Good Cincy neighborhoods for young professional? (Cincinnati, Hamilton: renting, low crime, houses)

[bluex12]

Considering moving family of five to Cincy from Florida for work reasons...Have heard good things about Mariemont/Hyde Park area as well as West Chester/Mason. Looking for houses in the 400-600K price range, good school district, family-friendly, etc. Any suggestions from locals?

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by bluex12

Considering moving family of five to Cincy from Florida for work reasons...Have heard good things about Mariemont/Hyde Park area as well as West Chester/Mason. Looking for houses in the 400-600K price range, good school district, family-friendly, etc. Any suggestions from locals?

It definitely depends on your personal vibes. In your suggested price range you should have the pick of these neighborhoods (maybe not the high end in Hyde Park or even Mason).

Mariemont was one of the first planned communities in the US. It has many desired attributes. The community has a common denominator architectural appearance, what I call the Williamsburg of the mid west. Nothing much to complain about, other than many of the properties are small by today's comparisons.

Hyde Park is a complete amalgram. Hard to determine eactly what it is. Some of the most grandose houses in the entire area are located fhere. Then you evolve to multi-level brownstones renting out flats.

West Chester (which is a townshio by the way) and Mason are on the northern boundaries of the City, actually a good distance out of the City.

[JoeC23]

Hyde Park/Mt Lookout is a very good area for young professionals with low crime rates while being close to many urban amenities. However the only real drawback that I can think of it that it is within the Cincinnati Public Schools which do have a few highly regarded magnet schools but are overall of very poor quality.

Mariemont is top notch and I would also suggest Anderson Township.

[bluex12]

Thanks for the responses. I'll be working close to downtown if I go through with the move, so it would be more convenient to be in a neighborhood closer to that area, however, I don't mind a longer commute; I live forty-five minutes from work at the moment.
Mason and West Chester appear far from the city on a map, and seem to have more of a typical-suburban look to them judging by house listings. Am I right in that assumption? And would I feel too far out from the city in those areas--are they considered part of Cincinnati?
I haven't come across Anderson Township--is this considered "east side" of Cincinnati?
Ideally, I'd like somewhere safe and suburban, yet not too far from the downtown area that it feels remote or disconnected.

[progmac]

Bluex12 - your assumptions about West Chester and Mason are accurate. If you want something typical suburban but closer in, Anderson township is a good bet. You also would probably be happy in Sycamore township.

[kjbrill]

Bluex12...

West Chester is one of the largest townships in the state with a population currently around 65,000. Mason is a city with a population around 35,000. Both of them experienced very rapid growth over the past 20 years. Each has developments of all shapes and sizes. Easily within a 45 minute commute to downtown. Both have excellent schools which is part of the reason the development spurted.

Look at Montgomery and Blue Ash in your realty browsings. They are closer to downtown and in the Sycamore school district which is excellent. Also in the same school district is parts of Symmes Township in the northern part of Hamilton County. There are some very nice homes in that area.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by bluex12

Considering moving family of five to Cincy from Florida for work reasons...Have heard good things about Mariemont/Hyde Park area as well as West Chester/Mason. Looking for houses in the 400-600K price range, good school district, family-friendly, etc. Any suggestions from locals?

I suggest you investigate Wyoming. Absolutely top rated schools and a great sense of community.

[joyeaux]

Wyoming is always my suggestion for quick access to the city, a beautiful looking community, and its family orientation.
In this case, it seems to even suit the person I'm advising! I plain love the place

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by joyeaux

Wyoming is always my suggestion for quick access to the city, a beautiful looking community, and its family orientation.
In this case, it seems to even suit the person I'm advising! I plain love the place

Wyoming is definitely a fine place and convenient to the City. The only problem is it is rather small and may have limited availability in housing to your liking.

[flashes1]

Great suggestions so far. I'd say Anderson if you're looking for a suburban feel with good schools but not too far from downtown......Montgomery is a lot like this too, however, it has a more snooty old money feel....and you can get a lot more house in Anderson....but downtown Montgomery is quaint.

Wyoming-----a fine suggestion----stately old houses with great schools----but it has a more urban feel because you have to drive thru a gritty area to get there. You really need to drive thru it to really know if it's your thing.

Hyde Park is great if you're confident you're kids are smart enough to test into Walnut Hill schools or you're thinking of going the private school route.