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sunny_zoey4
living
Why I chose Mason over bigger cities
Anyone else feel this way? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
12 upvotes
19 Replies
Maya Nelson
Bought a house here in 2018 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
38 upvotes
atl_connor
haha yep pretty much
35 upvotes
hailey_heart
Came here for a fresh start and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The school system is honestly solid and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
34 upvotes
Jaxon Collins
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 51, moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Old Town and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The outdoor recreation situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Francisco, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a chef, 51, moved here 11 years ago from San Francisco. I've lived in Old Town and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally improving - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The outdoor recreation situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Old Town: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from San Francisco, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
31 upvotes
Rylee Ortiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Definitely worth checking out..
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in consulting you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
Sarah C.
I've been living here for 1 years and I'd say the quality of life is solid. The public transit is average compared to other places I've lived. Overall Good luck with whatever you decide..
30 upvotes
Rylee
Totally agree!
29 upvotes
Piper Cook
literally same
26 upvotes
Naomi
preach
25 upvotes
minneapolis_samuel
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 9 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
I've been here 9 years and it exceeded my expectations. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's competitive and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the walkability is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Midtown side vs the Pine Hills side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
24 upvotes
Colton Gutierrez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 8 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
I've been here 8 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's affordable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is excellent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
24 upvotes
Audrey Wilson
big facts right here
23 upvotes
Addison Garcia
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Korean places. I love the pace of life here.
19 upvotes
Serenity Bailey
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
18 upvotes
desert_cooper35
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want cultural scene, then yeah this place is great. But if community vibe matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
16 upvotes
Kai Reyes
Used to live on the Riverside side, now on the Pine Hills side. Completely different vibe. I have mixed feelings honestly.
11 upvotes
Emily L.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 31, moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Greenfield and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Westside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
Background: I'm a nurse, 31, moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Greenfield and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Growing food and restaurant scene
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for retirees. tough vibes, walkable.
- Westside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt challenging. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are pricey. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
10 upvotes
Gabriella Hughes
yeah no that's not right
1 upvotes
Claire Williams
I've lived in Midtown for about 3 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The pet-friendliness scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. No regrets on my end..
I genuinely enjoy living here. When I first moved here from Seattle, I was surprised by housing market. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- The pet-friendliness scene is underrated
The downsides:
- Nightlife is limited
- Limited high-paying job options
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for remote workers. No regrets on my end..
0 upvotes