?More desirable? Bexley or Gahanna/Westerville (Columbus, Lancaster: low income, transplants, apartment complexes)

[teadkin]

Not figuring in children, value of a home, commuting distance, taxes etc., which would be more desirable to live in? We have looked at both areas and found homes and schools in each area. If the people in Columbus would choose to live anywhere...and those 3 areas were their only options (ha,ha), what do you think would be the most likely area to be chosen? We have criss-crossed the country with my husbands job and I wished so many times that I had talked with someone (other than the realtor) where is the ideal place to live. We have looked at Upper Arlington, Worthington, Victorian Village, Hilliard, Lancaster, Canal Winchester, German Village and even more that I've forgotten the names. We do send our four sons to Catholic school and both St. Catherine and St. Timothy in Westerville said they have room for us now. St. Matthew's is full in Gahanna, but what I have heard is that driving isn't really an issue between any of those areas. We have BIG "hopes" of sending the boys to St. Charles H.S. in Bexley, but I don't think that they have to go to St. Catherine's to move up to St. Charles in 9th grade. Issue #2....while we looked at homes in Bexley, we also found a few homes in Eastmoor-Central that we liked and one on a lake in Berwick that was very interesting. Would you say that Eastmoor or Berwick is that much less desirable than Bexley? (we would not be using the Columbus public schools, however that would put us with children who are in Columbus schools???) Would you think that a purchase in Bexley would be a better choice for re-sale value than Eastmoor or Berwick? We should be moving within the next 3 months and since we have a family of 6 and live in North Carolina, multiple trips to Columbus isn't really affordable...at all! Thank-you for your input, Tanya

[TexasBuckeye]

Originally Posted by teadkin

Not figuring in children, value of a home, commuting distance, taxes etc., which would be more desirable to live in? We have looked at both areas and found homes and schools in each area. If the people in Columbus would choose to live anywhere...and those 3 areas were their only options (ha,ha), what do you think would be the most likely area to be chosen? We have criss-crossed the country with my husbands job and I wished so many times that I had talked with someone (other than the realtor) where is the ideal place to live. We have looked at Upper Arlington, Worthington, Victorian Village, Hilliard, Lancaster, Canal Winchester, German Village and even more that I've forgotten the names. We do send our four sons to Catholic school and both St. Catherine and St. Timothy in Westerville said they have room for us now. St. Matthew's is full in Gahanna, but what I have heard is that driving isn't really an issue between any of those areas. We have BIG "hopes" of sending the boys to St. Charles H.S. in Bexley, but I don't think that they have to go to St. Catherine's to move up to St. Charles in 9th grade. Issue #2....while we looked at homes in Bexley, we also found a few homes in Eastmoor-Central that we liked and one on a lake in Berwick that was very interesting. Would you say that Eastmoor or Berwick is that much less desirable than Bexley? (we would not be using the Columbus public schools, however that would put us with children who are in Columbus schools???) Would you think that a purchase in Bexley would be a better choice for re-sale value than Eastmoor or Berwick? We should be moving within the next 3 months and since we have a family of 6 and live in North Carolina, multiple trips to Columbus isn't really affordable...at all! Thank-you for your input, Tanya

Given what you have listed here, I would buy and live in Bexley, especially if you want your boys to go to St Charles. Re-sale value will definitely be to your advantage more there, too. Eastmoor and Berwick ~ some areas are crime ridden. Contact the Cols Police Community Relations Bur and get stats if you are considering those areas (or any other areas in Cols proper). I have heard Bexley does have good schools and you can also get information from their police department about crime stats.

[paintballer1708]

I honestly would pick Gahanna and Westerville. They have great school systems, and you dont really have to travel to the city that much. Gahanna is home to a lot of entertainment and shopping. One of the largest malls in Ohio (Eaton Town Centre) is located just outside of Gahanna.

[tscrilla]

I moved from out of state last May to Westerville and absolutely love it here. Some of the most freindly people are here, seriously. Every single one of my neighbors are great and extremely nice. Half of them are transplants too. You have quaint uptown Westerville along with Polaris shopping, which has everything under the sun. Plus, Easton is only 10 minutes away. You can take an easy drive into the country or go the other direction and be in the city within no time. It's a great location.

[cyncyn5000]

First choice would be Westerville, then Bexley and lastly, Gahanna. I don't like Bexley for the simple fact that as soon as you cross the 'tracks', it is a fairly high crime area. It also depends on what type of house you are looking for. In Bexley, you will be looking at mainly older homes..alot of them do have the victorian styles to them. With westerville, there are different counties and as you already know, big differences in which part of westerville you would be considering in terms of prices of homes etc. I, personally, prefer westerville based on location, shopping, and crime.

[cobuckeye]

Bexley is a very nice area, but it's surrounded by high-crime areas. I personally hate the drive from downtown into Bexley, as you pass through run-down neighborhoods with some gang activity and lots of people without jobs roaming around (really bad zip codes include 43206 and 43207). Drive around the area and check out crime rates with the Columbus Police Department if you are considering moving to the area.

I would also advise against Eastmoor and Berwick. They used to be pretty nice but started to decline.

I don't think Gahanna is anything special.

On the other hand, I lived in Westerville for about four years and loved it. It has a cute downtown and seems to be very safe. However, part of North Columbus has a "Westerville" zip code, so I would recommend avoiding South Westerville.

Hope you find what you're looking for and that your move goes well

[JohnieB]

My wife and I have lived in Westerville for about 6 years now and we love it. Uptown is fun and interesting, schools are good (albeit,maybe too many), home values are good. A strong sense of small town life right in the heart of a big city.

Gahanna is nice, depending on where you live and Bexley is pricy and old money,but the fringe areas I would try to stay away from. To me. it is too easy to go from half million dollar homes to low income apartments in Bexley. Bleh....

Westerville, I think would be your best bet, considering your family.

[streetcreed]

Since you said that your looking into private schools Berwick or Eastmoor are great options.

There are many families just like you have lived in Berwick and Eastmoor. Both have many great housing options and many families in these areas use private schools as well. These would also be very close to St. Charles. They both have a very diverse make up and are known for being an area where people of many different backgrounds coexist.

There are many different neighborhoods that are safe and have great housing stock in Columbus, and if your open to private schools you have the largest number of options.

Berwick and Eastmoor are just two on the eastside. The only heavy crime areas that exist around Bexley are between downtown and Bexley. Not in Berwick but a little more in apartment complexes in Eastmoor, but not the neighborhoods.

I have lived in Columbus my entire life and it is a vast generalization to claim that everything around Bexley is high crime. This is often the type of comment someone will make who has only drive through an area and doesnt have a true understanding of its demographics.


Also, around downtown is Victorian Village and German Village. These areas have less families than you will find in Clintonville, Beechwold, Berwick, and Eastmoor, but have some of the fastest increasing property values in the metro and are starting to become more expensive (the way German Village has already become)

Clintonville and Beechwold to the north of Ohio State would be the northside, and also nicer and more expensive, equal to eastmoor and berwick, but with hardly any crime issues and even more expensive but very nice homes.

Eastmoor has a more mix of incomes than some are comfortable with but it is not a high crime area and is anything but dangerous. It is a fact that some do not feel comfortable living a mile or two from residents with a lower income or different race than their own than, i myself find Berwick and Eastmoor to be very interesting areas with great houses and a eclectic and diverse neighboorhood, and a very desirable quaint tight-knit community. The mayor of Columbus lives in the Berwick neighborhood. If you really like that house and see yourself being happy with your view and neighbors I would say Berwick is right for you.

Berwick and Clintonville are both known for being quiet nice communities.


Also, The NW section of Columbus has many great housing options. (just west of Clintonville)

I say live in a great neighborhood in the city of Columbus, many of these neighborhoods that you and I have mentioned have very stable or some of the fastest increasing property values in the entire metro, and are more walkable and are among more entertainment options.
These neighborhoods are older and have renovated housing stock with tree lined streets, lakes, ravines, and etc.

There is nothing wrong with considering a move into a suburb of course, however it is hardly the only option when Columbus has so many great neighborhood that it sounds like you have already looked at.

[derekgreer17]

I would choose 1. Westerville, 2. Gahanna, 3. Bexley

I don't know about the resale value but I would guess that the noth part of westerville would be competative with bexley.

Bexley would be great except for the fact that it neighbors one of the worst parts of columbus called the near East Side. Except for South Lindin and Franklinton it is the almost the worst.

[derekgreer17]

Hey streetcreed, I have lived in Columbus my whole life too. Ask the CPD what the crime rates are surrounding Bexley and you will find that all areas are above the national average.