The Cincinnati area is a multi-faceted metro where booming economic activity happens side-by-side with laid-back suburbs and family-friendly communities.
The city itself is considered the fastest-growing economy in the United State’s Midwest, but if you prefer a more relaxed locale over big city living, you have plenty of options in Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods.
Let’s take a look first at the best neighborhoods in Cincinnati for both families and singles alike.
1) Mount Adams
This hilltop area may be an urban community, but people here agree that it’s a beautiful place to live. It’s often described as a European-like neighborhood with its walkable streets, elegant and spacious parks, and eclectic collection of shops. Adding to its pleasant vibe is that it’s far from congested, with a population of only 1,698 – most of whom are millennials and young professionals.
Getting around Mount Adams is fairly easy, especially because the whole area is smaller than one square mile. For commuters without a car, the neighborhood is served by the Metro 1 bus that connects Mount Adams to downtown Cincinnati. Ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft, and Cincy’s public Red Bike system are also available here.
Relatively few traffic accidents happen in Mount Adams. So far this year (January to July 2021), 447 traffic crashes have occurred here, according to police data.
2) Hyde Park
Centered around Hyde Park Square, this community bustles with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Despite its vibrant activity, Hyde Park maintains its suburban status and is consistently ranked as one of the safest in Cincinnati. This, coupled with its above-average schools, make it an ideal place to raise a family. In fact, the community is noted for being an oasis for upper-middle-class families.
Hyde Park is very car-friendly and commuter-friendly, served by Metro bus lines 51, 11, and 24. Its ample and well-maintained sidewalks also make it ideal for pedestrians and joggers.
Though Hyde Park is a generally safe area, vehicle accidents do occur here. From January to July 2021, 929 crashes were reported in this area.
Related Article: Highest Crash Urban Freeway Intersections in Cincinnati OH
3) Mount Lookout
This suburb overlooks the beautiful Ohio River Valley and is home to Cincinnati’s only astronomical observatory as well as young professionals and affluent families. Most of its residents actually own their homes.
By day, residents and visitors alike appreciate the community’s scenic drives, jogger-friendly streets, beautiful parks, and quaint coffee shops. But by night, the neighborhood comes alive with bars and concert venues.
While most Mount Lookout residents own cars, public commuters can get around aboard the Metro 24, 25, or 11 bus. From this area, one can get to downtown Cincinnati in as little as 15 minutes.
Traffic can be heavier on US-50 (Columbia Parkway) and on SR-561 (Linwood Avenue), major highways that run through the neighborhood.
Though a vibrant community, Mt. Lookout is fairly safe for motorists. In the first seven months of 2021, only 386 car crashes occurred here in total.
4) Oakley
As a central area in Cincinnati, Oakley is considered a crosstown artery with easy highway access. The suburb itself is a diverse collection of urban-style businesses and highly livable residences. It’s also one of the safer neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and it boasts above-average public schools, making it a great place for families.
Oakley is highly walkable despite its proximity to major highways like I-71. Commuters needing transport in and around the area can take the Metro bus 41 or 11. However, traffic can get heavy on the roads surrounding Oakley Station, such as Disney Street, Factory Colony Lane, and Vandercar Way.
As a central neighborhood in Cincy and being close to highways, Oakley has a larger share of car accidents. Some 1,689 traffic crashes have already been reported here from January to July 2021, but most of them resulted in property damage only.
5) Columbia-Tusculum
The oldest neighborhood in Cincinnati, Columbia-Tusculum is a picturesque community of colorful Victorian-era homes and scenic parks that overlook the Ohio River.
Residents here love that they’re only a 15-minute drive from downtown, but can still enjoy the small-town feel of their neighborhood. It’s also one of the more well-to-do communities in the city, with a median household income of $71,364, much higher than the national average of $55, 322.
Traffic in this area is mostly normal, except for busy stretches of US-50 (Columbia Parkway), US-52 (Kellogg Avenue), and Stanley Avenue. Mass transit is provided by the Metro 28 bus.
Overall, Columbia Tusculum is one of the most peaceful neighborhoods for motorists, with only 362 auto accidents reported in the first seven months of 2021.
Worst Neighborhoods in Cincinnati
1) Over-the-Rhine
The beautiful historic buildings of OTR are unfortunately overshadowed by the community’s high crime rate. In 2010, this neighborhood was actually named the most dangerous in America. In more recent years, crime in OTR has dropped but it is still among the highest in Cincinnati. In addition, this community is considered one of the poorest in the city, with a median household income of only $14,517.
Despite these, Over-the-Rhine remains to be one of the most walkable and bikeable neighborhoods in Cincinnati. Mass transit riders are served by the Cincinnati Bell Connector, the city’s historic streetcar system revived in 2016, alongside several bus routes of the Metro bus service.
Unfortunately, certain roads in the area are still plagued by traffic, such as W 14th Street, Elm Street, and Vine Street.
Over-the-Rhine also sees many traffic collisions. From January to July 2021, it has already had 1,640 reported crashes.
2) Avondale
Of the 12,466 residents of Avondale, more than 40 percent live below the poverty line, making it one of the 10 poorest Cincinnati neighborhoods.
The community’s crimes have also been steadily rising, and in 2014 alone, they had 50 incidents of violent crimes. Sadly, these trends are combined with low educational attainment, with only 555 residents obtaining a bachelor’s degree, according to the 2010 census.
Avondale is served by Metro bus 46 and several other bus lines of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA). The area has mostly normal traffic, but during rush hour, some roads get significantly more congested, such as Northern Avenue, Dury Avenue, and Burnet Avenue.
On top of these are the vehicle crashes in the area. In the first seven months of 2021, Avondale has already had 2,227 car accidents.
3) Villages at Roll Hill (formerly Fay Apartments)
For Ohioans, the name “Fay Apartments” brings to mind a blighted community. After a $36-million renovation and a name change, what is now “Villages at Roll Hill” looks forward to a better status while still providing affordable housing. However, it is still considered the poorest community in Cincinnati, with a median household income of only $7,328.
The neighborhood is also unfortunately surrounded by high-traffic streets, namely Nottingham Road, Williamsburg Drive, and President Drive. Commuters who would rather take public transportation can catch the Metro bus 64 that passes President Drive.
One silver lining is that this neighborhood has low accident numbers. The Fay Apartments area had only 233 traffic crashes from January to July 2021.
There are always two sides to every city, and each neighborhood can evolve, for better or for worse. Wherever you are in Cincinnati, it’s always wise to act prudently and practice safety, however if you do happen to get injured in a car accident then it’s wise to consult with an experienced Cincinnati car accident lawyer as soon as you are able.
The Cincinnati personal injury lawyers at The Fitch Law Firm will evaluate your motor vehicle accident case (or any other kind of injury case) at no charge, and ensure your rights to full and fair compensation are protected. Call The Fitch Law Firm today at (614) 963-2808 or email us for legal help.