With scores of employment opportunities and
upscale suburban neighborhoods sprouting up all the time, this region couldn’t
cater more to young families. Expansion is happening quickly in these parts,
but northern Cincinnati has long been home to many of the region’s most
kid-friendly attractions, including the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad and Kings
Island amusement park. Residents enjoy the outdoors at one of the region’s many
green spaces, from Winton Woods to Sharon Woods to Voice of America Park. Those
who love scoring great finds can get their fix at the area’s many retail
destinations, from Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe to home decor giant
IKEA.
Despite tough competition from neighboring counties,
northern Hamilton County continues to attract residents with its established
communities, lush greenery, and big-name corporate employers. Known as the Mill
Creek Valley, the area encompasses the neighborhoods of Sharonville, Wyoming, Woodlawn, Carthage, and Forest Park.
Also in the Valley, Glendale is
known for its quirky black squirrels—both the live versions (the critters were
brought from Michigan by a local businessman in the 1940s and are now thriving
in the area), as well as the dozens of celebratory statues scattered throughout
the town.
To the northeast, Warren County residents enjoy good schools
and ease of living. Mason is one of
the fastest-growing communities in Ohio, with loads of upscale homes and
shopping centers that cater to working parents. Nearby Maineville is close to all the action but offers family living at a
much slower pace.
Lebanon is one of
the many gems of the northeast region. The historic downtown area attracts
residents and visitors with quaint antique shops, cute ice cream parlors, and
home-style restaurants. The Golden Lamb, Ohio’s oldest establishment, has
hosted a number of historical figures, including 12 U.S. presidents.
Along I-75, neighboring West
Chester and Liberty Township are
two thriving Butler County communities. West Chester was recently ranked as one
of the top 100 “Best Places to Live” by CNN/Money
Magazine. Also located in Butler County, the economically diverse city of
Fairfield offers residents an abundance of neighborhood shopping centers, as
well as homes, apartments, and condos at nearly every price point.
While still largely rural, the outskirts of Butler County
are becoming suburbanized as well. Expanding areas include Ross Township and the nearby city of Oxford, the home of Miami University.
Far out in the countryside, residents can escape the hustle
and bustle of suburbia and enjoy the scenery in quiet communities such as Waynesville or Harveysburg, the town that hosts the annual Ohio Renaissance
Festival. To the west, the more diverse communities of Monroe, Hamilton, and Middletown are practically equidistant
from Cincinnati and Dayton and feature homes at many different price points.
Sample Home Prices*
- Fairfield:
$131,025
- Glendale: $439,604
- Lebanon: $224,918
- Mason: $187,361
- Monroe: $183,844
- Oxford: $262,788
- West Chester: $270,032
- Wyoming: $337,712
* Average prices as of April 26, 2012