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Where to live in Cincinnati area
Hello everyone. DH & I are being relocated to the Cincinnati area from Central NJ. I'm absolutely devastated about this, b/c all of our family lives in the NJ/PA area and with our 5 month old DD, I'm sad that they won't get to see her as often as they currently do...I am excited for the new opportunities though & was hoping you could help with some feedback...
I am looking for some recommendations on neighborhoods in the area. DH & I have to start house hunting immediately. I currently love our suburban neighborhood, 15 minutes from several shopping centers, 30 minute drive to NYC. Are there any areas that are somewhat quiet, but have close access to a downtown area? We love the quietness of our neighborhood, but the availability of a city (or down town) for dinner/shopping. TIA for any advice!
Re: Where to live in Cincinnati area
Welcome
I like Anderson, Milford, Loveland, Madiera, Montgomery, and Blue Ash for a family-friendly, suburban feel. They're all very close to a lot of good dining and shopping, and all are within a half hour of downtown. They're all very good school districts too, if you may be staying long-term. Mason is a little farther out from the city, but there's good dining and shopping there too, and I hear it's very family-friendly. Mariemont is also a very adorable, walkable, family-friendly area, although to me it feels less "suburban" because the houses are pretty close together.
H and I have an apartment and those are all areas we're considering when we start house-hunting.
I'm in the Loveland/Milford area (aka: Miami Township) and I love it. Just beware of the taxes. You'll pay a lot for a good school district around here. Some districts rate "excellent" and have more reasonable taxes, but I can't name them off the top of my head. It's something to ask your realtor. Of course, coming from NY/NJ, our taxes will seem super cheap.
Welcome, in advance!
We live in Mason which is a northern suburb of town. Our neighborhood is right down to the street (walking distance) from an outdoor mall, movie theater, grocery store but I have to say most people still drive. My husband works downtown and his commute is roughly 25 minutes from the city. The school district is excellent which was one of the reasons we chose this part of town when we bought about 2 yrs ago.
Nearby is Landen/Maineville and West Chester. Both have pretty good school districts but are cheaper than Mason. West Chester also has quite a bit of shopping nearby (it is off of I-75 at the same latitude as Mason which is off of I-71). We also considered Blue Ash in our search because we liked that it was a little closer to the city (inside the I-275 loop) but the houses are generally older and you get much less house for your buck. School district (Sycamore) is excellent, though.
Where will you and/or DH be working? That is probably something to consider when you buy a house.
If you happen to need a real estate agent, I HIGHLY recommend Pat(ricia) Chrysler. She helped us navigate our first home buying experience and has been buying/selling in the area for over 20 years so is very familiar. She's also much like a friend in personality and giving very honest opinions. www.athomewithpat.com
ETA: Not sure what your price range is but there are 2-3 houses for sale in my neighborhood. Let me know if you want me to PM you the listings.
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West Clermont schools, I think, fits that description. The eastgate/withamsville area is still pretty close to shopping/dining and reasonably close to downtown.
A few people here have made good points about how much house you get for your buck. I've noticed that varies widely between areas/neighborhoods. In Clermont county (Milford, eastgate), it seems like you can get a nicer, bigger, newer house for the same price as something smaller and older in, say, Blue Ash or Madiera. But those neighborhoods have their particular draw too.
The good news is that houses in this area are relatively inexpensive, especially coming from close to NYC!!
Just my opinion, but I would steer clear of sending my kids to any of the Clermont County schools except for, maybe, Milford. I think if you are looking at houses, you need to decide how big of a school you want. Madeira, Mariemont, Indian Hill are all pretty small. The Wyoming area has a stellar school district, but I think mostly older houses and a little further from the city. Sycamore, Mason, Lakota are all starting to get into some bigger schools. Also you may want to consider new community (houses) vs older houses.
One last thing to note: lots of Ohio schools are having a rally tough time passing levies right now. As a result, programs are being cut (busing, specials, larger class sizes, etc.). This seems to be an issue across the board and not just subject to lower socio-economic districts. I am sure this issue will eventually turn around. However, the state of Kentucky does their funding of schools much differently and don't tend to have these sort of issues. Good luck in your search!
Can I ask why? I'm very curious because we've considered West Clermont to live and maybe start a family. Because of my job, I've had to work very closely with Glen Este High School (and a little with the middle school) and I'm really impressed with them, at least. They offer a lot of classes and their small school program is really cool. I think WC used to have low ratings, but they're Excellent with Distinction now.
I wouldn't touch Cincy public with a ten foot pole, though.
From my experience working in the Clermont County schools, I feel that WC is very quick to jump on the bandwagon for the latest trends- whatever they may be. While it's great that they are open to change, I feel that they are a little too quick to go with what the hype is and to block out other approaches. My work was all with Special Ed. students, so I can't speak for the general population personally, but I have spoken with parents who are not happy for similar reasons. If you would like more specific information, feel free to PM me.
I would also like to suggest Reading. We live there and my dad has lived there his entire life. All 3 of their schools are rated "excellent" and both my bro and sis went through them and loved it. The area is so central and close to everything. We're right off 71, 75, and Cross County/Ronald Reagan Highway. There is so much to do and very close to us. We have lots of parks that are in great condition and are kept up very nicely. Its also very quiet and everyone around is super friendly and there to help anytime you need it. PM me if you would like more personal info; I can def give you any tips.
Blue Ash, Montgomery, Kenwood, Madeira, Indian Hill, Mason, and West Chester are all very good areas, too. I just can't speak personally on schools, etc. GL!
We moved to Madeira about a year ago and love it. It's close to shopping and a very family-friendly, walkable little town. I also love Mt. Lookout and Hyde Park, though you might not get as much for your money. If it's only 2 years and you end up considering apartments/rentals though, those areas are fantastic. All 3 areas hold their property value, so a re-sell should be easier as well.
Cincy is a great city, and while a bit slower paced (and a lot less awesome) than NYC, I think you'll relaly like here! Once you arrive, check back for some more great recs!
We will be sending our two children to Cincinnati Public so I take issue with your comment. We are both Master's degree educated professionals, as are many of our friends and neighbors who use and will use this district as well. Yes, the district has challenges but parents that are willing and able to be active and involved in their child's education make the difference. There are many schools (Fairview Clifton German Language, Walnut Hills, SPCA, Dater and Sands Montessori schools for example) that are excellent and produce outstanding students.
I love living in this city and I have zero interest in living in the 'burbs. I get tired of people who don't seem to know anything about our school district making blanket statements about how terrible it is.
I wouldn't suggest West Chester if you want to live near the city. I wouldn't even go as north as Blue Ash or Montgomery if it were me. I just don't like having to drive 20+ minutes to get anywhere.
If you can afford Mariemont, then I'd suggest that neighborhood. If you need something cheaper, the neighborhood that is right next to it is Madison Place. They have smaller homes, and you can find an updated house to rent for $900 or less. Can buy a move in ready for 100-115k.
I like the Mariemont/Madison Place area because it's a 10-15 minute drive to downtown. Also, there are two buses that go through that area that will take you downtown as well. It's a 10 minute drive to about every place you want to be.
Hey there! I'm originally from the Rahway/Edison area and I've been here for way too long now. My whole family is in NJ, Brooklyn, and Stroudsburg, PA, so I know where you're coming from.
What town are you from? If you tell me what area you're in now I can probably come up with something similar. I live in Milford now, and I'm miserable. I also wasn't a big fan of West Chester. Anderson was better. We're hoping to move to Mt. Lookout in the next year.
My top list for areas that won't be a major culture shock: Mt. Lookout, Hyde Park, Oakley, and maybe Mariemont. Suburbs here aren't the same as suburbs there, but I would also consider Montgomery, Blue Ash, and Madeira.
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