Houston to Cincinnati, a good move? (Cleveland, Youngstown: best cities, low crime, house)

[ex-cincy]

I would like to add a few things to my post above.

If you have good job offer in hand and are seriously contemplating the move, you can do no wrong by moving to Cincy. It is a very livable city and also a very good place to raise a family. Don't let the issue of crime hold you back. Like I said above, crime is not really an issue in the city once you are out of the inner city areas.

It is by far the best city in the midwest outside of Chicago. I also consider it one of the most beautiful cities in America after San Francisco and Seattle.

P.S - just so you know, it is very expensive getting in and out of Cincy by air. Delta has a monopoly on the city. I would vist more often but I can't justify the $500 it costs me to fly in and out. I don't know why the city puts up with this? Southwest or Jetblue could make a killing there.

[INeedATylenol]

Thanks for all the information. I appreciate the time you all took to share with me.

We're still planning our move, despite the few negative things we have read. Worst case, we move again. In all honesty, I highly doubt anyone that complains of crime and traffic in Cincinnati would feel the same after a visit to Houston. Ever since Katrina, Houston has been going downhill fast.

We're not "scared" of crime, per say, I mean we are from Texas. Land of "taking the law into your own hands". But it would be nice to know that I'm not going to be putting my young child into a worse situation than we are trying to get away from. Bottom line, I don't want my kid growing up wondering what gang he is going to have to join to be "safe" in such a crazy environment. I'm only half kidding.

Again, thanks. If anyone has anything else to add, I'd love to hear it.

[sfs08]

Originally Posted by INeedATylenol

But it would be nice to know that I'm not going to be putting my young child into a worse situation than we are trying to get away from. Bottom line, I don't want my kid growing up wondering what gang he is going to have to join to be "safe" in such a crazy environment. I'm only half kidding.

Again, thanks. If anyone has anything else to add, I'd love to hear it.

Seriously, you do not have to worry about that. You seem quite intelligent, and while you'll still have your fears, understand that a lot of people who think Cincy is bad are glass half empty, grew up in Mayberry where everyone knew your name kind of town. At least that is my experience as a student at the University of Cincinnati. Five years ago, UC bordered the absolute worst neighborhood in UC, arguably the worst in Ohio. Even now, while it's still fairly bad, the improvement is drastic.

While I've been a student, bordering the worst neighborhood in Cincy, I've never had a problem. If I was in your situation, where I had the means to move to a suburb or a nice city neighborhood, I would let my kids play outside with no worries. While I have no kids yet, I have walked around Cincy several times with my knephew in a ''bad'' spot. No problems.

You'll love it here. Crime is not bad, assuming you raise your kids well. What I mean by that is just like everywhere else, that they know don't go past so and so, don't go towards strangers, etc. Basically, all the stuff you'd teach them where ever you lived.

Cincy is an amazing place. I came from another fairly large city, and I have no intentions on leaving. I look forward to raising a family here!

Good luck to you. My best advice, rent for 3-4 months in an area you're looking at so you know if it fits you. One of the best things here is that each neighborhood has its own attitiude, its own click. Amazing stuff.

[INeedATylenol]

Thank you.

[hillside]

i have never once seen in this decade houston top cincinnati in crime rate or murder rate. and houston is supposed to have more traffic; it's a larger, more sprawled metro. according to forbes, houstonians spend an avg of 60 hrs in traffic annually. cincinnatians spend 30. for a middle market, it sounds about right.

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by hillside

i have never once seen in this decade houston top cincinnati in crime rate or murder rate. and houston is supposed to have more traffic; it's a larger, more sprawled metro. according to forbes, houstonians spend an avg of 60 hrs in traffic annually. cincinnatians spend 30. for a middle market, it sounds about right.

I do know with the illegal population in Houston, and with Katrina, Houston has seen a large jump in crime these last few years.

[hillside]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

I do know with the illegal population in Houston, and with Katrina, Houston has seen a large jump in crime these last few years.

very true. i don't doubt its gotten bad down there, i've heard a lot on cnn and them. i was just making a couple comments to be fair to houston.

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by hillside

very true. i don't doubt its gotten bad down there, i've heard a lot on cnn and them. i was just making a couple comments to be fair to houston.

Oh no I understand, I just didn't know if you knew about the fast growing Katrina population in Houston.

[hillside]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

Oh no I understand, I just didn't know if you knew about the fast growing Katrina population in Houston.

oh yeah, houston's got a real problem on their hands. you don't want new orleans level criminals taking over your city.

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by hillside

oh yeah, houston's got a real problem on their hands. you don't want new orleans level criminals taking over your city.

I know, New Orleans is an amazing city, but I think this hurricane happened in the wrong place. New Orleans has had a crime problem for decades, and the hurricane was just the topping of it all. Now 1 in 25 people are homeless in this city, and things do not look to be getting better.

Cincinnati has its problems, but luckily not on the level that Houston just had thrown into the picture.