Located in the southwest corner of the state of Ohio, Cincinnati is situated on the north bank of the Ohio River, which marks the border with Kentucky. Known for its incredible food and restaurants — including the iconic Cincinnati chili — a rich arts culture and a thriving sports scene, the city has a unique identity. As a commercial and economic hub, it’s also a hive of employment opportunities.
Here are nine things to know about before moving to Cincinnati:
1. How big is Cincinnati?
With a total area of just under 80 square miles, Cincinnati is the third-largest city in Ohio and the 64th largest in the U.S. It serves as the county seat for Hamilton County and is also the anchor for the larger Cincinnati Metropolitan Area. Also known as Greater Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Tri-State Area, the metro spreads out into the neighboring states of Kentucky and Indiana, covering a total area of just over 4,800 square miles and comprising 13 counties in total.
The city proper is typically divided into five larger districts, each home to several neighborhoods and communities. There are 52 recognized neighborhoods in total, and due to the hills and valleys that make up the city, they each have very distinct personalities. Indeed, many of them were once independent villages before being annexed by the city.
2. What is the weather like in Cincinnati?
Cincinnati has a humid continental climate, bordering on humid subtropical. Summers tend to be hot and humid, while winters are typically cold and snowy. The city sees around 45 inches of rain per year, and while it’s fairly evenly dispersed, spring and early summer tend to be wetter than the rest of the year.
There are many good reasons to rent a storage unit in Cincinnati throughout the year. With its high levels of humidity, some sensitive items can deteriorate over time, such as photos, paintings, documents and even wooden musical instruments. By renting a climate-controlled unit, however, your belongings can stay in top condition. Meanwhile, self storage can be an ideal place to store bulky winter clothes and seasonal items such as holiday decorations during summer.
3. Discovering Cincinnati’s diverse economy
Cincinnati enjoys a diverse economy that is driven by various major industries, such as manufacturing, finance, education, healthcare, aerospace and transportation. Around ten Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in the city, and hundreds of foreign companies also call the city home, making it something of an international trade center. As well as promoting big business, Cincinnati offers a healthy environment for small businesses, with many local incentives and assistance.
Businesses big and small can benefit from self storage in Cincinnati. For brick-and-mortar businesses, a climate-controlled unit is ideal for storing excess stock. All kinds of business documents and files can also be archived and kept safe in a storage unit.
4. Universities and college life in Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC) is the largest institution of higher education in the city, and it dates back to 1819. Nowadays, it ranks among the 50 largest public universities in the U.S. and is renowned for its engineering, architecture, liberal arts, music, social sciences and nursing programs. There are many other colleges and universities across the city, both public and private.
Students looking for a little more space than their accommodation allows can consider renting a storage unit in Cincinnati. It’s an ideal place to store bulky items when they’re not needed, saving valuable space in dorms and student apartments. By sharing a unit, the costs can be remarkably affordable. Additionally, self storage is a useful service at the end of the school year. Belongings can be placed in storage over the summer, instead of moving them back home which can be costly and also a logistic challenge.
5. Outdoor recreation in Cincinnati — hiking, cycling and kayaking
There are plenty of ways to get out and about and stay active in Cincinnati. With several waterways to enjoy, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular pastimes. In the same vein, fishing is another common activity among locals. If you prefer to keep your feet on solid ground, there are a number of hiking routes nearby, as well as excellent opportunities for mountain biking.
If you’re looking for somewhere to keep your equipment and sports gear safe and out of the way, it’s worth renting a storage unit in Cincinnati. This way, you can be sure your equipment won’t take up space at home and is exactly where you left it whenever you need it next.
6. Self storage assists you when you move to Cincinnati
More people relocate to Ohio from Florida than from any other U.S. state. On average, you can expect to pay a professional moving company between $3,500 and $3,900 to assist with this move. Taking care of the moving process yourself can save you cash, but it’s also time-consuming.
When you do move, renting self storage in Cincinnati is the perfect solution for making the process easier and less stressful overall. You can send your belongings ahead to help make moving day a little easier. This way, when moving day arrives, you can move in with just a few things and gradually bring in all your other belongings when you organize your new place. This way, you can avoid being surrounded by moving boxes.
7. How self storage assists you when you’re a Cincinnati resident
Cincinnati boasts a varied housing stock, comprised of historic architecture dating back 200 years in the urban core plus ultra-modern apartments and homes
Single family homes are just as spread out, with examples of Federal, Greek Revival and many other historic styles dominating the residential streets of older neighborhoods such as Lytle Park and Mount Adams. If your new home could use a little extra space, it’s worth considering self storage in Cincinnati. It’s a great way to keep your place organized.
Living in a single family home – whether it’s a starter home or not – does come with the advantage of a little more space as compared to apartment living, but that doesn’t mean there’s enough storage space. To make the most of your living space in your Cincinnati home, you’re better off putting your seasonal and bulky items in a storage unit, until you’re ready to use them again. Additionally, if you’re considering a home remodeling project, you can put the contents of the room(s) you’re working on in a storage unit so that the project can be completed without cluttering your living space.
Multifamily units are marginally more common than single family homes in Cincinnati, with condos, townhouses and high-rise apartment buildings dotted throughout the city, though mostly clustered around commercial and business districts, such as Downtown and Oakley.
Especially if you live in an apartment, you might not enjoy enough storage space. In order to make your living space a priority, you can turn to self storage to keep bulky and seasonal items away from home until you need to use them again. Bulky sports gear can also stay in a storage unit when you are not using it, to avoid cluttering your living space.
8. Is Cincinnati a good place to live?
Cincinnati is deemed the best place to live in Ohio, according to one of the latest U.S. News reports, and for good reason too. The city is affordable and there are job opportunities up for grabs. Moreover, Cincinnati enjoys a wealth of amenities, including a varied selection of restaurants, professional sports teams and museums. It’s no wonder people want to move here.
Moving to Cincinnati from NYC
When you’re moving from NYC to Cincinnati, you get to see a significant reduction in your spending on the cost of living. But that’s not all – there are Fortune 500 companies here, which means you can still have access to the vibrant business environment you’re used to in the Big Apple.
Moving to Cincinnati from Chicago
If you leave Chicago behind for Cincinnati, you’re still within Midwestern territory, which means you can still enjoy friendly neighbors and most likely a supportive community. Living here is undeniably more affordable, and if you have children, you have access to good schools, both public or private ones.
9. What are the storage options in Cincinnati, Ohio?
The self storage market in Cincinnati is well-equipped to respond to local demand, with a total of 57 facilities serving Cincinnati locals. In total, the Cincinnati self storage inventory is around 3.6M sq. ft. of storage space.
There is diversity in terms of self storage unit sizes you can consider in Cincinnati. You can go for a 5’x5′ or 5’x10′ unit if you’re storing smaller items. The typical unit people usually rent is a 10’x10′. Larger ones such as 10’x15′ or a 10’x20′ are better suited if you’re planning on storing the contents of a room or more. If you’re not sure which unit size you could use, turn to this self storage unit size guide to help you decide.
As for self storage rates, renting a storage unit in Cincinnati costs $101/month for a non-standard non-climate-controlled unit (10’x10’). If you need a climate-controlled unit you’d pay $117/month for the same unit size.
To find out more about the self storage option in Cincinnati, Ohio, browse StorafeCafe’s portal to see all the local listings.
