Transfer to Columbus. Need advice. (Newark, Lancaster: low crime, homes, high school)

[eraeg]

My husband is possibly transferring with his company to Columbus this Winter. Currently, we live in a county in Kentucky with 30,000 population. City population of 3,000. We do not mind a half hour commute to Columbus as we are used to commuting to work now. We are looking for a more rural area, middle class, with low crime and decent schools, smaller schools being preferred so that our children can have at least some feel of familiarity. A yard would be great as well, as we have both high school and elementary age children and we work with animal rescue organizations and often foster rescue dogs.

[Eaglealum]

Where in Columbus will your husband be working?

[dxdtdemon]

Depending on where you're working, either London, Plain City, or West Jefferson might be a good fit.

[Supergrrl7]

Sunbury/Big Walnut schools.

[wrightflyer]

Or Bloom-Carroll Schools in Carroll, Ohio, down US-33. Just avoid going too far south into Lancaster mostly because of Lancaster schools. Bloom-Carroll's are much better. Most day-to-day and some big box shopping will be in Lancaster. Lot's of homes on large lots. Newer homes. Not much suburban development. But more housing stock in rural / semi-rural environments than other areas outside Franklin County or fast-developing Delaware County.

If working in southern or eastern Columbus, Bloom-Carroll would be my go to. Further on the south side of Columbus, you may find some places in Teas Valley Schools which is Ashville and Commercial Point. I still like the Bloom-Carroll area better because of its access to US-33.

If working in Northeastern Columbus, Granville may be a possibility. Can be rather expensive out that way. Most shopping would be done in Newark. Easy access to the Easton complex via OH-161.

If working in western or northern Columbus, there are better options. Those would be Johnsthan-Alder, Marysville, Buckeye-Valley (which wraps around Delaware) or Sunbury's Big Walnut schools.

If working downtown, it may be a toss-up.

Be prepared to look into more than a 30-minute commute from most places that you may be thinking about, especially if the work location is downtown or near OSU.