Moving from out of State... Where to live? (Cincinnati, Dayton: apartment, rental homes)

[enl337]

Hello Everyone!
I will be moving to Ohio over the summer to attend graduate school at Miami University in Oxford. I have visited the area, as I have close family just over the Border in Indiana. My dilemma is that I am coming from a bigger city atmosphere, and would like to be in an area near lots of culture (I am currently a musical theater performer regionally), things to do, restaurants, etc. without being in too much of a college environment. I don't mind a commute, as long as it is closer than what I have been doing several times a week (70 miles/ 90 min. each way). Is there a good area where I should be looking for rental homes (I have dogs, so I don't want to live in an apartment)? I was thinking about areas either close to Cincinnati or Dayton, but am not sure of locations that would be near routes to Oxford.
I would greatly appreciate any opinions or advice from people who know the area! Thank you!!

[VideoEngineerAJS]

The outer suburbs of Cincinnati are closer to Oxford than the suburbs of Dayton (there's not much on the southwest side of Dayton). Also the routes to Oxford from the Dayton/Middletown areas are pretty bad (hilly, curvy, etc.)

Hamilton and Fairfield are probably the 2 closest areas to Oxford (about 14-18 miles) and it takes about 30 minutes to get to Oxford.

[Ohiogirl81]

Oxford: You can't get there from here.

Anywhere along the north/northwest-ish side of Cincinnati gives you easy access to U.S. 27 -- aka the Highway to Heaven, known as such because of its hills, curves, and traffic on two lanes, as mentioned previously. Colerain, Springdale, or Fairfield might have a decent choice of rental homes, and you'd be a 30- to 45-minute drive either to Oxford or into Cincinnati.

Haven't made the drive from Dayton to Oxford since I was an undergrad at UD, and things have changed, no doubt. I remember it being long and arduous.

Middletown is close as well -- and is actually a straight shot of a drive -- but on the whole I think I'd rather live in Oxford than in Middletown.

[Daytonnatian]

Your best bet is probably Richmond, IN. It's pretty big, lively, and has some Indie music. It's also in Indiana, which I assume is a major draw for you.

Otherwise, try Hamilton. I'm not sure if it has what your desire, but it is a very nice and historic city. I would highly recommend it.

FYI, St. Rt. 73 out to Middletown is the "bad drive" being discussed. Yeah, it's not the greatest, but I would not call it "undoable", so you may want to throw Middletown into the running at least for a look-see. I doubt it has much indie music, though, or many of the things you desire (still a nice place though. It's where I'm from ).

Otherwise, I would recommend Dayton, but it's an 1.25 hr. drive from Oxford. Although it's not a bad commute (35 to 127 to 73), it's simply too long and unnecessary. Same goes for Cincy and the Colerain-ish area surrounding 275 (IMO, US 27 is THE WORST road that leaves Oxford...).

Good Luck!!!!!

[VideoEngineerAJS]

I wouldn't consider Richmond Indiana all that big. It's about 45,000 people. I was saying Hamilton or Fairfield because of it's proximity to Cincinnati.

If you really want to be close to "culture" and yet be close to school, those 2 places would be the best places to live.

[Wilson513]

You have to live in Oxford. Its a great college town. Plenty to do at Miami: concerts plays, bars, events. Then you can drive the 45 minutes into Cincy for museums, symphony, pro sports, etc.

[rockenba]

I attend grad school Miami and I live in Fairfield. It is about a 30 minute drive to class and about 25 minutes to downtown Cincinnati. The downside is that almost all Miami students live in Oxford and Fairfield is mostly families. I would probably recommend living in Oxford and just head to Cincinnati on the weekends. If that is not okay, I would recommend the Colerain area because you can take 27 easily up to Miami and 275 to 74 to get down to Cincinnati.

[stasia]

I also attend grad school at Miami and live in Oxford.

I was really, really fortunate to find a great duplex with a great landlord in a small grad student/faculty/family neighborhood a 10-minute walk away from the busline. It's just far enough away from the undergraduate hub. I go to Oxford most days of the week and into the city mainly just on the weekends, so for me it made sense to be closer to the university. Especially with a dog; a shorter commute means shorter time at home alone.

Living in Oxford isn't for everyone, and I think as a grad student you definitely have to find the right neighborhood and right rental property. I'm actually leaving in May, so if you want, I can pass along my landlord's info.

Hamilton is a popular neighborhood for Miami grad students and faculty. I'd say that'd be a good place to start looking if you want to stay comparatively close to Miami but farther away from Oxford.

[joyeaux]

Another vote for staying in Oxford-- ain't nothing out there for someone your age & inclination that's near close! Good luck!