The second most populous city in Hamilton County, Norwood is surrounded on all sides by Cincinnati and has grown beyond its early industrial roots to become an ideal neighborhood for young professionals to purchase their first homes. Adjacent to neighboring Xavier University in Evanston and Hyde Park to the east, Norwood's revamped older homes and tree-lined streets are complemented by beloved family-owned restaurants like Sorrento's and Quatman Cafe and countless small corner taverns to dive in for a drink. Norwood is also the home of the Hamilton County Business Center, which includes a business incubation program that helps entrepreneurs launch and build successful companies.

Perhaps Evanston's best kept secret could be that it housed influential music label King Records, whose integrated business model released bluegrass and country from the Stanley Brothers, and classic rhythm and blues from Hank Ballard, Little Willie John and, most famously, James Brown. Now this tight-knit residential community is better known for its strong educational opportunities from Pre-K to PhD. It's the home of Xavier University and nationally ranked Walnut Hills High School — and the American Red Cross's new headquarters and training center in Keystone Park.  

O'Bryonville's quaint collection of shops and restaurants, which sit partly in Evanston, benefit from adjacent Hyde Park and East Walnut Hills. Stop by the neighborhood's Five Points' business district to check out Cincinnati's own version of New York's iconic Flat Iron Building, a bustling, modern recreation center and a new residential development called St. Ambrose. Nearby Owl's Nest Park is a green oasis with modern courts and a busy ball field for this family-centric community.