New Lebanon offers a quiet lifestyle outside the city of Dayton
New Lebanon is a village that has long maintained a slow pace of life, starkly contrasting the bustling energy of nearby cities. “A lot of east Dayton is moving to Drexel, and Drexel people are moving to New Lebanon,” says Emily Stidham, real estate agent at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. “That’s basically what happened with me and my husband since we both grew up in Drexel. New Lebanon is such a small town that it drives their numbers up.” Residents appreciate that the village has a quieter atmosphere and less traffic. Neighbors get to know one another, and kids attend the same schools. While retail and employment options are limited, a major highway makes reaching hubs like Dayton a quick drive.
Tranquil, tree-lined neighborhoods have homes from the 1900s
The community primarily has homes from the 20th century, with a few properties remaining from the late 1800s. Ranch-style houses, Cape Cods, split-level houses and Craftsman homes are common. The area has one new subdivision called Tarragon Estates, which offers two-story New Traditional homes with similar exterior designs. The village’s median home price is $184,000, significantly less than the national median of around $420,000.
Residential roads are wide and often shaded by tall, large-bowed trees. Yards are grassy, and shrubs decorate the front of homes. Many homeowners sit on covered porches to enjoy good weather and chat with neighbors. “I love it, and most people do,” Stidham says. “Everybody knows everybody, and everybody is pretty welcoming of new people.
Students attend Dixie schools inside the village
Students attend the New Lebanon Local Schools district, which has a C-plus rating from Niche. Dixie High School, which has a B-minus, offers a variety of career and technical programs through the Miami Valley Career Technical Center. Fields of study include advanced manufacturing, transportation systems and agriculture.
Hunting preserve and parks offer seasonal and year-round recreation
Don Rusk Park is the village’s main green space. It is beside the school district’s ball fields, where New Lebanon Youth Athletics teams play. The park offers a playground, tennis courts, baseball fields and a walking path around the perimeter. Stanley Jones Park pairs its playground with basketball courts, picnic shelters and a duck pond. Outside the community, Buckeye Pheasant Hunting Preserve offers guided hunting trips from September to April.
Limited shopping and dining but access to local farms
Retail options are limited. Most stores surround the intersection of Clayton Road and Highway 35. The area has a few gas stations, fast-food restaurants and small businesses, like Dixie Diner and Origin Coffee and Cream. Groceryland Foods is the village’s primary supermarket, but nearby farms seasonally open to the public to sell fresh produce and local honey. More shopping and dining options are in Dayton.
Highway 35 connects the village to Dayton amenities and jobs
While narrow sidewalks line most roads, the community is car-dependent. Stidham says the village has minimal job opportunities outside of agriculture and the school system, so most people commute to Dayton. Highway 35 is a direct line into the city roughly 12 miles away. Kindred Hospital Dayton, the closest hospital, is about the same distance away. Drivers are about 19 miles from Dayton International Airport.
Christmas events and a Day at the Park bring neighbors together
The village’s newest and largest event is Day at the Park. In its inaugural year (2024), it attracted around 5,000 attendees. Crowds enjoy vendor booths, a car show, sports tournaments and live wrestling. The event also has outdoor concerts and a kiss-the-pig fundraiser. In winter, families stand outside their homes to watch the Santa Claus Parade. Saint Nick rides through the village on a fire truck, spreading Christmas cheer. Holiday celebrations also include a craft show, Dixie Choir performances and a tree lighting.
