I have lived in various apartment complexes in the Dayton area over the past decade, and with each move I felt I made a valid step up in quality (a subsequently also in price).

Once I rented from Walden I stopped hopping around. I found these apartments to be much more than adequate living and still within an affordable price-range. While there are undeniably *better* apartments out there, it became a far steeper quality vs. cost curve after Walden (a few other close contenders).

As many other reviews have pointed out, Walden Village consists of older buildings, which brings with it both positive and negative value. The grounds is gorgeous in my opinion, being very green and organic feeling without appearing contrived, with the somewhat rustic brick architecture lending it less of a sense of the temporary many other apartment complexes possess. As the housing is older there are some minor issues with acoustic and thermal insulation, and in certain units older appliances, but overall the management has done an excellent job in upkeep.

The positioning of Walden Village near to the thoroughfares of kettering/centerville and I-675 is nice for the commuter, but recent construction of a different apartment complex behind the Walden property has removed the wooded sound buffer between Walden Village and the Highway, and road noise is audible in the complex. Light pollution from the parking lot lanterns of this newer development may also be an issue for residents in the back-row of units of Walden.

The apartments themselves vary depending on the unit in question. Some floorplans feel somewhat cramped, while others are nice and spacious: this particular aspect boils down to personal preference. Individual units may contain older appliances and carpeting, while others are stocked with brand new equipment. Do your homework and inspect the unit you are interested in to assess the furnishings before you sign the paperwork.

The staff is in general friendly and helpful, though with many apartments faces change occasionally and some employees are better than others. The current (as of Feb 2009) staff in my experience are all extremely nice and more than willingly to help their residents.

The largest blemish on Walden Village's otherwise sterling record in my book was a rash of automobile break-ins around a year ago. While I have lived in far more crime-prone locations, I was still saddened when my roommate at the time had is car stereo stolen, and I myself had a car door damage when my car was unsuccessfully broken into. Walden responded by hiring more stringent security for a time and with frequent sheriff patrols in the parking lot at night, which in general was the appropriate response.

In summary, while not perfect, Walden is overall a very decent place to live without breaking the bank.

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