Carthage

Carthage is an established neighborhood for homeowners looking for a city feel without being in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. “It’s an older, urban neighborhood with a lot of homes that are from the early 1900s to the 1930s,” says Mays Khalaf, a Realtor with Comey & Shepherd Realtors who has worked in the area. The neighborhood has an urban feel, with homes built close together, making it easy to get to know your neighbors and feel like part of the community. At the same time, the distance from downtown is enough to get away from the hustle and bustle while still being close enough to have an easy commute.

Carthage has a few styles of homes to choose from. Much of what you’ll find is Cape Cod and Tudor-style cottages with side-gabled roofs. There are some ranch-style homes in the area and some shotgun homes. Parts of the neighborhood feature newer Craftsman homes with siding and spacious front porches. These homes come in various colors like blue, green and red, and often have detached garages behind the home. Most houses in the neighborhood are relatively small, often under 1,000 square feet. Homes in Carthage are typically cheaper than in other Cincinnati neighborhoods. “Affordability is definitely a reason people would look for a home here,” says Khalaf. “You can get some character and charm with the homes.” Houses range from $100,000 for a 750-square-foot cottage to $270,000 for a four-bedroom, 1,800-square-foot brick house. Most houses are in the $150,000 range.

Students in Carthage might attend Hartwell Elementary School, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche, and Woodward Career Technical High School, rated a C overall. Woodward serves approximately 900 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1. The school was one of the first public schools in the country and traces its roots to 1831. It offers hands-on learning and career academies where students can explore different interests, such as manufacturing, building technologies and health technologies. Woodward is also the alma mater of the 27th president of the United States, William Howard Taft.

Carthage residents have a few options for outdoor recreation just a few minutes away. Caldwell Playground is a small public park with baseball fields, a basketball court and a playground. It also has a trailhead for the Mill Creek Greenway Trail, a 3.5-mile paved trail that advocates hope will be expanded to include 50 miles one day. Head another half-mile west on North Bend Road to Caldwell Nature Center to spend some time in the woods. This nature preserve has 3.5 miles of trails through a mix of old-growth forest and new plantings. Visitors can view various plants and wildlife, including several species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. The preserve also has a nature center that houses park offices and hosts events like school field trips and guided hikes. The preserve is also open for controlled hunting at various times throughout the year.

Vine Street is the main commercial avenue through the neighborhood and is home to a few local restaurants. You can get authentic Mexican food at the family-owned Nuevo Valle Mexican Restaurant. Locals enjoy the steak and chicken tacos in a vibrant eatery with colorful murals on the walls. Andy’s Café, a few blocks north, is a small neighborhood dive bar serving burgers and other bar food. Locals enjoy the affordable prices as much as the lively atmosphere.

The neighborhood has a couple of small convenience stores, but you’ll have to drive a few miles or take the bus for a full-service grocery store. There is a Save A Lot discount grocer 1.5 miles east of the neighborhood. This store has all your food essentials and carries brand-name products. You can get here by driving along Seymour Avenue or taking bus route 41. You can also shop at the Kroger in Finneytown, a 4-mile drive northwest of the neighborhood. The proximity to Interstate 75 makes commuting a breeze, as you can easily hop on the highway whenever needed. Carthage is in a central location in the Cincinnati metro area, giving you a 10-mile drive into downtown and easy access to the northern suburbs.

Written By

Matthew Atkins

Photography Contributed By

Michael Beaver

Video By

Luke Mancari