Anytown, USA
Welcome to Springfield, a small and famously non-descript city of 60,000 located in western Ohio, and just a short drive from Dayton’s suburban sprawl. Like the fictional city of the same name in the long-running television show The Simpsons, Springfield feels like it could exist pretty much anywhere in the United States, which we choose to believe gives it a homey feel.
Originally developed as an industrial town and the terminus of the National Road, the city has seen its fair share of ups and downs associated with the decline of American manufacturing and industry, but don’t let it fool you: this place has spunk. It may not be on the top of list for great urban metropolises (yet), but you’d be remiss to discount it immediately. Springfield has got a lot of heart and plenty of affordable options when it comes to housing, both of which make this place easy to love. So let’s get started on your Springfield apartment hunt!
Don’t hate the game, hate the playa’.
Springfield today has a historic downtown and diverse population. Its location about 20 miles from Dayton and 70 miles from Columbus along I-70 has made it an ideal commuter town with a suburban and semi-rural feel that people either love or hate, and probably only hate because they don’t have any imagination, haters. It’s also located about 10 miles from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base so many military families end up settling within city limits. The pitter-patter of little feet and the roar of jet engines is never too far away, you’ll be glad to know.
Most of the city’s entertainment, shopping and dining exists in box stores and strip malls in the suburban areas of town, but it’s also close to Yellow Springs, the former home of Antioch College. Like many collegiate areas, this injects a thriving arts and cultural community to the mix, as well as several independently owned shops, restaurants and bars, and even an art house cinema. If that’s just not enough, even more upscale dining and entertainment options can be found in Dayton’s posh eastern suburbs like Beavercreek. Ohio this may be, but boring it is not.
Sub-urban does not equal sub-cool.
North Springfield is perhaps the most suburban part of the city, as new developments dominate the real estate market. This means that there are a large number of new apartment and condo complexes throughout the region and you’ll be able to nap one of several desirable rentals for a song that puts you near quick shopping and tranquil evenings. Though you won’t find a posh high-rise loft with commerce at your fingertips here, there are some great new developments close to the Upper Valley Mall that are near suburban Springfield’s small but tenacious dining and nightlife. Additionally, developments near Buck Street State Park and the Northwood Hills Country Club offer plenty of amenities for slightly more upscale, quiet living. Two bedrooms in this area generally go for $550-700.
Historic is sexy.
South Springfield is largely composed of older, established communities and great housing options. It also has the added benefit of being close to the culture and nightlife of nearby Yellow Springs which more than doubles your choices for a night out on the town. The school district here, however, is less desirable than others so if fencing lessons and Harvard for Junior is a must, you may want to consider a different area. There are a number of desirable rentals, particularly in single-family homes, in this area and a 2BR option is generally very affordable, going for $400-600. For the true history buffs out there, the South Fountain Avenue Historic district just south of downtown offers stunning turn of the century architecture and no shortage of preservation committee meetings. Rents are higher if you can find them here, but worth every historical penny.
These kids aren’t very rowdy for some reason.
Northwest Springfield is home to Wittenberg University and thus the surrounding area is ripe with college-budget style bargain accommodation. Though many of the buildings skew younger to accommodate the college crowd and all the shenanigans it can entail, the area measures up just fine for both the young and the young at heart. Wittenberg’s campus is comparatively tame as campuses go, seeing as how it’s an evangelical Lutheran university, but there is still some petty crime and the occasional noise violation. Be prepared to yell at kids on your lawn. Two bedrooms here generally go for a paltry $500-700, so the yelling seems like a risk you can take.
Rentals in the rest of Springfield can be difficult to locate and are altogether not as pleasing as the southern and northern portions of town; west Springfield in particular tends to be spotty in its reputation as the neighborhoods transition into Dayton’s suburbs.
Don’t stress, pet.
Many of Springfield’s rentals, particularly those in new complexes, are operated through management companies. Because of this, you can find most of the city’s desirable apartments without the aid of a real estate agent. Homeowners largely dominate the city so the rental market isn’t very competitive, which means that finding and securing your new home should be a fairly simple process. Allow 30 days for your apartment hunt and be prepared to spend around $30 for your application fee and credit check. Additionally, many rentals around Wittenberg University have flexible lease options for the commitment-phobic and some houses in south Springfield have rent-to-own leases for the commitment-philes. Take a look around Springfield and, odds are, you’ll feel pretty strongly one way or another about it and the roots you may or may not want to put down.
Most neighborhoods throughout Springfield vary block by block in terms of safety. Like many other smaller American cities, much of the urban core of the city has declined steadily since the 1970s due to the loss of industry in Springfield proper. Start your apartment search in the suburbs for the best safety records and work your way in for historic charm and that Ohio brand of je-ne-sais-quoi.
Wheels on the bus go round and round.
Springfield is largely a car town. Many of the residents commute from the city into nearby Dayton or to Wright-Pat Air Force Base. Because of this, there can be some traffic along the I-70 corridor, though generally, the large freeway flows easily on weekdays. Public transit around the city itself is not ideal, but it is present in the form of Springfield City Area Transit (referred to by the ill-advised acronym, SCAT), which operates nine bus lines throughout most neighborhoods within city limits and we’re guessing tries to avoid hitting cats in the street.
Springfield: Not so generic, really.
Springfield may be Anytown, USA, but what it lacks in professional sports teams, high-faluttin’ arts initiatives and dramatic news stories, it makes up for in quiet, affordable living. Typical of the Midwest, Springfield is a place where creativity is an asset and nightlife is what you make of it, so once you get your china hutch and X-Box safely unpacked, get out there and start sculpting!
