Southgate has Hollywood ties and quick access to attractions
Numerous film buffs have caught brief glimpses of Southgate over the decades. The city’s hilly and tree-lined Evergreen Cemetery is in the funeral scene in 1988’s Academy Award-winning movie “Rain Man.” Hollywood fame aside, Southgate is one of many small Northern Kentucky cities that draw those looking to get away from Cincinnati’s crowds but still be able to reach its attractions quickly. Many of the city’s nearly 4,000 people live within minutes of iconic restaurants, a few parks and a golf course. “This is a neat area,” says Jim Schack, a Realtor with Re/Max Victory + Affiliates. “You’re close enough to Cincinnati, where you can enjoy all the stuff a major city has, like professional sports teams and concert venues. You can see and do just about anything you want here.”
Homes range from English Tudor cottages to New Traditionals
Southgate has hilly roads with narrow sidewalks, and cars are often parked on the streets. Many homes are a few feet apart and stand on lots with concrete stairways and retention walls. “It’s a good little starter home place,” says Teresa Gillum, a Realtor with eXp Realty. “You’re not going to see a whole ton of four or five bedrooms.” The city has English Tudor cottages, raised ranch-style homes and Craftsman bungalows. There are also brick Colonial Revivals and New Traditionals with two-car garages. Homes under 1,800 square feet mainly sell between $160,000 and $350,000, while newer and larger ones go from $720,000 to $820,000. Condos mainly run between $90,000 and $160,000. Also, nearly half of the city rents.
Neighboring cities have Italian food, hibachi and craft beers
While residents usually leave the city to eat out, they’re only a few miles from many restaurants. Patrons at Nasu Japanese Steakhouse may order sushi or get a meal prepared in front of them on a hibachi grill. Southgate is only a few miles from Pompilio’s Restaurant, which has been a staple for Italian cuisine since the 1930s. The Newport restaurant also famously appears in “Rain Man” during the toothpicks counting scene. Barleycorn’s Brewhouse has pub fare and a patio for those who want to mingle and drink their brews outside. Newport Pavilion has chains like Kroger and Target at the Newport Pavilion for retail and grocery shopping.
Residents can take part in sports and other activities
Many are close to a few parks and facilities offering a mix of sports and casual recreation. Southgate Community Park, which spans about 30 acres, has a playground, a sand volleyball court and a baseball field. Its other amenities include a walking trail and a lake usually stocked with fish like largemouth bass, trout and catfish. The private Highland Country Club has an 18-hole golf course, a pool and a bowling alley. Veterans Memorial Park in nearby Newport has more baseball fields and draws many to its pool during the summer.
Students go to schools in Southgate and other cities
The city is home to Southgate Public School, which gets a C from Niche and covers prekindergarten to eighth grade. In 2025, the preschool received a rare five-star rating from Kentucky All Stars, a program that rewards schools based on areas like teaching quality and community involvement. Southgate students go to another district for high school and may apply to various ones in Northern Kentucky. Acceptance depends on factors like academics and behavior, and the high schools that usually receive Southgate students are ones in the nearby cities of Bellevue, Newport and Fort Thomas. Niche gives Bellevue High a C-plus, Newport High a B and Highlands High in Fort Thomas an A. Southgate also has the private St. Therese School, which serves kindergarten to eighth grade.
Entertainment includes Summer Festival and sporting events
Southgate’s annual events include St. Therese Parish’s Summer Festival in June. The festivity has a DJ, live bands and vendors selling anything from waffles and shaved ice to beers and seltzers. Adults may compete in a big wheel race, while children can play in bounce houses. Many may also go to downtown Cincinnati for events like Cincinnati Bengals and Reds games.
Commuters have access to buses and I-471
Southgate has several TANK bus stops for commuters without cars. Otherwise, the city has quick access to U.S. Highway 27 and Interstate 471, both of which provide routes to downtown Cincinnati, less than 5 miles north. Southgate is also 15 miles east of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky International Airport. Right outside the city, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Ft. Thomas Hospital’s services include primary, emergency and cancer care.
