Why Cincinnati ranks high as one of the best cities to build a custom home

Cincinnati consistently ranks high on lists of the best cities in the U.S. to build or buy a home. Not only is the Queen City one of the most affordable places in the Midwest for first time homeowners and others looking to invest in real estate, but it also scores high for its healthy job market and vibrant arts scene. 

When you combine these benefits with Cincinnati’s excellent school system and fantastic parks, it’s easy to understand why the city is growing. Just take a look at these facts, reported by roofstock.com 

  • Cincinnati’s GDP is over $152.6 billion and has grown by more than 44% over the past 10 years.
  • Employment growth in Cincinnati is 2.12% year-over-year, with median household incomes rising by 6.51% over the same time period.
  • Cincinnati’s economy is the 5th-largest in the Midwest, just behind major metropolitan hubs like Chicago, St. Louis, and Minneapolis.
  • More than 35% of the residents in Cincinnati have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while nearly 92% are high school graduates or higher.
  • Cincinnati is within a one-day drive of nearly 50% of the U.S. population.  one-day drive of nearly 50% of the population in the U.S.

Here are more reasons why Cincinnati ranks high as one of the best places to live in the U.S. 

Affordability
If you’re ready to build a custom home but need to stick to a tight budget, Cincinnati may just be your place. While real estate prices are soaring in cities across the country, they’ve remained steady and even below the national average in the Queen City. 

In fact, the 2022 Demographia International Housing Affordability Index, released annually by the Urban Reform Institute and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy ranked Cincinnati as the 9th-most affordable housing market in 2022. The report, considered one of the most thorough and accurate by industry leaders, compares 92 major markets in eight countries.

Growth
Purchasing or building a home in a growing city can be a very sound investment. The metro area population of Cincinnati grew to more than 1.75 million residents in 2022, that’s a .57% increase from 2021. 

This rate of growth is sustainable and steady, which means it hasn’t taxed the city’s infrastructure by clogging up roads due to a swift influx of cars and traffic. Simply put, Cincinnati is a vibrant city, but without all the stress that comes with a bigger or more rapidly growing city. 

Job market
Another reason to consider building a home in Cincinnati is the region’s healthy job market. The Kroger Company, Proctor & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson have headquarters in Cincinnati, and UC Health and TriHealth, leaders in medicine, employ thousands of people. In 2022 Cincinnati’s unemployment hovered around 3.8%, which is a little under the national average. 

Arts and culture
Cincinnati has always been a town that supports the arts and artists. It’s also home to great theater companies, art museums and galleries, and arts programs like ArtWorks that support budding artists. 

Recently Cincinnati ranked #12 on SMU’s DataArts list of U.S. cities with the most vibrant arts scene. The city ranked high on both arts demand and government support of the arts. “Our rankings show a positive growth in vibrancy and relevancy of the Cincinnati region’s arts,” ArtsWave President & CEO Alecia Kintner said in a press release. “Organized community arts support is a defining characteristic of the region.” 

It’s easy to see why building a custom home in Cincinnati is a great idea. And when you’re ready to put the wheels in motion, the team at Classic Living is here to help. As a matter of fact, you can call Bernie Kurlemann, the builder, and get started today – Call 513-515-5123. We’ve always known Cincinnati is a great city, and we’re passionate about building beautiful custom homes in the Queen City.