Nextdoor ranks Wickliffe the friendliest city in Ohio
Published by: The News-Herald
Original article found here
Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. has ranked Wickliffe as the friendliest city in Ohio, followed by Oxford, Arcanum, Wintersville and Yellow Springs.
Nextdoor stated that the neighborhood network that is used by more than 105 million neighbors to connect with those nearby, released its 2026 rankings of friendliest cities, spotlighting the Ohio cities where neighbors are most engaged, supportive and welcoming.
Nextdoor reported that the rankings for the friendliest neighborhoods in Ohio are based on how Ohio residents actually interact with one another on the Nextdoor platform. The data that was collected by Nextdoor captures everything from neighbors helping each other out to how they share resources and build community connections.
“Rankings like these are a reflection of something that can’t be manufactured: the choices neighbors make to show up for each other,” said Kelsey Grady, chief global communications officer at Nextdoor. “From a welcome post for someone new on the block to sharing a recommendation or lending a hand, those small moments add up to something real. Wickliffe exemplifies what it looks like when a community genuinely takes care of its own.”
According to Nextdoor, the friendliness score ranks cities based on positive community interactions, working like an index as one city in Ohio gets a top score of 100 and others are ranked in relation to it.
The full list of the friendliest cities in Ohio is available at nextdoor.com/rankings/friendliest-place-to-live/oh/.
Wickliffe Mayor Joe Sakacs said many people in Wickliffe have each other’s backs.
“I beat this quote to death, but we’re a city surrounded by three freeways with nothing but heart in the middle and I stand by that,” he said. “When there’s a house fire or there’s somebody in need, not just council members or myself, but residents step up to help.”
Sakacs’ grandfather came to Wickliffe in 1921.
“I lived in Chardon, but I always came here on the weekends because my parents needed somebody to watch me,” Sakacs said. “We moved here in 1982. I was 9. Everybody embraced me right away — my friends I still talk to.”
When he was 21, Sakacs lived in San Diego, California. However, he said the Wickliffe magnet sucked him right back.
“The people here who you trust and the bond you make with them — I don’t want to be nowhere else but Wickliffe,” Sakacs said. “When I got married is when I started thinking I want to be here, we want to start our family here and it spirals from there.”
Council President Randy Gerhardstein recalled the tornado that hit the area roughly four or five years ago. Not only did residents come out, but city officials, including Sakacs.
“We stayed with the Service Department who called in, helping haul trees,” Gerhardstein said. “Then you see when the power goes out. You’ll see each neighbor helping the next one with generators, food or shopping for seniors. That’s what makes this community work. We’re lucky we happen to represent a whole community full of people who have been here for a long time and they have heart in their city.”
Most recently, Gerhardstein said there was a rollover accident that took place in front of his shop at 5 p.m. on a Friday.
“I posted a video on social media and the video was meant to show Wickliffe,” he said. “Before that car stopped even moving, people came to help whoever was in the car. The car was lying on its side and people were flocking to the car. One of our service employees was on duty. He stopped immediately. That’s what makes Wickliffe Wickliffe.”
Gerhardstein and his family moved to Wickliffe when he was just about 1 years old. Although he lived in Willowick for a few years, his family business started on Euclid Avenue in 1974.
“We’ve been on that block 52 years this year,” Gerhardstein said. “Wickliffe draws you back because of the community, the services, the people and you know your neighbor. It’s a lot of the same families. If you look at people I went to school with — a lot of them are still here. I know friends of mine who’ve moved out and came back home.”
Ward 2 Councilperson Justin Ball said Wickliffe has embraced his son after he had suffered a stroke as an infant.
“He has faced physical challenges throughout his life,” he said. “Despite those limitations, he has never been denied by them here. He has been welcomed, supported and celebrated. As a member of the varsity soccer team, he’s not just included. He’s valued. The coaches, players and the broader community have become his biggest fans, encouraging him, lifting him up and recognizing his determination, and heart.”
Ball said this kind of support goes far beyond sports.
“It speaks to the character of this city,” he said. “Being called the friendliest — it’s not just a title. It’s something lived out every single day.”
Finance Director Michael Matas described Wickliffe as a big time city with a small town feel.
“Wickliffe is diverse, home to the world headquarters of a global provider of specialty chemicals for the transportation, industrial and consumer markets,” he said. “We are fortunate to have many trails, a pool facility and numerous parks.”
Gerhardstein said the city works its hardest in trying to keep the services to where they need to be.
“There’s always changing with crime,” he said. “We’re right on the border of what people would consider Cuyahoga County. Our police, service and fire department make Wickliffe the way it is. People feel safe here.”
Wickliffe still has a personal touch, Gerhardstein said.
“Wickliffe takes care of Wickliffe,” he said. “The residents appreciate the fact that if you call, it didn’t take a month to get something done.”
Sakacs noted the times of the service director going out to help a resident during the weekend.
“There’s been times where someone’s having like a sewer backup or whatever it is and they call on a Saturday,” he said. “My service director and members go there immediately, and I’ll get a call back going, ‘Oh my God. Thank you so much. I can’t believe they came here on a Sunday and the guy was so nice to me.’ ”
Sakacs plans to look into hosting more events to bring more people together during his next four years as mayor.