Blanchester is an agricultural village with some lower taxes
Blanchester is a rural community about 40 miles east of Cincinnati. “Whenever I think about Blanchester, I just think about that slower pace of life,” says Realtor Terri Cofksey with Coldwell Banker Realty. “There is a lot of agriculture out there, so you can have a farm.” While there are some restrictions based on lot sizes, she says that people generally have the freedom to build anything from pole barns to hobby farms. Another draw to the area is lower taxes. While Cincinnati has a nearly 2% income tax, Blanchester charges a 1% earnings tax.
Eateries include an ice cream stand and Harvester Farm to Table
There are some chain restaurants in Blanchester, but most residents opt for the local eateries. “There are hometown stores that everybody’s been in, and people are super committed to the community,” Cofskey says. Salvador’s Tacos & Ice Cream Shoppe is a walk-up booth with outdoor seating that serves Mexican food, ice cream and milkshakes. At Broadway Bar and Grill, daily specials like Salisbury steak take inspiration from homestyle cooking, and the standard menu has burgers and other traditional American fare. It is located near Harvester Farm to Table, a cafe, restaurant and farmers market that uses organic and locally sourced ingredients. Patrons “pay it forward” by purchasing a meal token that someone else can use to get one for free. There is a Kroger in the village. Walmart and Target are about 20 miles away, while Home Depot is a 15-mile drive.
A variety of homes are less expensive than properties in Cincinnati
Homes within village limits are on grassy lots that are often half an acre or less, while properties farther out can exceed 5 acres. “There are all ranges of houses available,” Cofskey says. “You can get a starter home that is small, or you can get something huge.” The oldest residences include bungalows, farmhouses and cottages from the early 20th century. Ranch-style houses built between the mid-20th century and the 2020s and New Traditionals with colonial influences are also common. Prices generally range from $100,000 to $360,000, which Cofskey says is less expensive than Cincinnati. “You get a little bit more land and a little bit more house for the same amount of money,” she says.
Locals spend time at the municipal building, theater and library
The Blanchester Municipal Building is the heart of the village. Besides housing the mayor’s office and police department, it has a playground and basketball court outside. The parks and recreation department puts on Splash Day every Thursday in July and fills the green space behind the building with water slides and sprinklers. Veterans Memorial Park is farther south, with amenities like outdoor exercise equipment, a softball field and a playground. Residents also catch a movie at the Blanchester Movie Theater, a locally owned, two-screen cinema that shows films on the weekend and participates in programming at the local library.
Community members look forward to Fourth of July Festival
The village’s largest celebration of the year is the annual Fourth of July Festival. For three days, attendees can listen to live music and shop at craft vendors. The day of the Fourth kicks off with a parade of local businesses, churches and organizations riding through the streets, before an afternoon of games and a fireworks show to end the celebration. During the summer, the Parks and Recreation Department puts on a free concert series called Party in the Park.
Blanchester Local Schools partner with the local community college
The village has its own school system, the Blanchester Local School District. Putman Elementary School earns a C-plus from Niche and serves kindergarten through fourth grade. Fifth through eighth graders attend Blanchester Middle School, which receives a C. Blanchester High School, also rated C-plus, offers dual credit courses through Southern State Community College.
While people can walk around the village, most drive their cars
With sidewalks and crosswalks along Blanchester’s busiest streets, the community is pedestrian-friendly. However, cars are necessary to get to and from the village. State Route 28 leads to Cincinnati. Clinton Memorial Hospital is about 15 miles away. The closest commercial airport is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which is about a 50-mile drive. It has nonstop flights to more than 55 destinations.
