Englewood, Clayton area... the good, the bad and the ugly? (Dayton: homes, transfer)

[jjm901]

What is your opinion of the Englewood and Clayton areas around Dayton? I might be relocating to the area and there were a few homes that we liked that we saw in that area. Thanks.

[Teri L]

This is an area that is experiencing some growth- you can find vibrant new building going on.

The Northmont SD is generally thought of as good, not the best in the Dayton area, but they do very well on Ohio's standardized tests.

The biggest issue with this area, for many people, is the location in relation to most of the growth in the Dayton area. Dayton is growing southeast, although Miami County, just to the north of Englewood, is growing also. Know your lifestyle- do you need quick access to arts and culture? Is the latest/ greatest in mall shopping important? Do you go to the cineplex regularly? Many of these things will be about 20-30 minutes away, depending.

OTOH, you have quick access to the airport, to some remarkable independent shops and restuarants, and the charming towns of Tipp City and Troy. It's sort of a large suburb nestled among small town Ohio. You can be out in the country in minutes, you have a beautiful park/ dam, it's a fairly bike friendly area.

You can find some gorgeous homes in all styles and price points. Just understand your needs, and your lifestyle. Know what is important to your family.

And, if the transfer goes through- Welcome to Dayton!! :-)

[jjm901]

Teri,

you say that Northmont school districts are generally thought of as good, but are not the best in the area. Can you expand on that for me? Thanks.

The mall thing isn't a big deal. We are currently about 30 minutes from the closest mall/shopping, other than a grocery store. It looks like there are a few walmarts and a meijer in the englewood/clayton area, so thats more than we have now.

Do you know how the commute to the base is from that area?

[wrightflyer]

From the center of Englewood (corner of Main and National) it is probably anywhere from a 30 to 45 min drive depending on where in the Englewood/Clayton/Union area you live and on what part of the base you are working. The most brutal part of the commute will be I-75 South towards Route 4 (and its construction) but there are backroads to get around that if you look.

Between Miller Ln, Hoke Rd, and the Tipp City/Troy corridor, there is plenty of big box stores as well as the smaller independent stores in the center of Englewood.

Northmont does well on test scores for the state of Ohio (OGT). That puts it in the highest category ranking for schools. Those categories range from Academic Emergency, to Academic Watch, to Continuous Improvement, to Effiecent, and finally to Excellent. Within the excellent schools in the area (Beavercreek, Centerville, Oakwood, Sugarcreek Local, Vandalia-Butler) some place in the national rankings from Newsweek and US News and World. The best in the area would probably be Oakwood and maybe Sugarcreek. Hope that clears some things up and good luck with the move!

[SmallTowner]

jjm901-

You have many options...if you are looking for a smaller town there is New Lebanon, Germantown, Farmersville. New Lebanon is a straight shot on 35 to the base. Small school district with new schools. Small classes too. We lived in Kettering, then Englewood, then New Lebanon. We love it here! We are 15-20 from everything big, but the town has a grocery store and small shopping centers. It's nice. There are so many police that we never have any issues other than passer thru's speeding. great town.

[JefferyT]

The best in the Dayton area for schools are Oakwood, Centerville, and I think Beavercreek. Usually Northmont is very close to these (though i havnt checked the latest scores).

[prfcttimeofday]

Oakwood
Centerville
Beavercreek
Bellbrook

are all probably the best schools in the area, probably in that order. Oakwood and Bellbrook would give you a smaller school feel and Centerville and Beavercreek are large schools, but are very successful. ..all these schools also have strong activities, clubs and sports teams, as does Northmont

Northmont is still probably within the top 10 schools of all the Dayton Area schools....along with Vandalia-Butler, Springboro, Tipp and others. Depending on how big (geographically) you want to consider the Dayton Area, there would be about 50-80 school districts...so Northmont is in good standing.

Overall, the Northmont area (Englewood, Clayton, Union, Pburg etc.) is a nice area. . .though a bit removed from where most of the shopping, entertainment etc. is in Dayton. . .though still only about 25 minutes away. You'll be driving to B'creek and Miamisburg/Centerville to go to the mall, etc. However everything for day to day living would be right there by you in Northmont-land

[JefferyT]

will be I-75 South towards Route 4 (and its construction) but there are backroads to get around that if you look.

I don't have the travel time but its a straight shot east on I-70 to route 4, then south on 4 to chambersburbg road & 444 to the base.

[Crew Chief]

Don't remember the date or for how long but one or both directions of OH Route 4 at the I-75 junction will be closed during the construction project there...

[meandmypeas3]

Originally Posted by jjm901

Teri,

you say that Northmont school districts are generally thought of as good, but are not the best in the area. Can you expand on that for me? Thanks.

The Northmont School District has been rated as Excellent every year since 2002. The only rating higher than that is Excellent with Distinction, which Oakwood, Beavercreek, Sugarcreek, and Centerville are rated. You need a 102 to be an Excellent with Distinction; Northmont is 101.5, so they're right up there. To say they're "not the best" is like saying a silver medalist is "not the best."

Also, not all growth is happening down south. The Hoke Road/North Clayton area is starting to grow rapidly as well. Welcome
We don't have the heavy traffic volume that the southern suburbs have, but I think that's a good thing.

I commuted to work in downtown Dayton until I started up my own business, and I'm a member of a jazz orchestra that rehearses and performs in Dayton. It's probably an equivalent distance to go down to Dayton vs. over to the base, and the commute is really not that bad.

I go to a mall or The Greene maybe twice per year, so the driving distance to go to one is a nonissue for us.

As you can see, I love it out here. Good luck with your move!