Located on the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, Cincinnati is a thriving and culturally rich city of more than 300,000. Cincinnati is one of the leading cities in the Midwest in terms of economic growth, affordability, nightlife, and family-friendly attractions with suburbs that extend more than 25 miles from the city center. A suburb, unlike a neighborhood, is a separate community or city of its own within commuting distance. By exploring Cincinnati suburbs outside of the city center, you can enjoy everything the city has to offer with more space and more affordable living.
Looking for affordable Cincinnati suburbs, the suburbs with the best schools, or a great place to live with nearby shopping and fun? Here’s the best Cincinnati, OH suburbs to explore!
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Mason – Best Cincinnati Suburb for Families
- Population: 32,317
- Median Household Income: $93,872
- Median Home Price: $235,000
- Homes for sale in Mason, OH
Best known as home to one of the world’s largest tennis stadiums and Kings Island amusement park and waterpark, Mason has also been named the 7th Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine thanks to its great schools, low crime rate, strong economy, and diversity. Located just north of Loveland, the city is one of the more expensive suburbs of Cincinnati but it’s packed with amenities and attractions that families love.
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Mason is one of the best places in Greater Cincinnati to raise kids with fun attractions, great schools, and a diverse population that’s 80% white, 11% Asian, 4% Hispanic, and 2% black. The Mason City School District has among the best-rated schools in Ohio and includes William Mason High School, the largest in the state by enrollment. There’s also 5 colleges, universities, and schools within 30 miles like the University of Cincinnati, UC Blue Ash College, and Xavier University.
Along with Kings Island, one of the country’s top amusement parks, Mason is also home to The Beach Waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge of Mason, and Mason Sports Park, the newest park in the city with lighted fields and a challenging disc golf course. While tourism clearly plays a big role in Mason, other major employers include Procter & Gamble’s Mason Business Center, Mitsubishi Electric, Cintas, and L-3 Communications.
Indian Hill – Most Affluent Suburb of Cincinnati
- Population: 5,853
- Median Household Income: $318,319
- Median Home Price: $947,000
- Homes for sale in Indian Hill, OH
The Village of Indian Hill (legally a city!) isn’t just the most affluent Cincinnati suburb — it’s the 17th richest community in the United States. That’s down from 11th in the country in 2019. The average household income is over $318,000, according to recent census data, in a community where many residents are top executives, lawyers, and physicians.
Its wealth isn’t all that makes Indian Hill stand out. As you might imagine, the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District is rated excellent by the state’s Board of Education and its Indian Hill High School is one of the top high schools in the country according to U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek. It also ranks in the 99th percentile for ACT and SAT scores. Indian Hill has been named the Best Place to Raise a Family by the Robb Report magazine.
Indian Hill is known for its picturesque estates and quiet private drives. While it started as a farming community, it quickly filled with beautiful mansions and estates built by Cincinnati businessmen in the 1920s who wanted a rural retreat. Today, 100% of Indian Hill remains single-family homes and agriculture.
Loveland – Home of the Loveland Bike Trail
- Population: 12,884
- Median Household Income: $70,469
- Median Home Price: $191,800
- Homes for sale in Loveland, OH
Loveland, the Sweetheart of Ohio, is a popular bedroom community of Cincinnati and best known for the Loveland Bike Trail, the city’s cultural hot spot and main tourist attraction. You’ll enjoy afternoons in Old Loveland around the Bike Trail with popular locally owned restaurants and boutiques right on the river. You can also rent a bike and ride for miles along the Little Miami River from Loveland.
What makes Loveland one of the best suburbs of Cincinnati? It’s the middle of the road — and that’s a good thing! It doesn’t have the most expensive neighborhoods in Cincinnati; although it is fairly affluent and there are many new home communities with prices topping $700k, you’ll also find many homes priced under $200k. The Loveland City School District is also highly rated (although not quite as highly as Loveland’s costly neighbors, Indian Hill and Mason). Loveland is also very safe with a crime rate lower than 86% of U.S. cities.
Loveland is mostly residential with a good amount of shopping and plenty of outdoor recreation. You’re only 25 minutes from downtown Cincinnati and 49 miles from Dayton when you want big city excitement! You can learn more about living in Loveland, Ohio in our complete guide to the city.
Fort Thomas, KY – Safest Cincinnati Suburb
- Population: 16,254
- Median Household Income: $71,956
- Median Home Price: $214,000
- Homes for sale in Fort Thomas, KY
Named for Civil War General George Henry Thomas, the hilltop city of Fort Thomas was incorporated in 1867 and maintains its historic, small-town feel. Fort Thomas is a close-knit community and one of the safest suburbs in Cincinnati with a very low crime rate of 455 reported crimes per 100k people with just 74 reported crimes in 2018, most of them thefts. Fort Thomas is one of a handful of towns near Cincinnati on the Kentucky side. You’ll feel a world apart from the big city but enjoy a downtown commute time of just five minutes!
Fort Thomas has plenty of outdoor recreation and beautiful scenery with Tower Park and Highland Hills trails to explore. Highland Hills Park covers about 77 acres and features a disc golf course and a dog park. Tower Park, with its Armory Gymnasium and Recreation Center, is one of the most well-known attractions in Fort Thomas. The 102-foot-tall Stone Water Tower at its entrance is a recognizable landmark in the area and it’s a relic of the city’s rich military history. The city also sits right on the Ohio River and boating is a popular past-time.
Fort Thomas is a fairly affluent suburb with a median age of 40, much higher than neighboring areas. Home prices in the community are fairly affordable and below the national average.
Blue Ash – Best Cincinnati Suburb for Entertainment
- Population: 12,096
- Median Household Income: $75,775
- Median Home Price: $243,100
- Homes for sale in Blue Ash, OH
Want to keep your weekends full? You’ll fall in love with Blue Ash, a hot spot for recreation and dining. The list of things to do in Blue Ash is long and includes free activities for families. You’ll enjoy free concerts in the summer and massive annual festivals like Red, White and Blue Ash which in 2019 drew in more than 100k attendees with a headlining act by Kansas. You can also beat the heat at the upscale Blue Ash Recreation Center with a climbing wall, saunas, game room, and Olympic-size swimming pool with dual slides.
Not enough to keep you entertained? Blue Ash is home to the Blue Ash Golf Course which Golf Digest ranked as one of the country’s top municipal courses and dozens of parks. The largest and most impressive is Summit Park, a sprawling 130-acre park that’s the crown jewel of the city with a large observation tower, ice skating, and restaurants.
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Entertainment isn’t all Blue Ash has to offer. It’s served by the highly-rated Sycamore Community Schools District and features a handful of parochial schools. It also offers great healthcare with Bethesda North Hospital and Jewish Hospital minutes away and it’s one of the region’s largest suburban office markets, home to over 2,300 successful companies.
Milford – Most Affordable Suburb in Cincinnati
- Population: 6,829
- Median Household Income: $43,514
- Median Home Price: $153,900
- Homes for sale in Milford, OH
Looking for safe yet affordable suburbs of Cincinnati to call home without moving into the rural regions? Milford is an up-and-coming suburb and one of the most affordable places to live near Cincinnati without giving up the amenities you want. You’ll find Milford just south of Loveland and 17 miles northeast of Cincinnati just off I-275 on the Little Miami River.
Milford is offers a great mix of community events, restaurants, shopping, and outdoor recreation. You can explore Old Milford for great restaurants, antique shops, and specialty boutiques or venture into the newer part of the city with big box shopping, chain restaurants, and a movie theater. Hop on the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail which connects Milford to surrounding communities like Loveland, kayak or canoe down the Little Miami, and visit the Cincinnati Nature Center with 20 miles of award-winning nature trails and 1,700 acres to explore.
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You’ll find Milford real estate is more affordable than most surrounding suburbs. The city is also known for its affordable rent; a one-bedroom apartment costs around $650 per month in Milford.
Cincinnati Suburbs Map
Which Cincinnati Suburb Will Be Home?
Have you settled on relocating to one of these welcoming and fun Cincinnati, OH suburbs or a different community in the area? If you’re moving within the next few months, call the trusted Cincinnati movers at Bell Moving & Storage for a free estimate at 513-942-7500!
