Dayton opinions please

[ironmannfb3]

For anyone else who reads this thread. Schools still matter if you don't have kids and want to be able to sell your house later on. They grade the schools, and it's available online... but I forgot the site. My realator showed it to me.

[smile42]

Since you have children, it sounds like schools are the top priority. My next question would be whether you prefer "city" life, "suburban" life, or "country" life. We have all three within striking distance of the West Side.

You can look at school ratings at the Ohio Department of Education website. They refer to the ratings as "Report Cards." I don't think '06-'07 is posted yet, but you should be able to access ratings for '05-'06. And, I agree -- avoid Dayton City Schools, Trotwood Schools, Jefferson Township Schools, and Northridge Schools at all costs. I'm not saying they don't have any selling points at all, but I surely wouldn't send my children there until something is done to help them. And, I don't place the blame entirely on the school systems themselves. It's just an honest fact that they are the poorest communities. Ohio has a crazy way of funding education -- a system which has actual been ruled unconstitutional -- and it sorely needs fixed. Until that happens, I'd stick with the communities that are better able to support their own schools. Sad, but true!

I agree with the other posters that there are some really nice areas to the west of the Miami River/I-75 (our East-West division). I like Germantown, Brookville, and Clayton best for a good combination of schools, small town charm, housing options, etc.

Others will disagree with me here, but I wouldn't live in Centerville, Beavercreek, Kettering, or Bellbrook and try to commute to the West Side each day. It's just not a happy drive at all -- all concrete! The other small towns I mentioned above will allow you to live in a nice community and take country roads / alternate routes to work. I've found that makes such a difference.

I'll throw in my usual recommendation for Tipp City with a caveat. Unlike the other small communities I mentioned, you can't take "back roads" to get to the VA from here. Instead, you'd probably take I-75, and it would be about 15-20 minutes. It's hard to beat the combination of small town charm, excellent rated schools, and convenience. So, it might be worth the highway commute .

Best of luck finding your new home!

[Raidenvaga]

Gettysburg & 3rd St thats where your job you might get at... Oh h@ll no ,lol... you might wanna visit and drive around the area first... I like live around there,lol...!

[the_pines]

Its a very dangerous area. Both the east and west inner city sides of Dayton are poverty stricken and run into the ground. Let us try and fix them first. I don't recommend either right now, especially if you have kids. Find some place else that's as affordable. Neither are in good shape. They need major advances that could take quite awhile.

[transmothra]

Dayton used to be the love of my life, but I've moved away once in disgust and will hopefully be moving away again soon. It's the violence and crime here, and the fact that people ALWAYS vote down the school levies, pushing their already awful schools even further into educational oblivion. You really can't even call it education in this town. School here is just somewhere to put the kids while you're at work, and hopefully the guns and drugs will be minimal.

South Dayton is far better, and is not a bad commute. You just hop on I-75 (which can be a mess some days, admittedly, but what city doesn't have that problem?), and you're there in no time at all. I've made it from one end to the other in 15 minutes, and i was barely speeding at all!

Now if you're coming from Bellbrook, probably the safest part of the greater Dayton area, to the West Side, then you have to take a longer way, maybe 30 minutes, tops. But is that so bad?

Hope this isn't a night job, though!

[transmothra]

Originally Posted by JefferyT

Or if you like...<snip> nightclubs and live music... <snip> within walking distance, Dayton certainly is more mecca than suck.

Are we back to the early 90s? No, wait... i just checked my watch, and it's 2007. There are only a very few places to see bands play (in relative safety), they're all tiny, and the cops are constantly trying to shut them all down. I used to like Mayor McLin, until i realized that she hates music (or at least sweaty rock music).

[JefferyT]

I happen to like smaller clubs, so that size doesnt bother me, and have yet to see any police action in them (an I usually go out on busy nights like Friday or Saturday, so I would be catching that if it was happening..). I go to about five places fairly regularly (all downtown or in the Oregon) and never had any problems. The only one of these that did have issues with the police was the Dublin Pub, but that was years ago.

As for McLin and music, apparently she isn't turned off by celtic rock as she made a night appearance at the Celtic Fest on Riversape, and I saw her at the Dayton Ballet's version of Tommy (depending if you consider The Who rock).

[SunSun]

I would NOT suggest Dayton public schools - avoid those at all costs. Try kettering...or Oakwood, Centerville, or Springboro if you can afford it...there are few jobs here so make sure the job you have been offered is stable.