Why I Moved Back to Cincinnati
Known as one of the crown jewels of the Midwest, Cincy draws in new residents and boomerangs alike. We asked one resident what brought her back home.
Cincinnati, OH, known as the “Queen City” for its beauty and culture, is a crown jewel of the Midwest. This mid-sized city of 307,818 sits along the Ohio River right across from Northern Kentucky. Its rolling hills cast a beautiful landscape and naturally create distinct neighborhoods with unique personalities. With its blend of Midwestern friendliness, cultural amenities, inviting green spaces and affordability, Cincinnati is quickly becoming known as one of the best places to live in the U.S.
After nearly 17 years away from her hometown of Cincinnati, Katie decided to move back to the city that raised her and the place where she grew up.
Overall we were motivated to move because we wanted a lifestyle change and to be much closer to family.
We got married in 2022, and our priorities changed. We wanted to live in a community suitable for us once we started a family and where we could grow and plant roots. The quality of life, slower pace and an overall lower cost of living were much better suited for our current lifestyle than our old city.
Cincinnati has all of the amenities of a major metropolitan city but a little bit of a sleepier, slower vibe. We’ve got everything from a beautiful downtown area and several unique neighborhoods to amusement parks, art museums and major universities. I love the arts, and several fine arts venues are in town, too. We’ve got a theater, ballet and opera. Plus, major league sports…football, baseball, soccer and horse racing. Cincinnati is home to two of my favorite professional sports teams — Reds and Bengals fan FOR LIFE. There are a lot of great restaurants here, and as a foodie, I really appreciate the food scene.
But, outside of downtown, there is a lot of greenery. The outdoor amenities and parks around the city are fantastic — Eden, Ault and Devou parks are some of my favorites.
And, the community!! Cincinnati has a wonderful sense of community, and it’s been really great to get connected since we moved back here.
Compared to where we came from? Yes.
Cincinnati is an established city, and it is popular for a variety of reasons. But, it is a little bit off the beaten path when it comes to traveling and doesn’t have near the fanfare or international tourism draw that other major cities have. It is much quieter in terms of traffic, new residents and new construction.
It depends on the season! In the summer, I would take a day trip to one of the historic small towns along the river to go antique shopping and have lunch. I love Augusta, KY, specifically. Then, I’d meet friends in Mt. Adams in the afternoon for cocktails before heading down to Great American Ballpark for a Reds Game.
We love to try new restaurants, and there are always a ton of great places opening up. In the Over the Rhine District, in particular, there is a great foodie scene. Some of my favorites are Boca, Nada, Prime Cincinnati, Via Vite Ristorante, Alcove and Salazar.
Mt. Adams is a historic neighborhood that sits above Cincinnati. The architecture and ambiance are something you would find in a small European village. The Cincinnati Art Museum, Rookwood Pottery, Playhouse in the Park and Eden Park are the highlights of the neighborhood.
We also love visiting the Mainstrasse Village in Covington, KY, too!
It’s an established area of town near the river, so it has lovely homes, lots of green space and mature trees. We have four trees on our property that are over 100 years old!
The history — the city is so old and has so much history. There is gorgeous architecture, and the setting of downtown on the river in a river valley is absolutely gorgeous! The historic parts of downtown make you feel like you’re in Manhattan, too. We spend a lot of time in the Over the Rhine, Mt. Adams, Clifton Heights and Northside neighborhoods.
If you have a solid base of family and friends, if the cost of living is substantially better and you already have a connection to the city, why not?!
