Dayton opinions please (Kettering, Beavercreek, Trotwood: apartments, loft, low crime)

[Ruby1]

Hello,
Today, I was just offered a job for a company on the west side of Dayton. Near Arlington Cemetary (?Gettysburg & 3rd St.). I am trying to decide whether to take it or not. My big concern are the schools. I have two kids, elementary & middle school age. At this time I will not be able to afford a private school. Also if I were to buy a house I want to keep it under 160K. Any opinions on what areas to research? Where the best schools are located? What is your gneral opinion about the area?
Thank You

[wrightflyer]

I'm not as familiar with the West Dayton area but here it goes. That part of Dayton can have its rough spots and some hidden gems. First, Dayton has a "rather not talk about it" racial divide in the Great Miami River. Much of East Dayton is White while most of West Dayton is black. But if that isn't a problem and you can find a decent neighborhood (look more towards Englewood) then you may have found your next home.

In terms of value, Dayton's best but its schools are the worst, thus it may not work anyway. Trotwood is another one to be careful. The schools are all new (thanks to loads of state tax dollars) but they are probably the second worst in the area. For value and good schools, try suburban Clayton/Englewood (all part of Northmont Schools) and Miamisburg, or rural New Lebanon and Germantown. Other places to try but are more east include Kettering and Riverside, but that will require navigating the construction cloged highways. Still, constructions not forever.

Good Luck on your decision. Dayton proper may not suit your needs but there are plenty of places around it that offer good value and good schools.

[cyberdasher]

nobody I know treasures the oppty to live in the west side of Dayton but if you can stomach a 15 -20 min commute, the souther suburbs of Dayton are very nice and growing rapidly. . .Franklin Twp, Springboro, Carlisle, Miamisburg, Centerville, Bellbrook are popular bedroom communities. Springboro and Centerville are the most recommended for their schools.

[wrightflyer]

Those are all good options, but you left out Beavercreek. Another bedroom community right off of US-35 and about a 20 min commute. Its schools are just as good as Centerville and Springboro and is still a tad bit cheaper then the other two. Just remember that when buying in one of the more expensive suburbs to factor in property taxes.

[NLay]

I grew up in Englewood and went to Northmont Schools, I have seen quite a(bad) change in that area over the past couple of years. I owned a home in Englewood in 2004 and couldn't wait to get out of there. The town itself might not have a whole lot of problems but it isn't the nicest place to raise children. I would look more on South of Dayton or North of Vandalia. My parents live in Troy which is north of Dayton and it is a very nice area for kids, also my inlaws live in Brookville also very nice (more country), and you can find a house in either place for under 160k. Hope this helps

[dyt937]

try kettering
good schools,good community,low crime,10-15 minute commute to downtown, and cheap!!

[Momsgirl]

Sounds like you might have been offered a job a VA hospital. I would plan to work there and live elsewhere. Kettering/old Centerville housing would be around 125000.00 to on upwards. 150000.00 should be no problem. Try the Whip/Wilmington pike area which is just off I-675 which can get you any where you want. Both kettering and centerville schools are fine unless you have a speacial needs child (which I don't know anything about that for these two school districts. I would not suggest Riverside or east dayton, both are going down hill. Make sure the job is a good one as once you get here there are not a lot of jobs available. If it is nursing you might find one anywhere.

[dayton_ohio]

The key thing you are hearing is to avoid Dayton schools. Any number of suburbs around the city could be a good fit, and there are plenty of small towns that would be a longer drive, but a different lifestyle too.

If getting into the best schools is your priority, I'd buy an older ranch in Centerville or a small house that needs undating in Oakwood. Those districts seem to be the consensus best in Dayton. Like others have said, Springboro and Beavercreek are also well regarded.

[JefferyT]

It only sucks if you want to live in a rural area or in a new subdivision, or want to send your kid to a public school.

Which, to be fair, does describe the vast majority of posters on this board.

However for the few who might surf in there who want something different, and dont have kids in school, the city of Dayton does have the variety and character they might be after. If you like older houses and neighborhoods with character vs subdivisions and and treelined streets and sidewalks and being able to walk places it has some neat neighborhoods.

Or if you like true urban living, in high rise apartments, loft housing, old apartment blocks and townhouses, all with nightclubs and live music and restaurants and gallerys/studios within walking distance, Dayton certainly is more mecca than suck.

It all depends on what you want. To make blanket statements to avoid Dayton at all costs is actually pretty ignorant and makes some blanket assumptions about the entire audience of this board, lurkers and posters.

[JefferyT]

If you DO have kids in school and want to live within easy commuting of the VA (and I mean next to no traffic) and have OK schools, look to the west.

Everyone is steering you to certain suburbs to the south, which I won't do because it would be a hassle to commute to the VA from those places.

Look at New Lebanon and also Brookville. These are really nice little country towns. And they are an easy drive to the VA. I'd say more Brookville, though it is less direct to the VA. New Lebanon would be an easier straight-shot commute.