$115,731Average Value$86Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Residential streets and small businesses around a historic church
With its stone walls and towering steeple dating back to the tail end of the 19th century, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church still stands on Clark Street. Today, this gothic structure — along with St. John Church on 1st Avenue — is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the neighborhood of Church, an aptly named community in Middletown, Ohio. The surrounding streets are populated by Foursquares built during the height of Ohio’s steel boom and small businesses like the Central Pastry Shop, where locals call the cinnamon squares “pieces of heaven,” according to co-owner Vera Slamka. “People who’ve been coming here for five generations, they always claim it’s the same, that it smells the same,” adds Slamka who took over the shop alongside her husband in the mid-1980s. As is the case with the tried-and-true recipes at Central Pastry, little has changed in downtown Middletown over the past 50 years. Landmarks like the seven-story Goetz Tower still sit next to old-fashioned family restaurants and boutique storefronts. During the wintertime, residents congregate at the outdoor ice rink or attend the annual Santa Parade. During football season, the Middletown Middies play at Cris Carter Field at Barnitz Stadium. The Great Miami River is the backbone of it all, flowing north toward Dayton and eventually connecting to the Ohio River in the south.
The St. John statue looks over the residents of Church at St. John Church.
Old-fashioned family restaurants and boutique storefronts are found nearby Church.
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Weekly mass at Holy Trinity and St. Johns
"The present-day Holy Trinity Church was built in 1898. The cornerstone was laid June 12, 1898," says Angie Cathcart, communications director at Holy Family Parish. "We have 2 churches in our parish. The other church is St. John Church," she adds. Holy Trinity Catholic Church has a Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mass schedule and also offers select masses in Spanish. During the holiday season, residents can give back to the community by dropping off hand-wrapped “Angel Tag” gifts at the Parish Office, which are later passed out to those in need at Messiah Lutheran. St. John Church, meanwhile, holds mass on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
St. John Church in Church offers select masses in Spanish.
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church is a gothic structure built in the 19th century in Church.
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A small neighborhood park and more outdoor recreation closer to downtown
Spanning 3 acres off Flemming Road, Flemming Park has an outdoor court for pickup basketball games and a small playground. However, most of the local activities are concentrated in Smith Park, which can be found about a mile north of Flemming Park, just outside the neighborhood. There’s a central fishing pond, a splash pad popular during summer months and paved multipurpose trails. Skateboarders can head to the ramps at Baker Bowl and some local golfers invest in memberships at Forest Hills Country Club or Wildwood Golf Club.
Flemming Park has playgrounds and basketball courts for a beautiful day in Church.
Smith Park in Church has a playground and walking trails perfect for enjoying an afternoon.
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Early 20th-century housing
Single-family homes in Church sit on relatively compact, sometimes raised lots. Many were built prior to the First World War and prospective buyers will find Foursquares, bungalows and modest cottage designs here. The neighborhood’s smallest homes — some under 800 square feet — start around $70,000, but the majority hover between $150,000 and $250,000. There are also apartment units available across from Holy Trinity Church, and residents 62 years or older can find affordable rentals at Trinity Manor. The neighborhood’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 6 out of 10, which is slightly higher than the national average of 4.
Single-family homes sit on relatively compact lots throughout the streets of Church.
Church has homes that date back to the 1800's such as the Sorg Mansion.
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Central Pastry Shop, The Swire Inn and boutique shopping downtown
Church’s commercial activity is concentrated along Central Avenue which leads downtown and intersects with Main Street. The Central Pastry Shop opened its doors in 1949 and still serves fresh-made donuts, coffee cakes and cookies in the neighborhood today, drawing in multiple generations of customers. It’s also a favorite of Vice President JD Vance, who stopped by during his July 2024 rally in Middletown. “JD used to come here with his grandma growing up,” says Slamka, who works with the bakers in the back, handling delicate recipes like their orange chiffon cake. “He came in not too long ago and he bought $48 worth of donuts,” she adds. Elsewhere downtown, colorful murals decorate the sides of historic brick buildings and locals will find sit-down family restaurants like The Swire Inn, which is located across the street from the Sorg Opera House. Other century-old buildings are home to small boutiques and even Grandpa Joe’s, an old-fashioned candy store with black-and-white tiled flooring. For groceries, options include Perez Supermarket or Needler’s Fresh Market on North University Boulevard.
See what is on tap and grab a meal at The Swire Inn in Church.
Central Pastry Shop has sweet treats beloved by the residents of Church.
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Holiday festivities and summertime hot air balloon rides
Church residents can look forward to annual events like the Middletown Holiday Whopla, which comes recommended by The Swire Inn’s Assistant Manager, Erin Allen. “An ice rink opens up downtown and there are family-fun activities with Santa,” she says. There are also heated igloos up for rent, interactive light displays and horse-drawn-carriage rides down Main Street. In July, Smith Park hosts the Ohio Challenge, a weekend-long event where families can book tethered hot air balloon rides, watch firework shows or visit craft and food vendors. The INNOVAtheatre company puts on year-round shows on the Sorg Opera stage and past performances have included “Newsies” and “Into the Woods.” It’s also common to find live local bands in downtown bars, according to Allen.
A LEED Gold Certification at Middletown Middle School
Students here can attend public schools within the Middletown City School District, starting at Rosa Parks Elementary before moving on to Highview 6th Grade Center. Both schools earn C-minus grades from Niche. In 2018, renovations were completed on the Middletown Middle and High School campus, a project that included the addition of a 2,200-seat athletic arena. The schools earn a C-minus and a C respectively from Niche and Middletown Middle School’s commitment to sustainability has earned it a LEED Gold Certification. All students within the Middletown City School District are eligible for free lunch and breakfast.
Start your child's education at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Church.
Highview 6th Grade Center in Church received a C- on Niche.
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Commutes to Dayton and Cincinnati via Interstate 75
Middletown—and the neighborhood of Church within it — is located halfway between the larger cities of Dayton and Cincinnati via Interstate 75. Dayton is 25 miles northeast, a drive that can take around 40 minutes depending on traffic and Cincinnati is just under 40 miles — or about an hour — south. Although it’s more common for residents to use their own cars to make the drive, there’s also a public bus route — CincyLink — that stops outside the Middletown Meijer and travels into Queen City. Four bus routes, part of the Butler County Regional Transit Authority System, connect neighborhoods throughout Middletown. Fares are free. Although there’s a regional airport less than 2 miles from Church, it’s mainly used for flight lessons. Commercial planes fly in and out of larger facilities like Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport or Dayton International. Nearby hospitals include Atrium Medical Center, which is also one of the area’s primary employers.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Eric Jones,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Smith Park
Flemming Park
Sunset Park
Old South Park
Bicentennial Commons
Bike Trails
Events
River
Crawford Park
Playground
Oakland Park
Basketball
Tennis
Pickleball
Transit
Airport
James M Cox Dayton International
53 min drive
Bus
Charles St & Reinartz Blvd
Bus
Central Ave & Clark St
Bus
First Ave & Baltimore
Bus
Manchester Ave & Sutphin St
Bus
Manchester Ave & Iglehart St
Bus
Charles St & North Ave
Bus
Crawford St & First Ave (Gold)
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Church
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Church Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Church, Middletown sell after 29 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Church, Middletown over the last 12 months is $144,900, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Great starterhome or investment property, great space for the money, needs some work but might still be cheaper than rent. The potential here is great for this property, property needs some updates and final touches, bring your paint brush and imagination and build some sweat equity, I keep hearing no good deals out there, I think this is one!
Investor special! This home needs work but has potential to make a great addition to a rental portfolio, a flip or a rehab loan for an owner occupant. Priced accordingly, room sizes approx.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Eric Jones,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,309
Median Age
37
Population under 18
27.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$13,103
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$20,758
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
71%
College Graduates
4%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.3%
% Population in Labor Force
41.9%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
7''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
49/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
59/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
28/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
