Need insights on Dayton/Columbus/Cincinnati area (Cleveland, Springfield: best city, sales)

[halltucker]

I am hoping you might be able to share your perceptions of the Dayton/Columbus/Cincinnati area, as we must decide whether and exactly where to move so my husband can accept a job there!

Although we are from Connecticut and Vermont originally, we had 16 happy years in Wisconsin before my husband was transferred to Michigan by his long-term employer when they moved their operations away from Milwaukee in late 2005. (Our grown son, his girlfriend and many old friends still live in that area.) Then we found ourselves bouncing back east last year so my husband could take a position in Maine with a different company, only to have this new job evaporate. It's been a time of great uncertainty for us, though we have just this week been comforted by a job offer from a company my husband has long respected and trusted, located in between Dayton and Cincinnati. We are inclined to accept but want to be more sure of ourselves, know very little about Ohio and are hoping someone could advise us. We are active people whose primary interests are the arts, the outdoors, eating out, rambling around parks and playgrounds and chasing after our two three-year-olds adopted from Guatemala.

Our primary questions are ...

~ Would a family that has felt at home in Wisconsin and Michigan be inclined to like the Dayton/Columbus/Cincinnati area? How does this area compare to Wisconsin and Michigan?

~ Is there enough ethnic diversity/acceptance/interest in the area for our Guatemalan kids to feel comfortable and proud of who they are, and for them to get to know other Latino kids, both adopted and non-adopted?

~ We probably want to head toward a suburb rather than a major city, but might like to be within the general orbit of either Cincinnati, Dayton or Columbus -- all three of which are within striking range of my husband's new job. Does one have advantages over the other as the city to which we should try to be closest?

~ My husband would be commuting daily to Springfield, with occasional trips to Springboro, so we should be within 30 miles or so of either one. Can anyone recommend any particular spots in which to concentrate our house-hunting? We don't know where to begin when it comes to specific towns. We would be shooting for a four-bedroom, mid-range home in a family-friendly, adoption-friendly, pet-friendly neighborhood, in a community with good schools and preschools and perhaps a nice park or outdoor area and/or a few interesting shops/restaurants/coffee shops.

THANKS for any insights you can offer. At the moment, we can't escape the feeling that in some respects, we have just closed our eyes, stuck a pin in the map and let that determine our future, so any feedback would help us come to grips with this and feel like we have a greater degree of control!

Cheers,

Sarah

[Traveler87]

Cincinnati/Cleveland compare much more towards Milwaukee. Cities that are seeing so much new growth and new prosperity.

Columbus is more like Madison. New city, lots of new growth, young and attractive city.

I would go with Columbus, closer to Springfield. Check out the western suburbs of Columbus. Dublin/Hilliard/Upper Arlington.

City of Dublin, Ohio

City of Hilliard, Ohio

Welcome to Upper Arlington, Ohio

[wrightflyer]

Also, look at the I-675 (Dayton) suburbs. This would include Centerville/Washington Twp., Bellbrook/Sugarcreek Twp., Kettering, and Beavercreek. These communities fit what you described, and these areas put you within 30-35 miles of both Springfield to the north and Springboro in the south. While Dayton doesn't offer as much as say Columbus, Cincinnati is only 30-45min away depending where on 675 you are. Columbus' suburbs may be too far (40+ miles from Hilliard to Springfield and more to Springboro). Dublin's even further. Both are nice communites, but you'll spend your day commuting.

If you want to be within 30 miles of Springfield, you'll have to be in Dayton. That's it's biggest advantage over Cincinnati and Columbus. Not saying Dayton doesn't have anything else to offer either, as there are numerous metro park activities, school activities, arts, a couple of museums, some regional bike paths, etc. Hope this helps.

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

Also, look at the I-675 (Dayton) suburbs. This would include Centerville/Washington Twp., Bellbrook/Sugarcreek Twp., Kettering, and Beavercreek. These communities fit what you described, and these areas put you within 30-35 miles of both Springfield to the north and Springboro in the south. While Dayton doesn't offer as much as say Columbus, Cincinnati is only 30-45min away depending where on 675 you are. Columbus' suburbs may be too far (40+ miles from Hilliard to Springfield and more to Springboro). Dublin's even further. Both are nice communites, but you'll spend your day commuting.

If you want to be within 30 miles of Springfield, you'll have to be in Dayton. That's it's biggest advantage over Cincinnati and Columbus. Not saying Dayton doesn't have anything else to offer either, as there are numerous metro park activities, school activities, arts, a couple of museums, some regional bike paths, etc. Hope this helps.

I have heard good things about Kettering and Beavercreek. Aren't they building The Greene, that new large shopping district in Beavercreek?

[SkiddySkidders]

I myself am originally from the Beavercreek area. However, i now reside in the expensive Washington, DC area. Beavercreek is a very nice area. They did in fact build The Greene. Google it, its a great place for shopping & dining. The Beavercreek area has excellent private & public schools, shopping, dining, etc. There is also WPAFB, Dayton's #1 employer. Feel free to contact me w/further questions.

[Coffeyrush]

After more than ten years in Columbus, we recently moved to Dayton a couple years ago. I grew up just north of Cincinnati and, for awhile, attended Cincinnati (private) schools.

Columbus is very white. Black people from Middletown (I'm white) are actually afraid of going to Columbus. If you want racial diversity, choose Dayton, where only half the population is white.

Cincinnati is rather southern, and the people there feel their city is so great, they pretty much don't venture outside the confines of their city.

I vote for you living in one of the I-675 areas just east of Dayton. That also helps you with that Springfield/ Springboro commute. My husband and I don't have kids, so I can't guide you on schools. If you choose one of the municipalities (Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Bellbrook, etc.) you avoid some of the problems of Dayton City Schools, but these can also be avoided by putting the kids in private or parochial schools. In any case, I love how (at least some of) the young people here seem to view members of other races as people, rather than rival team members (such as, when I go to a store and deal with young people who are sales clerks). That never, ever happened in Columbus.

Yes, the Greene (a little toy town with fancy stores) is on I-675. That highway also links you to everything -- Cincinnati and Columbus.

In Ohio, a lot of your networking will come from your selection of a church. Locate your choice of church on a map. That will help you select an area.

[YoMikey617]

Based on where your needs I would say your best bet would be something along 675. ...which is great as the burbs along 675 are the best in Dayton, not to mention at least $50K less per house than comparable burbs in Cincinnati and Columbus. Based on your info you really don't need to bother with Columbus or Cincinnati unless you wanna drive your husband crazy with all that driving.
By best I mean best mix of shopping, schools, housing options, and convenience to Cincinnati and Columbus.

For the best schools and the widest range of home prices, check out...
Centerville / Washington Twp (one and the same as far as schools are concerned)
Bellbrook
Beavercreek

Consider:
Kettering
Oakwood
Yellow Springs: if you wanna feel like you're in Vermont or Madison again. VERY crunchy little town and an anomaly to what is typical in Ohio. Fairly expensive compared to the rest of the dayton housing market.

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by Coffeyrush

After more than ten years in Columbus, we recently moved to Dayton a couple years ago. I grew up just north of Cincinnati and, for awhile, attended Cincinnati (private) schools.

Columbus is very white. Black people from Middletown (I'm white) are actually afraid of going to Columbus. If you want racial diversity, choose Dayton, where only half the population is white.

Cincinnati is rather southern, and the people there feel their city is so great, they pretty much don't venture outside the confines of their city.

I vote for you living in one of the I-675 areas just east of Dayton. That also helps you with that Springfield/ Springboro commute. My husband and I don't have kids, so I can't guide you on schools. If you choose one of the municipalities (Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Bellbrook, etc.) you avoid some of the problems of Dayton City Schools, but these can also be avoided by putting the kids in private or parochial schools. In any case, I love how (at least some of) the young people here seem to view members of other races as people, rather than rival team members (such as, when I go to a store and deal with young people who are sales clerks). That never, ever happened in Columbus.

Yes, the Greene (a little toy town with fancy stores) is on I-675. That highway also links you to everything -- Cincinnati and Columbus.

In Ohio, a lot of your networking will come from your selection of a church. Locate your choice of church on a map. That will help you select an area.

Dayton is a great metro area, and is very diverse, but I disagree with what you said about Columbus.

Columbus is the 9th best city for blacks in the country. They make a great living in Columbus.

The Columbus Dispatch : Columbus is magazine's No. 9 best city for blacks

[cyberdasher]

I'd recommend the I-675 corridor, with the Beavercreek area in particular.

• Advantages:
• I-675
• is fairly new and uncongested.
• Many people in your circumstance seem to live in that area
• Dayton metro has a lot of activity, diversity, and has multiple major economic engines (the military & support community, Reynolds & Reynolds, NCR, Lexis Nexis, Mead, and Standard Register).
• Beavercreek area connects to Centerville, which connects to Springboro. Just a little farther in this direction, you're essentially touching the outer reaches of the greater Cincinnati metro area (Middletown, Lebanon, Mason, etc). Conversely, there are at least 25 miles of open farmland between Springfield proper and the westernmost outlying regions of the Columbus area (Dublin not included)

[Jrv712]

Just wanted to add my perspective: I am of Latin American background and moved to the Dayton area from the East coast about four years ago. There is a very minimal Latino community and even less acceptance of this community. I do have to say that it is slowly increasing. However, in general, people in this area have no idea who Latinos/as are, where they come from, and there is definitely little celebration of them. Again, this is all relative (some would argue the contrary). However, I agree with one of the other posters that Yellow Springs might be a place to consider. The general culture of that community, especially as compared to other areas, is one of acceptance and celebration of diversity (not just tolerance). It is a relatively tight-knit community and I have heard generally positive things about the schools, etc. Best of luck.