Mason, OH
| U.S. News Ratings | |
| Population: | 32,723 |
| Crime: | Low |
| Cost of Living: | Low |
| Health Care: | Limited |
| Housing Price: | Low |
| Income: | High |
Mason, a suburb of Cincinnati, prides itself on small-town charm in proximity to big-city amenities. This quaint city of 32,723 is located in the southwest region of the state and is known as a top destination for outdoor recreation. Mason's temperatures vary widely, from 10 degrees in the winter to the middle 80s in the summer.
Mason's roots go back to 1803, when Revolutionary War veteran William Mason purchased 640 acres for $1,700. Today's residents can enjoy 28 square miles of green space, including seven parks with such amenities as well-stocked fishing lakes, playgrounds, golf courses, trails, and fields for recreational sports leagues. Mason is also home to two amusement parks: Kings Island Amusement Park and The Beach Waterpark.
Residents of Mason are within commuting distance of both Cincinnati and Dayton. This proximity makes Mason ideal for sports fans. College basketball enthusiasts can root on the Dayton Flyers or the Xavier Musketeers, both of which were represented in this year's NCAA tournament. Residents can also cheer for the Bengals and the Reds in nearby Cincinnati. For those with a taste in offbeat sporting events, broomball, which shares many characteristics with ice hockey, is played by adult leagues in the area as well as at Mason High School (a U.S. News Best High Schools silver medalist), where it is an intramural sport.
Nearby Cincinnati was chosen as one of U.S. News' Best Places to Retire for Republicans and Democrats. Cincinnati is a large city where like-minded politicos can meet to discuss the issues and enjoy cultural events. Although Ohio went to the Democrats in the past presidential election, the Cincinnati metro area has been one of the most solidly Republican areas of the state. Fiscally conservative Republicans will appreciate that Cincinnati has won 22 annual awards for its financially responsible budgeting and purchasing.
Cincinnati was also chosen as one of U.S. News' Best Places to Retire for Football Fans, as it sits at the nexus of long-standing football traditions and rivalries. Here, Bengals fans mix with Buckeye fans to make one of the strongest football communities in the Midwest. In-state rivalries between other Ohio college football teams, as well as between the Bengals and Cleveland Browns, mean games are full of rowdy fans.
Colleges near Mason include Miami University of Ohio, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton, College of Mount St. Joseph, and Xavier University, which ranks second in U.S. News' Best Universities in the master's category for the Midwest.
Within Warren County are nine hospitals and 10 clinics. Mason Health Care Center received a four-star rating in U.S. News' listing of America's Best Nursing Homes.
Major employers in Mason include Procter & Gamble's Health Care Research Center, Cintas, Mitsubishi, and Luxottica Retail. Nearly 500 businesses operate within Mason's 18 square miles.
Real estate in Mason may be hard to come by, but dollars stretch pretty far. The median home price in Mason is $195,000, but home prices in the area can dip as low as $60,000.
Copyright © 2009 Onboard Informatics. Information is represented by Onboard Informatics as reliable but not guaranteed.
