Roselawn

Roselawn is an attractive historic neighborhood with increasingly prevalent crime. The Tudor style homes were built primarily in the 1930s and 1940s and are situated on tree-lined streets. Unfortunately, the increasing amount of crime detracts from the quality of the neighborhood. Roselawn is centrally located, making it convenient for commuting to both Downtown Cincinnati and the northern suburbs.

Roselawn has a very active community council, block watch program, and even has a community garden. Roselawn Park on Seymour Avenue has baseball fields and playground among other amenities. Because of the increasing crime in the neighborhood, there is a focus on trying to make it as nice a community to live in as it once was. Property and rental prices in Roselawn tend to be extremely reasonable, but this is due in large part to the declining safety. I wouldn't necessarily recommend moving to Roselawn, but if you want to take a gamble on the community being turned around, it might be a good time to invest for the long term.

The business district of Roselawn is primarily centered on the Valley Shopping Center on Reading Road. There you will find Amma's Kitchen a vegetarian Indian restaurant that is highly rated by local foodies. It even features an all vegan buffet one day a week. Song Long Vietnamese Restaurant also received positive reviews. You will find a LaRosa's Pizzeria in the Valley Shopping Center. LaRoas's isn't really great pizza, but it's a Cincinnati favorite and the prices are pretty cheap.

If you're looking to score a beautiful old home for a bargain price, then check out Roselawn. However, if safety is your primary concern, I would look elsewhere in town.

While Roselawn is certainly not the safest neighborhood in town, it’s not the most dangerous either. Certain parts, most notably the area north of Summit Rd., are extremely dicey and not recommended, but other sections of Roselawn are actually relatively quiet and pretty. Homes and yards are well-kept, and you’ll find some truly beautiful, Tudor-style houses that have been there for more than a century.

At the same time, however, it is important to keep crime statistics in mind. The area averages about 3 murders a year, and theft and burglary rates are also high compared to other Cincinnati areas.

Though Roselawn’s safety record may not be the best, its location is prime. While it’s not as close to downtown as many other neighborhoods I’ve reviewed, its proximity to all of Cincinnati’s major highways put it in a very central and accessible location. Most of the city and its surrounding suburbs are easily accessible, including local schools.

In terms of schools, the majority of those you’ll find nearby are Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), most notably the Roselawn Condon school. The Cincinnati Leadership Academy can also be found in Roselawn. If you’re looking for private schools such as St. Ursula Academy, Summit Country Day, or St. Xavier High School, not to worry--those are all a short drive away.

All in all, I wouldn’t immediately recommend Roselawn to singles or families with young children because of the high crime rates. After speaking with current and former residents, I’ve learned that many consider Roselawn more of a “short-term” place to live. Some say they moved out once they had kids, or only planned on living in the neighborhood for a couple years. What stood out to me, though, was the fact that all of these people really love where they live(d). Once you accept the risks of living in the area, you’ll find Roselawn to be a beautiful neighborhood in an excellent location.