Image courtesy of Tripadvisor.

West Chester, Ohio is a township with around 65,000 residents located in the Cincinnati Metro area. West Chester is a constantly evolving county with lots of activities and an amazing school district. Lakota local, the main public school district in West Chester, pride themselves on their ability to teach and prepare their students for their lives during and after school. West Chester is located near Cincinnati, only around a 30-minute drive from the city. West Chester is a great place to live if you want to be within commuting distance of Cincinnati without living within the big city. 

Here’s what you should know about moving to town:

• History of West Chester
• Facts and figures about West Chester
• Local favorite things to do in West Chester
• And more!

History of West Chester

Before Moving to West Chester, Get to Know the History of Your New Home

In 1791, Joseph McMaken applied for the land in West Chester, which was then called Hamilton County, but before he arrived many farmers settled the land, drawn by its beauty and quality of the soil. Along with them came tanners, millers, merchants, and blacksmiths, but prior to McMaken, the land had no official name. 

The land of West Chester has changed name and county over its lifetime. It began humbly as a part of Hamilton County before the Ohio General Assembly divided that county and established Butler County, where it resides today. West Chester Township used to go by Union Township. The community was known as Union Township until 2000, when residents voted to claim the name West Chester, reducing confusion with other Union townships in the state. 

West Chester by the Numbers

Learn About West Chester’s Economy, Demographics, and What It’s Really Like to Live Here

West Chester’s Population

Around 65,000 people live in West Chester, Ohio. That leads to a population density of around 1,800 people per square mile. The median age in West Chester is 37.9, just a little above the median age in the US, which is 37.4. There are around 2.8 people per household in West Chester, just above the US average of 2.6.

West Chester’s Demographics

In West Chester, about 76.3 percent of the population are White, 9.1 percent are Black, 6.5 percent are Asian, 0.2 percent are Native American, 5.6 percent are Hispanic, and 2.2 percent are two or more races. 

The median home cost in West Chester is $310,700. Around 20 percent of the West Chester population rents their home. 

West Chester’s Schooling

Lakota Local School District is the tenth-largest school district in the state of Ohio and the largest in Butler County. It serves students from both West Chester and Liberty Townships and is proudly composed of 23 schools — one preschool, six early childhood schools, eight elementary schools, four junior highs, and four high schools. The Lakota district strives to prepare every student for success, no matter the path they take after high school. They work to personalize learning and maintain an impressive range of curricular and extracurricular programs and activities to give their students every opportunity.

The US News ranked the Lakota East High School 1,757 out of almost 18,000 schools nationally, and 54 out of almost 700 schools in the state of Ohio.

Things to do in West Chester

West Chester delivers an excellent mixture of indoor and outdoor activities for you to explore. There are lots of restaurants and shops within the county, and Cincinnati is a short distance away, perfect for an all-day shopping trip. Paired with that are a handful of large nearby parks perfect for spending a day hiking, biking, or using one of their sports fields. Places like Joyce Park and Cottell park are nearby and provide a great place to surround yourself with green and enjoy some of Ohio’s great weather. 

Get to Know West Chester Like a Local

Where People Shop, Dine, and Hang Out in West Chester

West Chester is a city filled with places to go and explore, and plenty of activities to make your time there exciting. On top of that, West Chester is very close to Cincinnati. You can make a day trip or spend a long weekend there with ease and check out all the city has to offer. West Chester does benefit from being so close to Cincinnati but it has its own identity, too. It has a lot of excellent local businesses, from breweries and dining to boutique shops and escape rooms!

Grainworks Brewing Company

Grab some friends and swing by West Chester’s best brewery!

7790 Service Center Drive | West Chester | grainworks.beer

Grainworks Brewing Company is your ticket for great, local beer. Their microbrews are crafted with skill and passion by the three best friends who run the business. They started their journey in the garage of one of their houses and soon after found themselves supplying homemade beer to their whole neighborhood. After many years of at-home brewing, the three decided to partner up and start their own brewery, and Grainworks had its grand opening in September of 2017. 

Grainworks delivers an amazing interior and exterior space — perfect for gatherings. The staff is pleasant and happy to give you advice on what beer to try next, and the beer is exceptional! They are currently serving nine beers, each one providing a unique taste to your brewery experience! To add to that, they regularly rotate local food trucks that serve as a great combo with their menu of beer. They regularly host events, like trivia, live music, and more! Next time you are in the area this is a great place to spend a night out. 

“Delicious beer, delicious food from different food trucks. And a fun atmosphere on a Thursday night. Wish I would've known it was trivia night! Visiting Cincy for the weekend for work and happy I found this hidden gem!” -- Yelp Review

Breakout Games

Up for a challenge? Grab some friends, reserve a time, and head to Breakout Games!

6066 West Chester Road | West Chester | breakoutgames.com

Breakout games proudly delivers five unique, immersive escape rooms for you to challenge. Their escape rooms are well-crafted puzzle adventures for you and your friends to work your way through. This is a great experience for anyone in the area and the perfect place to bring visiting friends and family. 

The staff at breakout games is committed to give you an amazing experience. Escape rooms can be frustrating, and they are ready to work with you to make sure your hour (or less) in the room is a fun and refreshing time!

“I had a very pleasant experience as this was my escape room & WE ESCAPED! Our game master was awesome! Encountered a minor issue and when staff was notified our issue was taken care of immediately and we were able to continue with our escape! Thank you to the breakout staff!” -- Yelp Review

The Learning Kitchen

Cook your own gourmet meal at one of the Learning Kitchen’s cooking classes!

7659 Cox Lane | West Chester | thelearningkitchen.com

Looking for a new recipe but don’t know where to start? Whether you are spending a special night with your significant other or deciding on a fun activity with family and friends the Learning Kitchen is a great place to go! The learning kitchen is West Chester’s premier cooking class destination, striving to make their classes easy, fun, and delicious. They set up each guest with their own cooking station — no sharing food or group cooking at the Learning Kitchen! 

The Learning Kitchen provides a wonderful experience with a skilled and personable chef and staff guiding you through a meal of your choice. In the end, you get to try out your creation! They try to keep the recipe simple enough that you can add it to your repertoire at home. 

“This was such a great time. I loved the small class size. The food was easy to replicate at home and absolutely delicious. Chef was funny and super helpful with instructions. Great time! Highly recommend it.” -- Yelp Review

Jump and Jack’s

Let your kids loose at this indoor playground, where they can clamber, walk, and let out their energy!

7102 Office Park Drive | West Chester | jumpandjacks.com

Looking for a place to throw a party? Jump and Jack’s is the perfect place for little ones to play! Especially when the weather is too hot or too cold for playing outdoors, Jump and Jack’s is a great place for the kids to go. Adults always get in free, so you can walk in and watch your children play, perhaps get some rest and relaxation. 

The tables set up outside of the play area are perfect places to bring food, drink, and snacks for yourself, your kids, and their friends!

“This is a really neat place. It was my husband's and my first time going with our one-year-old son and my brother and sister-in-law and their two-year-old daughter.  It was a great way for the kids to release all their pent-up energy with it being too cold to play outside. A huge two/three-story-tall jungle gym maze kept our little wild ones busy!” -- Yelp Review

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Enjoy an artisanal brunch and at this West Chester Cafe

7102 Office Park Drive | West Chester | jumpandjacks.com

Looking for a special way to start the day? Another Broken Egg Cafe is a breakfast, brunch, and lunch hot spot in West Chester, Ohio. They specialize in creating unique, appetizing meals using fresh ingredients and creativity to bring out amazing flavors leaving you completely satisfied. They pride themselves on taking breakfast, lunch, and brunch classics and adding their own flair to give you an excellent experience every time you dine at this fine restaurant. 

Another Broken Egg is a great place to bring friends and family whenever they visit, providing an affordable and unforgettable breakfast experience to all in attendance. This is sure to be a fast favorite if you move to West Chester, and if you find yourself in the area and are looking for a great place to get some breakfast look no further than Another Broken Egg Cafe!

“What an amazing experience. Today my husband and I spent our early afternoon at this Another Broken Egg in West Chester. And we were both pleased. I enjoyed the chicken and waffles and he enjoyed the crab cake with potatoes (his platter was so good). I might have taken a few bites off his plate.” -- Yelp Review

West Chester, Ohio is a great township with a lot of character, places to go, and things to do! What about West Chester has caught your eye? Let us know in the comments!