

Demographic facts: Residents most attached to Akron now tend to earn less than $25,000 per year.  Those earning $75,000 or more are the least attached income group.  There is little difference in attachment among education levels.

Ratings of the local economy and basic services are significantly higher in 2010; however, the economy still was not an important factor in determining residents’ emotional connection to place. Perception of local leadership was down significantly in 2010.