What is better, Bowling Green or Findlay (Columbus, Toledo: apartment complexes, lease)

[avsfanatic]

My wife grew up in Findlay but moved to Colorado where we currently live. Here whole family still lives in Findlay and we have been to visit several times. My wife wants to move back to Findlay to raise our son near her family and away from the big city of Denver.

If we moved back which would be a better place to live, Bowling Green or Findlay?

[NicePolishBoy]

Bowling Green is MUCH better, but housing is harder to find because of the college. BG has more charm than Findlay, which, to me, had a creepy vibe when I was there in the late 90s. BG has a small-town feel yet better cultural and sporting events.

[chance2jump]

BG = college town atmosphere, Findlay = variety beyond college town atmosphere. I will be picking Findlay over BG this spring when my lease is up. The cost of rent is high(er) because of the students, lots and lots of students, and otherwise not much available. To get any real shopping, you either travel to Findlay or Perrysburg.

If you're after a nice, small town charm.. Definitely take a look at Perrysburg! (or even Maumee / Waterville across the river) Excellent schools, really nice neighborhoods and overall a charming community along the scenic river.

[mrspink]

I would most definitely choose Findlay over BG. Bowling Green is a college town and absolutely feels that way. The apartments are filled with university students, as are many houses. On the weekends main street is crawling with students in the bars, clubs etc.

While findlay does have a university it is smaller and in my opinion, not as "wild". Don't get me wrong, the students there are rowdy...but the town just has always seemed more spread out and a place that is more "family friendly". I would also consider it safer. I go to Findlay all the time (as I only live 20 minutes away) and have friends in BG. I personally don't feel comfortable walking around BG at night with a small group of girls, let alone by myself (which I have never done).

However, for shopping, food variety etc. I would say Toledo is your best bet, though Perrysburg is getting more every time I go! Perrysburg is right between Toledo and BG and I'm sure the schools are good. However, Findlay schools are pretty good too. And if your not liking those...Liberty Benton schools are very nice and it is only a few miles outside Findlay...so there is always open enrollment. If you check out the Ohio Department of Education website you can read the annual school reports...those are always helpful.

But if you're set on either Findlay or BG...go with Findlay. I think the environment is much better...and Toledo/Perrysburg is only a short drive. BG is not worth the closer proximity to the small city.

[NicePolishBoy]

I think the quality of students in public schools is better in BG than Findlay. It is more competitive in BG.

Yes, the mall is not as good in BG. Yes, there are lots of students in apartments. There is partying, but most parents don't live next to students. BG has more intellectual activities for kids.

[HuskerDu]

I always get an empty feeling when driving up 75 past either place.

[FindlayMom]

Findlay has horrible shopping options. Sears, JC Penney, Elder Beerman.
Pathetic. However, Toledo is a 40 minute drive, and Columbus is only
1 1/2 hrs away. Renting is expensive. Buy a house if you can. There
aren't a lot of apartment complexes, so the landlords rule. Check with
the police department to see which neighborhoods are good or bad.
BG is mostly college students, and the restaurants are packed 8 months
out of the year. There is no shopping there, either. Findlay's unemployment rate is low. About 4.7%. Up from 4.3% last month.
2 Kroger stores, 1 Meijer, 2 Walmart stores, 1 decent 12 movie theater complex, Outback Steakhouse, LaCharrita Mexican (yum! Authentic mexican). Culturally, Findlay is 100 years behind the times. You'll be hard pressed to find an eclectic shop or someplace where you can find that special gift. Again, Toledo or Columbus. No warehouse clubs, only a few hardware stores (Lowes and Menards are the 2 big chains) downtown Findlay is pathetic and about every other shop is closed. Oh, and Findlay FLOODS. Big time. When there are hard rains. Go the Thecourier. com and check out the flood photos. Flooded an entire neighborhood in 2007.
100 year flood came after one that was only 25 years ago. Good luck!

[chance2jump]

Originally Posted by FindlayMom

Findlay has horrible shopping options. Sears, JC Penney, Elder Beerman.
Pathetic. However, Toledo is a 40 minute drive, and Columbus is only
1 1/2 hrs away. Renting is expensive. Buy a house if you can. There
aren't a lot of apartment complexes, so the landlords rule. Check with
the police department to see which neighborhoods are good or bad.
BG is mostly college students, and the restaurants are packed 8 months
out of the year. There is no shopping there, either. Findlay's unemployment rate is low. About 4.7%. Up from 4.3% last month.
2 Kroger stores, 1 Meijer, 2 Walmart stores, 1 decent 12 movie theater complex, Outback Steakhouse, LaCharrita Mexican (yum! Authentic mexican). Culturally, Findlay is 100 years behind the times. You'll be hard pressed to find an eclectic shop or someplace where you can find that special gift. Again, Toledo or Columbus. No warehouse clubs, only a few hardware stores (Lowes and Menards are the 2 big chains) downtown Findlay is pathetic and about every other shop is closed. Oh, and Findlay FLOODS. Big time. When there are hard rains. Go the Thecourier. com and check out the flood photos. Flooded an entire neighborhood in 2007.
100 year flood came after one that was only 25 years ago. Good luck!

Shopping .. there are fewer shopping options in BG. Findlay's mall is in much better shape.

Rent... Same prices that you'll find in BG.

Findlay is no metropolitan mecca by any stretch of the imagination. It does not offer the conveniences you'll find in larger cities or less rural regions. It is what it is.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

I always get an empty feeling when driving up 75 past either place.

It's not really fair to judge either city based on what you can see from I-75, I mean all you're going to see of BG is the university football & baseball stadiums, a Meijer & the one 'hill' the city has b/c I-75 is on the eastern edge, likewise, it's on the western edge of Findlay, so you don't get too see much of a town. If you want to rate BG, drive down OH-64 or OH-25 through town, and then you can see what kind of vibe you get.

[jdawson10]

You would be a fool to move to either Bowling Green or Findlay or Northwest Ohio period. Jobs and culture are are non-existent. Weather is horrible. I grew up in this area and lived there till I was about 30. If you want a small town feel, move to a place like Colorado Springs or Ft Collins. Enter Northwest Ohio at your own risk. A good friend of mine tried to sell a very nice home in BG. It took him 18 months and he had to drop his price more than 30% to get a sale. He, and every college educated person I know who moved away from the area, would never dream of moving back. Toledo, the mother city of the area is one of the worst in the country. Toledo Express airport is down to one commercial flight a day - I am not joking. If you want to fly to Toledo you have to fly into Detroit, a good two hour drive from Findlay. If you MUST live in Ohio, go to Columbus. Your kids will grow up someday and say to you, "You moved from Colorado to Northwest Ohio. What were you thinking?!" You have been warned.