Northern Hills - Dayton, OH

During the early 1800s, Dayton experienced a population boom that prompted the city’s African-American population to move out of the inner city and into West Dayton. The area continued to grow at a steady pace until after World War II, when it experienced a second population boom. During this time, West Dayton expanded to the west and north, creating the Northern Hills neighborhood, which serves as a transitional neighborhood between Dayton and its suburbs.

Residents travel into Downtown Dayton to visit the Dayton Art Institute, the Victoria Theater and the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center because Northern Hills itself doesn’t have an arts scene or museums. Residents also enjoy an array of annual events held in Downtown Dayton, including the city’s Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display, the Dayton Celtic Fest and the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

As a purely residential neighborhood, Northern Hills doesn't house any restaurants, but residents don't have to venture far to satisfy their cravings. Adjacent neighborhoods house a mixture of fast-food restaurants, as well as restaurants that serve southern comfort food, Italian and Mexican cuisine.

Located in the Miracle Lane shopping center on Salem Avenue, El Greco's Pizza Villa has a menu that features American, Italian and Mexican food. Don't be fooled by its diminished facade. Inside the small restaurant, you'll find a small bar area and cafe-style seating that creates a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. The menu includes chicken fingers, subs and pasta dishes, but crowds love the pizza and tacos. In fact, many consider El Greco's tacos some of the best in the area, and they're half price on Taco Tuesdays.

JJ Fish & Chicken isn't a typical fast-food restaurant. The locally owned restaurant, located on North Gettysburg Avenue, serves more than fried chicken, fish and shrimp. Customers rave about the restaurant's massive gyro sandwiches topped with a cucumber and onion tzatziki sauce and served with a side of perfectly seasoned French fries.

Located on Free Pike, Moe's Fish & Chicken has a menu similar to JJ Fish & Chicken with a few more options. According to the locals, Moe's serves some of the best chicken wings and ribs in the area, and you can't eat at Moe's without trying the fresh, cooked-to-order fried okra and sweet potato pie. Also, the carry-out style restaurant gives customers the option to have their food delivered, so you don't even have to leave your home to enjoy dinner from Moe's.

Northern Hills doesn't have much of a nightlife scene, so residents head to Downtown Dayton's Oregon District featuring a cobblestone street lined with an array of bars, dance clubs and music venues. The Century, a bourbon bar located in the area, gets rave reviews for its knowledgeable bartenders and beautiful carved cherry wood bar. Gather friends around a table made from old bourbon barrels, and sample selections from more than 100 different bourbons.

The Northern Hills neighborhood sits on fairly flat land, so technically, residents can walk or ride a bike through the neighborhood easily. However, the area remains solely residential, and the streets don’t have dedicated bike lanes, so most residents drive their own cars to their destinations. Ample free parking and access to State Route 49 from Free Pike make driving even more appealing.

Residents who don’t drive typically take the bus. Greater Dayton RTA buses transport people between Northern Hills and Dayton and its suburbs. While hailing a cab or using the Uber app isn’t an option, several taxi cab companies schedule rides by phone.

Hickorydale Park, the only public park in the Northern Hills neighborhood, remains free to the public. The small park houses a playground for children and green space for residents to walk their dogs on a leash. North Broadway Park, located on North Broadway in Trotwood, features a playground, picnic shelters and outdoor grills, making it a good option for families. Both families with children and people who enjoy exercising outdoors enjoy John Wolfe Park on Denlinger Road in Trotwood. Like North Broadway Park, John Wolfe Park features a playground, picnic shelters and grills. However, guests also visit John Wolfe Park to go fishing and play basketball.

Several local parks have family-friendly events throughout the year. Madison Park on South Broadway in Trotwood hosts an annual Easter egg hunt. RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton hosts several free public events, including the city’s annual Christmas-tree lighting and the CITYFOLK festival.

Northern Hills residents enjoy a cost of living approximately 3 percent lower than Dayton’s cost of living. While the lower cost of living doesn’t extend to basic necessities, housing costs remain lower than other areas of the city. Expect to pay around $404 per month for a one-bedroom rental, between $3 and $5 for a beer at the local pub and $1.75 to ride the bus. Gas prices average around 4 percent lower than the national average.

Residents need to travel to nearby neighborhoods to complete their shopping and have a choice of several options. The area’s main streets house a variety of discount stores, pharmacies and grocery stores, but you won’t find any upscale stores. The Northwest Plaza shopping center on West Siebenthaler Avenue, which houses several boutiques, provides Northern Hills locals with their most convenient shopping options.

New York Hi Styles, located in the Northwest Plaza shopping center, sells a variety of men’s clothes. The store specializes in business attire, and offers tailoring and altercations services. Just down the street, City Gear offers a more casual selection of men’s clothes. Simply Fashion, also located in the Northwest Plaza shopping center, specializes in women’s clothing. The store sells everything from junior and plus-size clothes to handbags, shoes and accessories.

Locals complete their large grocery shopping trips at Kroger on West Seibenthaler Avenue or Save-A-Lot, IGA Supermarkets and Stop ‘N’ Shop on North Gettysburg Avenue. For in-between-trip necessities, Express Mart on North Gettysburg Avenue and A & K Mini Mart on West Hillcrest Avenue carry decent basic selections. The closest farmers market, the 2nd Street Market in Downtown Dayton opens year-round from Thursday through Saturday.