Looking for recomendations on a moderate size city/town (Cleveland: apartment, rent)

[ReturningWest]

I will be moving to Ohio, for at least a year. I'd like to stay in the central or southern half of the state- not interested in northern Ohio.

I'd like a town of moderate size that has good grocery stores (preferably one health food) and at least one hospital and several nursing homes (I'm an LPN returning to practice and will need to accumulate about 1000 hours before I can re-instate my license to return to the northwest). Also, possibly one that is within a short commute to a larger population. Saftey is also a concern as I will be working evenings and nights and I'm an older single person.

My hobbies are flora and fauna photography, walking with my dog. I'm not a fan of snow or heat and humidity (I currently live in GA). I'm not a big city fan. I currently live in a small town but it's close to other small towns and a larger college town - Athens, GA. I would prefer to live in a cottage, small house or carriage house (garage apt) as I've lived on 10 acres for the last 10 years and I don't think I could adjust to apartment living with all the noise, plus I'll be working odd hours that nurses work. I will also be on a very limited budget.

Growing up I visited OH on a regular basis (once a year at least) as my mother's side of the family lived in Johnstown and Deleware - my mother was born in Ostrander. I also worked in Cleveland for a short period.

It's been many many years since I've been to OH and and any help you can provide with a list of possible towns would be greatly appreciated.

[Daytonnatian]

Small town atmosphere with a big city nearby?

I'd say Lebanon should be on your short list.

[ReturningWest]

Thanks for the suggestion, but Lebanon, doesn't meet my criteria of having a hospital and that's a deal breaker.

Anyone else???

[rrtechno]

How close does the hospital need to be? Cincinnati Children's Hospital recently opened a location at I-75 and 129 just a little south of Monroe and they also have a campus along I-71 near Mason. Atrium Medical just opened their new facility at Middletown. Health Alliance (which includes University Hospital) has a number of locations including several in Butler and Warren counties. There are also many nursing homes in the area. Daytonnatian likely suggested Lebanon because I think the town has the feel and access to the other amenities you are looking for, but if it is definitely out of the question, you might want to check out some of the other towns in the area. Mason and West Chester would likely have some of the type of housing you are looking for, but the rent costs might be higher than Lebanon.

Good luck in your search. I hope you find what you are looking for.

[ReturningWest]

The big criteria is the town needs to be big enough to have a hospital

Thanks

[rrtechno]

Lebanon doesn't have an inpatient hospital, but they do have a new medical center (outpatient and emergency) there that is affiliated with Bethesda North which is just a little off i-71 just inside the I-275 loop. A quick search of careers showed 31 nursing openings currently at that facility.

Bethesda Medical Center at Arrow Springs -- Emergency Department, Outpatient Services, Physicians -- Warren Co., Ohio

[ReturningWest]

I don't want to live or have to commute to Cinci or any other large city

[jkratze1]

Try Middletown where the Atrium just opened.

Atrium Medical Center - Middletown, Ohio

[Clevelander17]

Dayton could be a decent fit for the OP. How many people would a "medium-sized" city have?

[ReturningWest]

The Middletown hospital doesn't appear to hire LPN's

I've looked at Dayton but I'm quite concerned about the city data crime rate it appears to be double the national average. How do people in Dayton feel about that???