Relocating to Cincy this summer.... (Cincinnati, Kent: new home, safe neighborhoods, best school districts)

[kdbush]

My family and I will be relocating to Cincinnati area this summer and are looking for a good neighborhood. My husband will be working in NKY near the airport and I am a stay at home mom for our kids who are 7 and 9. We are looking for a family friendly neighborhood with great schools and a strong community feel. We'd like a decent commute time (30 min or less). Also we'd like to be close to the schools (within walking distance if possible - prefer public if possible) and shopping. We can spend up to 650K for a house. Where would be the best place to start looking? Any help would be really appreciated.

[unusualfire]

Independence,Ky sounds about right for you.

[aquila]

Bingo....what unusualfire said.

[camelot05]

I would say a neighborhood in Cincinnati like Mt Lookout and Hyde Park based on your house budget and neighborhood feel... but you wouldnt want your kids in CPS (Cin Pub School) system

[cincyohguy]

Originally Posted by kdbush

My family and I will be relocating to Cincinnati area this summer and are looking for a good neighborhood. My husband will be working in NKY near the airport and I am a stay at home mom for our kids who are 7 and 9. We are looking for a family friendly neighborhood with great schools and a strong community feel. We'd like a decent commute time (30 min or less). Also we'd like to be close to the schools (within walking distance if possible - prefer public if possible) and shopping. We can spend up to 650K for a house. Where would be the best place to start looking? Any help would be really appreciated.

There are many options available for you to choose from and the Cincinnati area is a great place to live! Based on the description of what you're looking for, I would highly recommend Terrace Park, Madeira, and Mariemont. All are very nice areas in great school districts and many kids walk to school in these communities. In Terrace Park, many of the kids are able to walk home for lunch. Wyoming is also very nice and has been in the nation's Top 100 school districts consistently. Keep in mind though Wyoming is more secluded from other affluent and safe neighborhoods and is relatively close to some of the less desirable areas. Montgomery, Blue Ash, and Symmes Township, are all very nice areas in the excellent Sycamore School District. Montgomery has a great little downtown and is close to a lot of shopping and Kenwood Towne Centre. Anderson Township is a good area in an excellent district and you can hop right on 275 to get to the airport in about 25 minutes and avoid 71/75 traffic. Farther out, West Chester,Liberty Township, Mason, and Deerfield Township are in excellent school districts and have many neighborhoods in your price range and lots of shopping, but the communities are much farther from the airport and more suburban (less walking). Also, depending on commute time, these areas would be upwards of 45 minutes to the airport. I'm not as familiar with the Kentucky side, but I know Villa Hills and Edgewood are great areas close to the airport. All of the areas I listed are very safe. I would go to sibcycline.com and start searching some of these areas for houses and then visit and drive around some of the communities before making your choice. Hopefully this helped and you find what you're looking for and enjoy your new home! Let me know if you have any other questions!

[aquila]

Originally Posted by cincyohguy

There are many options available for you to choose from and the Cincinnati area is a great place to live! Based on the description of what you're looking for, I would highly recommend Terrace Park, Madeira, and Mariemont. All are very nice areas in great school districts and many kids walk to school in these communities. In Terrace Park, many of the kids are able to walk home for lunch. Wyoming is also very nice and has been in the nation's Top 100 school districts consistently. Keep in mind though Wyoming is more secluded from other affluent and safe neighborhoods and is relatively close to some of the less desirable areas. Montgomery, Blue Ash, and Symmes Township, are all very nice areas in the excellent Sycamore School District. Montgomery has a great little downtown and is close to a lot of shopping and Kenwood Towne Centre. Anderson Township is a good area in an excellent district and you can hop right on 275 to get to the airport in about 25 minutes and avoid 71/75 traffic. Farther out, West Chester,Liberty Township, Mason, and Deerfield Township are in excellent school districts and have many neighborhoods in your price range and lots of shopping, but the communities are much farther from the airport and more suburban (less walking). Also, depending on commute time, these areas would be upwards of 45 minutes to the airport. I'm not as familiar with the Kentucky side, but I know Villa Hills and Edgewood are great areas close to the airport. All of the areas I listed are very safe. I would go to sibcycline.com and start searching some of these areas for houses and then visit and drive around some of the communities before making your choice. Hopefully this helped and you find what you're looking for and enjoy your new home! Let me know if you have any other questions!

OP is looking for a relatively short commute....under 30 minutes. Neither Terrace Park, Madeira, Mariemont, Wyoming, Blue Ash, nor Montgomery are under 30 minutes. West Chester and Liberty especially aren't. All good areas, but we need to remember what the OP is seeking.

Parts of Anderson are a conceivably plausible possibility, as you could hop right on I-275 and head over to CVG. It would pretty much be within 30 minutes, but pushing it.

[cincyohguy]

Originally Posted by aquila

OP is looking for a relatively short commute....under 30 minutes. Neither Terrace Park, Madeira, Mariemont, Wyoming, Blue Ash, nor Montgomery are under 30 minutes. West Chester and Liberty especially aren't. All good areas, but we need to remember what the OP is seeking.

Parts of Anderson are a conceivably plausible possibility, as you could hop right on I-275 and head over to CVG. It would pretty much be within 30 minutes, but pushing it.

Yes, some of these areas are pushing the 30 minute commute, but Wyoming, Madeira, Montgomery, and Mariemont are right at 30 minutes and I thought they were still worth mentioning since they are such great areas and the communities might appeal to the OP. I didn't know how close to or what side of the airport he'd be working at. Traffic should also be taken into consideration too but I don't think the traffic will be as much of a problem coming into Kentucky in the morning and going into Ohio in the evening than vice versa.

[unusualfire]

Wyoming, Madeira, Montgomery, and Mariemont are no where close to 30 mins non rush hour to the airport. you would be royally screwed if you were running a tad bit late. lol

[aquila]

Yeah, I have to admit those areas are really not within 30 minutes of the airport. I check Mapquest for driving times, and none of them come within 30 minutes. They come close, but that's with ideal traffic conditions in non-rush hour times. I wouldn't consider those areas if I wanted to be within 30 minutes. Besides, places in NKY would be so much more convenient for the OP.

[kdbush]

Hi!

Thank you for all of your opinions. Regarding Independence, how are the schools there? My understanding is that the best school districts in NKY are Ft. Thomas and Beechwood (Ft. Mitchell). I am curious as to why no one has mentioned those areas. Any ideas?

Also in regards to the area of Mariemont and Terrace Park - which would be a more desirable location? I understand there is concern in Terrace Park regarding an underground quarry that is being built (or maybe already built?). Does anyone know how this will, if at all, affect the Terrace Park area?

I appreciate all of your input!