Move to southwest Ohio, need advice! (Cincinnati, Fairfield: house, neighborhoods, to buy)

[Tinawina]

Hello everyone! I'm so glad I found this forum.

I'm not sure if this should go in the Cincinnati thread or here, so I'm posting in both!

So my husband is considering a job at Miami University. We may move to the area soon.

Stats: African-American couple, 2 kids under 5 yo. We're looking to buy a house and prefer to stay under 250,000. I'm kinda used to living in diverse neighborhoods, so I would prefer to live someplace with a nice mix of folks. If that's not possible, we'd be looking for a town/neighborhood with a decent sized black population. Good public schools would be great, but private school is not out of the question. Where would be a good place to live that's not too far from Oxford? Within 1/2 hour drive?

I guess my biggest concern is that I don't want the kids feeling uncomfortable in their neighborhood. Any suggestions/advice?

[yayoi]

Your best bet would be Forest Park. According to mapquest, it's about a half hour away from Miami U.

[Tinawina]

Originally Posted by yayoi

Your best bet would be Forest Park. According to mapquest, it's about a half hour away from Miami U.

Thanks. I will look up Forest Park info pronto.

These boards have me a little nervous about the racial climate there. Is it really that bad?

[yayoi]

Originally Posted by Tinawina

Thanks. I will look up Forest Park info pronto.

These boards have me a little nervous about the racial climate there. Is it really that bad?

I personally think the racial climate here is similar to other cities in the midwest. It's not the worst I have seen but it could use some improving. For the most part, you won't have any problems especially if you decide to move to Forest Park. The only problems I have experienced were in Norwood (don't let anyone tell you to move there). I heard the eastside is bad but I can't vouch for that. I can't really tell you about the westside either.

[Ohiogirl81]

Hi, Tina.

I'd agree that Forest Park or Fairfield would be a good fit and close to Oxford. And alas, my only knowledge of Oxford itself is of the student hangouts 25 years ago. I couldn't imagine that neighborhoods in Oxford where "real people" live wouldn't be diverse, given that Oxford is a college town.

As for the racial climate, it's no worse than anywhere else, truly. On a one-on-one basis you wonder what the fuss is about. There are plenty of well-integrated neighborhoods in the area, and nobody in those neighborhoods cares where you're from or what race you are as long as you keep up your house in a reasonable manner, and your kids don't break neighbors' windows or raid their vegetable gardens.

[Tinawina]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Hi, Tina.

I'd agree that Forest Park or Fairfield would be a good fit and close to Oxford. And alas, my only knowledge of Oxford itself is of the student hangouts 25 years ago. I couldn't imagine that neighborhoods in Oxford where "real people" live wouldn't be diverse, given that Oxford is a college town.

As for the racial climate, it's no worse than anywhere else, truly. On a one-on-one basis you wonder what the fuss is about. There are plenty of well-integrated neighborhoods in the area, and nobody in those neighborhoods cares where you're from or what race you are as long as you keep up your house in a reasonable manner, and your kids don't break neighbors' windows or raid their vegetable gardens.

Thanks Ohiogirl and Yayoi! I appreciate that. As for my kids, I can vouch for the windows but not so much for the vegetable gardens. LOL! My daughter loves carrots and broccoli (I think she's from Mars) so I put nothing past her in that department. :-)

[Ohiogirl81]

Well, if she really wants to eat the vegetables, I'd be more than happy to share!

It's when I wake up to see tomatoes smashed all over my back fence that I get a little testy. Fortunately, those neighbors and their bratty kids moved out fairly soon after I moved in!