Colorado to Ohio (Cincinnati area) comparison (Hamilton, Warren: best towns, houses, neighborhood)

[kelcolo]

Possible relocation from mountain/foothills of Denver area to the Cincinnati area. Anyone else out there move from Colorado to Cincinnati in the past few years? What are the major adjustments that we may be faced with (other than the HUGE property tax increase!). By the way, what exactly does all of this tax go toward? Here in Colorado a $400,000 home has about $2500/year in property taxes. I notice that most areas of Cincinnati and suburbs it is closer to $6500/year! We have great road maintenance, schools, etc here so I'm wondering why such a big difference. The gas tax is also higher in OH, etc.

Thanks.

[Wxluvr]

For a better tax rate, stay out of Hamilton County and move to the suburbs of the Cincinnati (Clermont County, Butler County, anywhere in southeast Indiana and in northern Kentucky).

Aside from the taxes, be prepared for less snow and lower visibility than you get in the western plains and Rocky Mountains.

Rich Apuzzo

Moderator cut: url removed

[YoMikey617]

Some of best towns with $400K+ homes have a low commercial tax base (ie. Mariemont, Wyoming), but the residents demand blue chip services, and thus the higher property taxes.

Everything in Cincinnati is OLD, and older infrastructure requires a higher tax base to support it. Not just old buildings, roads, and utility infrastructure, but healthcare and pensions of retired city / county workers and so forth. Give suburban Denver 50-100 years to catch up and taxes there will be way higher than they are now.

Ohio's property taxes might seem high compared to Denver, but we're still way lower than NJ, NY, MA, WI, CA, FL... This might not be a total answer to your tax questions, but it should help you put it in a different perspective.

Also you can move to the outer counties, but know that it comes with a price.
*Driving and sitting in traffic for 20-30 minutes to do just about everything costs money. You can get more house for your money living out in the sticks, but then you'll pay for it in high gas prices and time spent driving everywhere.
* Cincinnati's worst traffic goes north / south on 71 / 75, and people who commute from downtown to Butler / Warren Co sit in traffic 1-2 hrs / day.
*Kentucky taxes are lower, but their best public schools are about as good as Ohio's mediocre public schools.

[magicgreen]

Cincinnati is pretty nice. Its a family oriented city. So if you want the fast life-FORGET IT!!!! You can find it ,but at a price. Great people here. Compared to CO; its faster.
Theres bad streets. But every city has those.
Not as clean as CO.
But OK!
If something is not right in your neighborhood, somebody will call the cops!
People help one another in cincinnati; unlike NY.
You dont get the different fluctuations in weather like Colorado; You wont get all that snow.
When you do get it, you'll like it!
You can live in east walnut hills and love it!{around the corner from ghetto}
Or live in Amberly village{Rich} which is down the street from the ghetto!
You can live way out, and commute like a fool 20mins to 2hrs everyday!
Or live in the city, and enjoy the ambiance
I Love this city
It has so much to offer!!!!!
Cincinnati is a very secret place!
Come on join us------and find out why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[unusualfire]

What area's are $6500 a year in property taxes? Indian hill? A 400k home in White oak will come to about $2400-3000 a year in property tax.

[kelcolo]

I've been searching MLS, mostly northern suburb areas as that is where I am finding larger lots (2+ acres). This is where I am finding high property taxes (at least according to what is listed on the MLS). Lebanon, Milford, Clarksville, and many others. I did look at White Oak after seeing your post, however they all seem to have small lots (nice houses though!).

[traysea]

just for comparison.. my 2700 SF home costs me about 2700 in property taxes to county and 900 to city of Villa Hills. The house cost me 281k in 2005.

It's a bit high but Villa is really nice. Compared to where I moved to in Orlando.. these taxes are a breeze!

Good luck.
BTW, most of the people I know in KY send there kids to private school b/c they want to and don't worry about public schools.. however I haven't heard they are only average compared to OH.

Also.. if you pick the right area in Kenton County, KY (Villa, Ft Wright, Park Hills.. etc) there are quick ways to get downtown and thus avoid the crappy highway traffic..

I didn't have to commute to my job everyday but you couldn't pay me to drive from florence or union north or from butler county/west chester/mason south into city.

just my two cents!

[kelcolo]

traysea:
Thanks for the info on Northern KY. For whatever reason, the different MLS's I am searching don't list the property taxes for the KY properties so your info is quite helpful.

What areas in Northern KY would be best to search if we are looking for a large wooded lot (2+acres) in the $300,000 - $400,000 range? Schools only important to us for resale value as we are now empty nesters.

We won't be ready to actually do physical search/visits for 3-4 months, but I'd like to get an idea of the different areas available. Thanks!

[movin' on up]

i haven't lived in co yet but am moving there from cincinnati soon. the biggest differnence is that cincinnati has about 5 months of constant cloud cover - very nasty. we do have a more mild climate though. the people are nice on the surface but are reluctant to go the extra step to make "friends" with an outsider. this is probably because cincinnati is not a very transient city, unlike denver, for example. many people are born here, live here and die here without ever leaving. i'm not saying that you'd be making a mistake by coming - it's a good place to raise a family, schools are good, decent arts scene etc, multiple good universities, pro sports, etc. i'm also sayin' that i'm outta here...

[magicgreen]

Originally Posted by movin' on up

i haven't lived in co yet but am moving there from cincinnati soon. the biggest differnence is that cincinnati has about 5 months of constant cloud cover - very nasty. we do have a more mild climate though. the people are nice on the surface but are reluctant to go the extra step to make "friends" with an outsider. this is probably because cincinnati is not a very transient city, unlike denver, for example. many people are born here, live here and die here without ever leaving. i'm not saying that you'd be making a mistake by coming - it's a good place to raise a family, schools are good, decent arts scene etc, multiple good universities, pro sports, etc. i'm also sayin' that i'm outta here...

I have lived in Colorado! I lived in colorado springs. It was nice, but........the people were too transient for me. Public transportation sucks. You must must must have a car! THe weather is weird, It can snow,sleet,rain, temperatures drop, temp back up, sun come out, sun gone, in 1 day!
I missed older people, older houses, old trees while i was there. Too DRY there. People dont get that personal; and would usually do some kind of DIRT cause they are usually leaving to go back to home states for good, or they are in the miliatary leaving to go on another assignment!
Oh and about cincinnati's cloud cover.....Its wintertime! What do you expect? Those 5 months {Dec thru Apr} are cold, but the sun does come out! If your not happy here....Maybe its you and not the state! More than likely you'll find fault in Colorado as well, and come back like so many others!
If you dont.......ADIOS!!!!!!!!!AMIGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: D
And thats some of what i didnt like!
Next time maybe i'll say what i did like! Magicgreen