New Baltimore is an old sawmill town with plenty of modern housing
New Baltimore started as a small milling town along the western bank of the Great Miami River. Today, the historic community is on the edge of Cincinnati's metro area, where urban sprawl turns into industrial parks and a few remaining farming fields. In the 2000s, the Fort Scott neighborhood added hundreds of modern housing units, and new construction is still being built today. The area has a semi-rural pace of life, with nearby attractions including ball fields, farm stands and a vintage amusement park. Shopping and dining options are several miles away.
Older homes and the master-planned Fort Scott community
Along the river, where the historic mill community once stood, bungalows and ranch homes date back to the early 1900s. Recently sold houses have been as low as $180,000 for a one-story property and up to $700,000 for a place with 7 acres. The Great Miami River has flooded in the past, and according to FirstStreet.org, the area has a major risk of flooding.
It's a different story just one mile north, where the master-planned Fort Scott neighborhood has houses built from the 2000s to the 2020s. The streets are uniform, with fresh sidewalks and larger New Traditional homes. Single-family homes range in price from $350,000 to $450,000. Sedona Ridge at Fort Scott is the area's condo community, where units range from $220,000 to $350,000. Both communities have homeowners' association fees and a private clubhouse with a pool. "Since Fort Scott has a lot of newer homes, this area is a little more expensive than you will see elsewhere," says Lisa McCarthy, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker and native to Cincinnati's western side.
Career-focused courses for Harrison High students
Kids attend Crosby Elementary School, which gets a B-plus from Niche. Then it's on to Harrison Junior School, rated B-minus, and William Henry Harrison High, rated C-plus. The high school partners with Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development to offer specialty courses like culinary arts, manufacturing engineering and health technology.
Ballfield facilities and adventures at Miami Whitewater Forest
Within a few miles, residents can access two sports facilities that have baseball and softball leagues for all ages. Mid-America Ballyard upgraded its fields to artificial turf in 2025, and River City Sports Complex West is best known for hosting the regional Cincinnati Metro Softball Tournament. Although New Baltimore borders the Great Miami River, the closest public access point is Heritage Park's kayak launches, less than 5 miles away.
Locals are also just over 5 miles from Miami Whitewater Forest, a major attraction in western Hamilton County. The park spans over 4,000 acres and offers hiking, horseback riding and a lake for fishing or paddleboarding.
Limited local shopping with bigger stores 5 miles away
Businesses in New Baltimore include Sam's Corner Store, an old-school convenience store and Clutch Roadhouse, a homestyle neighborhood bar — but that's about it. Previously, residents had to drive for several miles to reach a gas station, but in 2025, a new Shell station moved into the neighborhood.
The nearest shopping hub is around the Northgate Mall, about 5 miles away. While many of the mall's retailers have left, the surrounding area has a Meijer, Kroger and Target. "On the west side, we normally have to go all the way over to Kenwood Mall for good shopping, which is probably 45 minutes with traffic," McCarthy says. "You get used to driving when you live over here."
Roller coasters at Stricker's Grove and produce at Brown's Family Farm
Stricker's Grove, a historic amusement park with origins dating back to the 1920s, is just 3 miles north of New Baltimore. With two roller coasters, carnival rides, arcade games and miniature golf, there's plenty to entertain the family for the whole day. The locally owned park is primarily reserved for large rental parties but is open to the public four days a year, including Fourth of July and Labor Day. The park also opens general admission for the four-day Hamilton County Community Fair, which has additional animal shows and food trucks.
Right next door, Brown's Family Farm Market is known for its spring flowers and summer produce selection. While the produce stand continues to be open in the fall, the farm gets particularly busy with seasonal attractions, like pick-your-own pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hay rides.
Commutes into Cincinnati can take 25 minutes
There are no public transportation options, so this is a very car-dependent area. There are several manufacturing and industrial businesses in the area, and many resident commute. Harrison is 8 miles away, and Cincinnati is less than 20 miles away via Interstate 74. It's usually about a 25-minute trip into the big city, but it can get up to 40 minutes during rush hour traffic. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is 30 miles away, and the nearest hospital is TriHealth Group Health – Western Ridge, 5 miles south.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
