Positives and Negatives between Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnatti. (Cincinnati, Lakewood: apartments, crime rate)

[Dorian]

I am thinking about moving from Pittsburgh to one of the three major metro areas in ohio. I was looking for some info. on the three such as things to do, crime, good neiborhoods around the cities, work force, colleges, housing prices(mosty apartments and town homes.). I have been to Cleveland and Columbus but never to Cincy. Columbus seemed alot different than Pittsburgh and Cleveland seems similar, I don't have many problems with Pittsburgh, just a change in senary. I keep hearing about crime but when I was in C'bus It did seem that bad and nothing compared to rough neiborhoods in pittsburgh(Homewood, East Hills, North View Heights, Garfield, ect.) and I heard Cleveland and Cincy's crime is even worse. I am also a person who likes beauty in a city, the look of columbus didn't really appeal to me cleveland is okay looking and I love the lake shore, Though I never seen Cincinnatti in person it looks really nice(or are the pictures deciving?). Although I have a child, we are still two young adults(24 and 22)so entertainment is important as well as being a place to raise a child. Hopefully some of you can help me out.

[LancasterNative]

Cincinnati is by far the prettiest of Ohio's big cities. It would also probably feel the most like home to you in terms of scenery. Like the 'Burgh, it's got hills and is built on a big river, spanned by lots of cool bridges. Apparently, Cincy's reputation for beauty goes a long way back. Charles Dickens visited in 1842 and described the city as "cheerful, thriving and animated." Whenever I'm in Cincy today, I find that description still fits!

Cleveland is probably the most similar to Pittsburgh demographically and economically. Since its period of growth into a major city came during the Industrial Age, Cleveland drew from the same immigrant stock (eastern and southern European, mostly Catholic or Jewish) as Pittsburgh, and was home to the same type of industry. Today, the cities are still very similar—populated with descendants of the aforementioned immigrants, and showing the scars of the same industrial decline.

The one advantage Columbus might have for y'all is the social/entertainment scene. As the home of an enormous state university, Columbus has a ton of people your age. But as far as nice scenery, interesting neighborhoods, etc. forget it! Flat as a pool table, Columbus is the land of strip malls, McMansions, chain restaurants and big-box retail. What little scenery there is (agricultural/rural areas) is quickly being plowed under by developers to create more soulless suburban sprawl.

Hope this little primer helps!

Best of luck to y'all...

Lanc

[macsports2]

I live in Wilkes Barre PA and was wondering the same thing. From what I've heard is that Cleveland has a higher crime rate and poverty rate and not as clean, Cincinnati is number 11 of America's most unhealthy commute pollution and traffic is terrible. Columbus is supposed to be one of the cleanest major cities and traffic isn't that bad. But there are a lot of ignorant drivers from what I have read.

[Buckeye 89]

Columbus has more diversity than the other C's and alot less racial tension. All has crime problems that get national attention somehow, Cleveland is one of the worse in the NATION. Columbus HAS more crime and murders than Cincinnatti but is spread out through out the city. I don't know if thats a good or bad thing

interesting neighborhoods, etc. forget it!

Somebody explain to me a INTERESTING neighborhood.

[NewToCA]

Cleveland is a pretty rough city, but it has beautiful and pretty safe suburban areas fairly close to the downtown area:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Westlake-Ohio.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Lakewood-Ohio.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Rocky-River-Ohio.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Strongsville-Ohio.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Beachwood-Ohio.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Shaker-Heights-Ohio.html

[CTownNative]

Originally Posted by Buckeye 89

Columbus has more diversity than the other C's and alot less racial tension. All has crime problems that get national attention somehow, Cleveland is one of the worse in the NATION. Columbus HAS more crime and murders than Cincinnatti but is spread out through out the city. I don't know if thats a good or bad thing






Somebody explain to me a INTERESTING neighborhood.

Columbus isn't as diverse as Cleveland.Cleveland has a higher percentge of african americans,hispanics,and it also has a pretty sizable asain population,Columbus might have a bigger asain population.Columbus definetly isn't as segragated as Cleveland though.All of the races in Cleveland tend to have thier neighborhoods.I've never been to Columbus,but by looking at the area codes for Columbus,I can definetly tell its neighborhoods are more mixed than Cleveland's.In Cleveland,most of the african american population lives on the eastside,most of the hispanic population lives on the near westside,and most of the white population lives on the westside.Columbus is definetly growing more than Cleveland right now though,so I have to imagine that the diversity is growing in Columbus.I find it sad that Cleveland and Cincy are so segragated though,thier among the most segregated in the nation.Columbus might be more diverse in the fact that races in the city live together,statisticly its not more diverse though.

[Pathwalker]

Dorian, I responded to your post in the Cincinnati forum, so I won't repeat it all here.

[Buckeye 89]

1. How can you tell by looking at area codes?
2.I been and go to both cities. I stand by my comments


Cleveland has some thousand more white and black people than columbus. That don't make it more diverse

[CTownNative]

Originally Posted by Buckeye 89

1. How can you tell by looking at area codes?
2.I been and go to both cities. I stand by my comments


Cleveland has some thousand more white and black people than columbus. That don't make it more diverse

When I look at the stats for the area codes,it gives the demagraphics for them,thats how I can tell by looking at area codes.Cleveland's city limits has a smaller white population,but also a larger hispanic and african american population.I know all three of the Ohio C's are pretty diverse though.I really only have knowledge on Cleveland,otherwise I have to go on statistics to find out about the other two Ohio C's.I definetly agree with you when you say Cleveland is more segregated though.You drive through the eastside and its mosty african americans around.You go over to the westside,and its mixed african americans,whites,and hispanics.Some westside neighborhoods I was in were mostly white,some were mostly black,and some were mostly hispanic,and a couple areas were a mix of all three races.I looked at the area code demagraphics for Columbus,and I can definetly tell its far less segregated than Cleveland.In the aspect of races living together,Columbus is definetly more diverse.Buckeye 89,is there a side of Columbus that is like Cleveland's Eastside where it is mostly one race?

[Dorian]

I guess cleveland really does have more crime from what everyone is saying. I like diversity in a city because here in Pittsburgh there may be alot of different european cultures but, it still is basically like we only have black or white. I heard about Cleveland having racial tension but, Cincy too!? I also noticed from some people's replies on this forum and other forums that it seems like Columbus is a love it or hate it type of city. It was kinda odd though cause the whole city seem to be full of shopping centers. Is the racial tension in Cincy and Cleveland really that bad??