Questions about Monroe (Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown: houses, buying, YMCA)

[wooper68]

We will be relocating and want to find somewhere that we can get an affordable home and a good cost of living. We would like a good school but I prefer smaller than the schools in Mason. How are the schools in Monroe? How long of a commute is it to downtown cincinnati? Any other info about the area would be appreciated.

[Pathwalker]

I'll be really honest with you - I don't know what the school system is like in Monroe. But the commute to downtown Cincinnati would be rather lengthy. Even heading straight down I-75, you're looking at about a 40 minute drive - at least. And that's with traffic flowing smoothly during rush hour.

Monroe is a nice area. Decent mix of homes. It's probably cheaper up there than places farther south in West Chester and Mason. It's growing some - will probably boom within the next 5 years, with major housing developments and shopping centers making their way into the area.

If you're wanting a smaller school system than Mason, you might try some place like Lebanon. I'm honestly not sure what other school systems up in this direction would be smaller, and yet still be as good as Mason, Kings, or Lakota.

[Briolat21]

We're building a house in Monroe!!! We don't have children yet, so I can't say that I've researched the school systems that thoroughly, but we were told that they just built a new school (we've driven by it - its really sharp) and that their school system is regarded pretty highly. Of course everyone in WestChester/Liberty Twp., will say nothing can be better than Lakota, but Lakota is also really crowded from what I hear.. Monroe is going to be a lot smaller. If you're working in downtown Cinci, it'll be a bit of a drive for you. Monroe's main exit off of I-75 is exit 29, Cinci downtown is about exit 3 to exit 1. So that's 27 miles minimum on the highway.. and believe me I-75gets backed up at rush hour!!

However, for the person who recommened Lebanon, it would be any closer at all -- its the same distance North from the city, its just further East. It is closer to I-71, if for some reason you're working on the East Side of Cinci, I-71 would be more convenient for you, but it backs up as well.

If you're going to be working out in the suburbs (you mentioned Mason)... and just want to go into Cinci in the evenings for events, or on weekends.. Monroe is not far at all. I go up to Monroe after working in WestChester, to check with the builder, then I drive to my temporary home in Cincinnati (exit 6) and it only takes me about 30 minutes in the evening.

good luck!! We're building in Brittony Trails, there's also Brittony Woods and Brittony Reserves -- we want neighbors!! C'mon in!! Also, a lot of good deals in buying existing homes, people who built there house a couple of years ago at the height of craziness, but couldn't really afford it and now have to get out!

[wooper68]

Thanks for everyones input. I have researched Lebanon also and was interested in it, but the schools are larger than in Monroe from what I've read. Basically, the housing seems the same. I like the idea of having the YMCA right there in Lebanon where I could work out and the kids could do gymnastics, swimming, etc. Is I-71 traffic any better than I-75 traffic? My husband's job will be off of Center Hill Ave. in cincy. It seems like all the areas I like will be too long of a commute for him.

[Pathwalker]

Originally Posted by wooper68

Thanks for everyones input. I have researched Lebanon also and was interested in it, but the schools are larger than in Monroe from what I've read. Basically, the housing seems the same. I like the idea of having the YMCA right there in Lebanon where I could work out and the kids could do gymnastics, swimming, etc. Is I-71 traffic any better than I-75 traffic? My husband's job will be off of Center Hill Ave. in cincy. It seems like all the areas I like will be too long of a commute for him.

Center Hill Avenue is in Winton Terrace, which is in the northern part of the Cincinnati city limits - not downtown. You would definitely be better off sticking to an area around I-75, since Center Hill Avenue is on the west side of the interstate - far removed from I-71. So I'd forget about Lebanon. The commute from Monroe to that part of town would be about 25, maybe 30 minutes.

Have you thought about maybe checking out the western sections of Hamilton County? Perhaps Harrison, near the Indiana border along I-74? Or maybe Ross, which is along US 27 up in Butler County? I simply don't know of a smaller school system that might suit you and still afford your husband a reasonable commute to Winton Terrace. Not sure if Finneytown would suit you. You'd essentially be right along Center Hill Avenue, but I'm not sure how good that school system is. Likewise, there is Mt. Healthy and North College Hill - but you'd have to research the quality of those districts. Wyoming might be a consideration, as well. It would be a decently short commute for your husband, and Wyoming is a nice area.

Best of luck!

[Briolat21]

Re: Monroe -- I don't know where you're coming from (somewhere in Ohio, or out of state), but I'm coming from MI and I find Monroe to be pretty close to a lot of things, while still a little isolated and small-town. To it's South, WestChester (where I work) and Liberty Township are growing quite a bit and provide a lot of entertainment/shopping locales. To its North is Middletown, which is a bit economically depressed, but has the Target/Lowes, etc.. (if the one's in WestChester don't have what you want). To the East is Lebanon (super cute, but a little further out of the way).. and to the West is Farm Fields (Trenton, mostly)..

Anyway, I can be in WestChester in about 10 minutes, and to exit 6 (my brother's exit on the North Side of Cinci) in about 30 minutes.

I don't know about a YMCA, I wouldn't be suprised if there were one nearby in WestChester or Liberty Twp.

Lemme know (you can PM me if you want) if you want me to look up something specific for you, I'll try to help!

Good luck on your decisons, relocating is a Pain!!

[homeschool513]

Hello,

If you are looking for a quick commute downtown with good schools that aren't too large, try Landen. Landen is a small community in Maineville. They are in the Kings School distrcit, not Little Miami. There are bike and walking trails. It is a 15 min. drive to the Lebanon YMCA. Plus there is a YMCA express right on Mongomery Rd. There is an express bus that picks up at Kings Island and takes you to work downtown. It only takes 36 minutes and is nonstop. You are close to everything in Mason without the added taxes. We love Landen and have lived here for 9 years.

[wooper68]

We just returned from a short 2 day trip to the area. My husband is going to be working with someone from Monroe and they said they wish the had researched things more before deciding to move there. So, he won't even look at anything there. I looked around by myself while he was at an interview and thought it was fine. I found the Brittony Woods sub. (I think that was the name)that someone spoke about building a home there. The houses seemed awfully close together. My husband really liked homes around Shaker Run golf course but I think it is too far out of town.

[Briolat21]

Shaker run is really pretty, if you look in the "trails of shaker run" subdivision, the yards are a little smaller than Brittony (about 80feet wide, vs 90 feet wide) .. however if you look in the more "estates" area right next to the golf course, the home sites are a little larger..

We'd love 1/2 acre lots.. but the communities those were in (Lebanon, Liberty Twp) they were just more expensive than we could justify. We're getting nearly 0.4 acres (0.38) in Brittony Trails, so that's enough for now!

Good luck whatever you decide.. Just remember wherever you're coming from, the rural suburbs are RURAL.. if you can live with that, you'll be fine!

[wooper68]

Briolat21-I must not have been looking at the subdivision you are building in . Your lot is larger than the ones I saw. I am from Missouri and in a rural area so I'm fine with that. But where we live now my kids can walk to school. I am 2 miles from the gym, 3 miles from my church, and 4 miles from Wal-Mart (that is very important-my husband has to tell everyone that I am basing where we live on how close the nearest SuperCenter is.