The Cool Neighborhoods It feels like each neighborhood in the Greater Cincinnati area has its own, distinct personality and each are worth exploring: Historic and hip OTR, creative Northside, community-minded College Hill and fun-loving Clifton and Corryville all offer something different – and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of every community here. So much of the city is also walkable, making it easier to get around and experience new things. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

A new survey confirms what we in Cincinnati already knew: Over-the-Rhine is one of the most creative communities in the United States.

The survey from Brotherly Love Real Estate asked 3,021 respondents to name the most sought-after creative communities throughout the country. From the responses, it ranked the top 110 neighborhoods and districts, with OTR ranking in the No. 86 spot.

According to the survey, OTR’s blend of historic 19th-century architecture and thriving arts scene earned it a spot on the list, with mentions of institutions like the Art Academy of Cincinnati, numerous music venues and artisan shops throughout the neighborhood. Being a major part of the BLINK festivals also played a role in the ranking.

In addition to these mentions, OTR is also home to the historic and illustrious Music Hall; theaters like Know Theatre, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Otto M. Budig Theater and Ensemble Theatre; and countless public murals. And, if you count food and drinks as art (we do), there’s Ohio’s oldest public market, Findlay Market, and numerous bars and restaurants serving up creative drinks and dishes.

“Creativity isn’t just confined to major metropolitan areas — our survey shows that some of the most inspiring and innovative communities thrive in smaller cities and vibrant suburbs across the country,” Alex Capozzolo, co-founder of Brotherly Love Real Estate, said in a press release. “These creative neighborhoods bring together artists, entrepreneurs and free-thinkers, cultivating unique cultural identities that enrich their local economies and social fabric. Whether it’s through art festivals, independent galleries or dynamic music scenes, these places prove that creativity knows no boundaries.”

The Downtown Arts District in Las Vegas, Hilo on the Big Island in Hawaii and Savannah’s Historic District earned the top three spots on the list. In Ohio, Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood ranked 33rd and Columbus’ Short North was 96th. In Kentucky, Lexington’s Distillery District and Louisville’s NuLu (East Market District) ranked 75th and 108th, respectively. The Bloomington Entertainment & Arts District (No. 62); Broad Ripple Village in Indianapolis (No. 98) and Carmel Arts & Design District (No. 99) represented Indiana on the list.

You can see the full survey and rankings here.

This article appears in Mar 5-18, 2025.

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...