Living in Cincinnati (Cleveland, Lakewood, Findlay: 2013, apartments, condo)

[miamian in nc]

Hi everyone! I've posted similar threads in different places as I continue my research on where to relocate to.
Cincinnati entered my radar because I think it maybe has milder winters than Cleveland. Am I right? I lived in Cleveland for three years and I've been living in central North Carolina for many years now but needing a change.

I'm in my early 60s. I worked full-time remotely so I can live anywhere. I read that Cincinnati has a sizeable Catholic population, which I like since I'm Catholic myself. Besides this, it looks like there's a lot to do there, such as music, theater, art, and parks as well. Is the Findlay Market something like the West Side Market in Cleveland?

If I move there I'll need to find a place to live for myself and my 14 yr. old collie mix doggie. I think the cost of living seems to be more affordable too. Since I don't know the city, would it be a good idea to maybe land there (by car, I mean) and stay in some type of temporary housing? I've been looking at place in other cities online and not been happy doing this without knowing the area. If anyone has any property management referrals, I'd like to learn about these. I know all the standard sites like Craig's List, Zillow, Apartments.com and the others.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[GoldKona]

I would also look at Northern Kentucky, Newport and Covington. I believe the taxes are lower and it is very walkable to downtown Cincinnati.

[miamian in nc]

Wow! I never knew that! I looked at the map and now I see. That's neat to cross a bridge and be in a different state and city.

[Nomomo07]

Your initial assessment is correct. Cincinnati has a large Catholic community throughout the region, so finding a parish to suit you should be relatively easy. In terms of housing, it all depends on if you want a more urban feel nearby to all the attractions, or if you want a more suburban feel a short drive away. Nothing in Cincinnati typically takes more than a half hour to get to (aside from rush hour) and the highways are straightforward and easy to use. The one draw back to the Northern Kentucky side is that you have to cross a bridge to get to the vast majority of the areas attractions.

Findlay market is very similar albeit a slightly smaller and more outdoor version of the West Side Market. I lived in Cleveland for a year about a decade ago and that was one of my favorite places to visit. Findlay is Ohio's oldest continuously operational public market, and feels almost like a market you would find in the town square in many European towns and cities.


Weather wise, Cincinnati has a much milder winter than Cleveland, with far less snow. It will still get very cold here on occasion, but without the wind from the lake, it is much more manageable.



Let us know what your preference is neighborhood-wise (urban, suburban, rural) and that will help us narrow down our suggestions for where to look.

[GoldKona]

Originally Posted by Nomomo07

The one draw back to the Northern Kentucky side is that you have to cross a bridge to get to the vast majority of the areas attractions.

I dunno. The Aquarium is in Newport, Mainstrasse is in Covington. Heck, The Greater Cincinnati Airport is in Kentucky! LOL

I lived in Boone, Kenton, & Campbell counties. I moved to Honolulu the year that the Ohio river froze and idiots were driving cars over to Cincinnati!

But I did visit my buddy in 2013 who lives in a condo that looks across the river to the stadium. I would walk across the Roebling bridge over to downtown, hit the Casino and then cross the Purple People bridge into Newport thru the Aquarium and then the little bridge across the Licking river and be home. Two states and three counties on an easy walk. I had a great time and it was a perfect October that I never needed the heavy jacket I brought.

I would definitely look at the different taxes for each city, county and state as far as income and property taxes and even automobile taxes. Back in the day there were some crazy difference.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by miamian in nc

Cincinnati entered my radar because I think it maybe has milder winters than Cleveland. Am I right?

Yes. When I moved from Cleveland to Cincinnati, the summers seemed hot and oppressive to me, but I got used to it eventually. Cleveland has five months of winter; Cincinnati has five months of summer. Cincinnati will get occasional big snows, but nothing like the lake effect snows on Cleveland's east side suburbs. A typical winter day is 40 degrees with a chance of drizzle.

One thing to know about winter in Cincinnati: Cincinnati residents want nothing to do with snow whatsoever. They don't like it, they don't like to drive in it, they don't like to shovel it, they don't like to walk in it, they don't like to hear about it. They avoid it like it's hydrochloric acid that's going to burn their skin. LOL

I read that Cincinnati has a sizeable Catholic population, which I like since I'm Catholic myself. Besides this, it looks like there's a lot to do there, such as music, theater, art, and parks as well. Is the Findlay Market something like the West Side Market in Cleveland?

Yes, yes, and yes. Findlay Market is somewhat smaller than West Side Market, but they are comparable.

Good luck in figuring out your move!

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Nomomo07

Weather wise, Cincinnati has a much milder winter than Cleveland, with far less snow. It will still get very cold here on occasion, but without the wind from the lake, it is much more manageable.

Let us know what your preference is neighborhood-wise (urban, suburban, rural) and that will help us narrow down our suggestions for where to look.

That depends on the area of Cleveland where you live. If you live east of Cleveland in the lake-effect snow areas, we will get a lot of snow. I lived immediately west of the city in Lakewood and we did not have all that snow. Yet my family would call me all the time asking how I liked the 12" of snow that night. I would send them a picture of my front yard that was not even covered with the snow.

One advantage of the Cleveland area is that the terrain is pretty flat and you don't have to deal with all of the hills in Cincinnati (and the drivers who seem to have never drives in snow). I can tell you that my 25 mile commute in snow heading out of Cleveland was much easier than driving my SIL to Mt Adams over Columbia Parkway.

[GoldKona]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

One advantage of the Cleveland area is that the terrain is pretty flat and you don't have to deal with all of the hills in Cincinnati (and the drivers who seem to have never drives in snow).

.

Well, he is work from home so as long as he keeps his pantry stocked he can wait it out til the streets get salted.

Is the city of Seven Hills built like Rome?
This question has been debated in the newspapers over the years as well! It has been said that Cincinnati was built on seven hills, just like Rome. Of course, the city has way more than seven hills.

The hills give Cincinnati its amazing vistas and views of the city and the river. An apartment with a river view is very desirable.

[on3]

In Cincinnati we're talking only shoveling our driveways 2 times a year if that. I've been here 8 years and have yet to bring the shovel out more than 2 times each winter. I live about 30 min north of Cincinnati so I'm not dealing with any hilly areas around here. I also notice their are far less pot holes around here than other areas of the midwest. So if I have to trade some hills when I visit the other attractions in Cincinnati for dodging pot holes, I'll take it.

[miamian in nc]

I loved logging on this morning to see all your really helpful and constructive thoughts about the Cincinnati area. Hearing that it doesn't get as much snow as Cleveland is a real plus. On the other hand the flatness in Cleveland is also appealing. I'm probably leaning toward the less snow part being that I'm in my early 60s as far as settling down goes. Yet, of course getting in better shape can be done in both terrains.

I have a question about Findlay since I haven't researched it. You have the Findlay Market and then there's the city of Findlay in Ohio. Is Findlay the name of someone famous in Ohio history or is it just coincidence that both are Findlay?