Living in Reading, Ohio: homes, prices and straight answers

What is downtown Reading like?

A walkable old downtown known as Cincinnati's Bridal District, along Benson Street. More than 40 wedding shops and services sit within a few blocks: gowns, menswear, invitations, food, everything to make the day special. There are plenty of local shops, a little fast food when you need something quick, and lots of public parking if you drive in.

When I filmed my Reading video I found one of the coolest vintage shops I have seen in Cincinnati downtown, the kind of place you go for a costume or a one-of-a-kind gift. Some interesting older homes sit within walking distance of all of it.

Where is Reading?

Right in the middle of the northern suburbs, close to I-75 and the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway (State Route 126). Its neighbors include Blue Ash, Evendale, Lockland, Amberley Village, Deer Park and Dillonvale in Sycamore Township. Reading uses three ZIP codes, 45215, 45236 and 45237, so a ZIP code alone will not tell you whether a house is in the city.

It is close to a lot of work: GE Aerospace in Evendale, UC Blue Ash College and the offices in Blue Ash, and a Thermo Fisher Scientific site in the area.

What kinds of homes are in Reading?

Mostly older single-family houses: typically three bedrooms, one to one and a half baths, about 1,400 square feet, on lots of about a sixth of an acre. The median home was built in 1956, and about 30% of homes are duplexes, condos and apartments.

Older homes bring character and some homework: stone foundations, knob-and-tube wiring and box gutters all show up around here. Get a real inspection, and read Should you waive the inspection? before you compete for a house. If a home seems like the bargain of the century, there is probably something going on with it.

How does Reading's 2% income tax work?

Reading charges 2%, but gives you credit of up to 2% for city tax you pay where you work. So if you work in Cincinnati, which charges 1.8%, you would owe Reading only about 0.2% on top. If you work somewhere with no city income tax, such as a township, or you work from home in Reading, you would owe Reading the full 2%. The details are on the city's tax page.

Which school district is Reading in?

Reading Community City Schools, the city's own district, which covers all of Reading. It is a smaller district, about 1,600 students from elementary through high school, with a newer junior/senior high building. It also takes in a small part of Sycamore Township. You can compare districts on the Ohio School Report Card.

How do Reading prices compare with its neighbors?

Reading is one of the lower-priced places this close to Blue Ash, though prices keep going up. The median sale this summer was about $255,000, up about 12% from a year earlier, compared with about $556,000 in Blue Ash and about $420,000 in Kenwood. Property tax runs about $1,855 a year per $100,000 of value, higher than Blue Ash, so ask me for the actual bill on any house you like.

If you are buying your first home, my first home guide shows what $275,000 to $325,000 buys around Cincinnati.