Which city?? (Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron: homes, find a job, private schools)

[blameus4]

Hi,
I am moving from Orange County, California to the Cincinnati area. I have 2 kids(not really kids anymore). I have a sophmore in high school and another one is in jr college. We have been checking out schools and found that Lakota(West Chester/Liberty Twnship), Mason & Loveland are all rated very high. Can anyone give me some feed back on these communities? We would like a newer house(less than 8 years old). I want to be close to shopping areas like Target and Costco. Also we love golf and my son likes to paintball. I know we really have to visit those cities to actually see what's there but I would like to have some information from someone who knows more about the areas. My husband will be commuting to downtown Cincinnati. I know the commute from any of these cities will be better than the nightmare we have now in southern California.
Thanks,
Louise

[CLAUDANNA]

Hi
I'm Planning To Move Out Of New York And Really Don't Know Where To Go. I Was Thinking About Ohio OR Pennsyvania. I Don't Know Anything About Those Two States. Can Somebody Please Give Me An Idea Or Feedback Regarding Those States? I Have A 8 Years Old Daughter And Her Education Is Very Important. I'm A Single Parent And Do Have A Degree In Computer But Right Now I'm Working For Head-start With Children. WILL I FIND A JOB ?
Thanks,
Claudanna

[jersey_too_expensive]

Claudanna-

Hi. My fiancee and I are moving from NJ to Ohio. Cincinnati is where we're headed. Affordable housing, lots of employment opportunities, similar weather to NJ -- and basically the same stuff you'd find here. I've heard that the Cincinnati public schools are not that great, however -- but their 'magnet' schools -- which are still part of the CPS are supposed to be very good. And there are LOTS of private schools in the area, too.

You might want to do a little research on Cincinnati. Or Columbus. Or Akron. Depends on where you want to live (city/country/suburbs). The suburbs of Cincinnati -- Westchester, Mason, etc. have excellent public schools and affordable housing. But the homes in Cincinnati proper are mcuh more interesting architecturally as they were built in the early-to-mid 1900s.

Best of luck -- I hope you find what you're looking for.

[paintballer1708]

blameus4,

I currently moved to Mason, Ohio just a few months ago, and i make the same trip as your husband might. I work in downtown Cincinnati. The trip can be bad in the morning rush and rush hour between 3-6, but no where compared to Los Angeles or San Diego. Mason is a great town though. Lebanon and Mason are growing very rapidly. We are some of the fastest growing regions in the nation, and Warren County was the 25th fastest growing county in the nation. My neighbors are from California as well and the love it here. There are many shopping centers and malls, and they keep building more. This is a great area, and the schools are excellent.