Communities · Montgomery County
Kettering, Ohio
Fraze Pavilion, Lincoln Park, and a short line to the base.
Community guide
Life in Kettering, Ohio
Kettering sits directly south of Dayton and just west of Wright-Patterson, which makes Kettering's commute times some of the shortest on this list. The Fraze Pavilion hosts an outdoor concert season every summer, Lincoln Park anchors Kettering's east side with sports facilities and trails, and the Rosewood Arts Centre runs classes and gallery shows out of a converted elementary school.
Polen Farm, a preserved farmstead now used for weddings and community events, sits inside Kettering as well, a few minutes from the city's own downtown government and shopping district.
Local highlights
What makes Kettering great
Fraze Pavilion
Outdoor amphitheater hosting a summer concert series.
Lincoln Park
Sports complex and trails on Kettering's east side.
Rosewood Arts Centre
Classes, studios, and gallery space in a converted school building.
Polen Farm
Preserved farmstead used for weddings and community events.
Kettering Recreation Complex
City-run complex with an indoor lap pool and spa, plus the seasonal outdoor Adventure Reef Water Park.
Where to go
Favorite spots in Kettering
Favorite things to do
A Fraze Pavilion summer concert
Outdoor concert series that runs every summer.
Rosewood Arts Centre classes
Studio classes and gallery shows year-round.
Lincoln Park trails
Sports fields and paved trails on Kettering's east side.
Adventure Reef Water Park
Seasonal outdoor water park at the Kettering Recreation Complex.
Favorite restaurants
Meadowlark Restaurant
A longstanding Kettering steakhouse at Lamplighter Square on Far Hills Avenue.
Roost
American fare with a patio, adjacent to Fraze Pavilion in Kettering.
Favorite coffee shop
Socialite Cafe
Kettering's favorite coffee shop.
Market data
Kettering by the numbers
Kettering was largely built during the postwar boom of the 1940s through the 1960s. Brick ranch homes on established, tree-lined streets are the dominant style across most of the city.
County
Montgomery County
School district
Kettering City Schools
Effective property tax rate
about 2.05%
Typical home value
around $220,000
Commute to downtown Dayton
about 15 minutes
Commute to Wright-Patterson AFB
about 15 minutes
At around $220,000 typical value, $250,000 in Kettering runs a bit above the town's own average. That usually buys some room to be selective on condition and updates in Kettering rather than settling for a fixer.
Ask Jenna
Questions people ask about Kettering
Is Kettering a good place to live?+
That is worth checking yourself rather than taking anyone's word for it, mine included. The Montgomery, Greene, Warren, and Miami County sheriff and police departments each publish incident maps for their own jurisdiction. Drive Kettering at the time of day you would actually be commuting or coming home. Visit the specific block in person, since character changes street to street everywhere. I can pull the tax history, school district boundary, and flood zone on any address you are looking at, and I will always tell you what the data says, not what sounds good.
What is the property tax rate in Kettering, Ohio?+
Around 2.05% effective. Kettering City Schools carries a competitive rate relative to the other Montgomery County communities on this list.
What does $250,000 buy in Kettering?+
A bit above the town's typical value of about $220,000, so $250,000 in Kettering tends to buy comparatively more house or a more updated one than the town average.
How far is Kettering from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base?+
About 15 minutes, one of the shorter commutes to the base among the communities on this list.
Related reading
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