Mason Vs.Lebanon (Xenia, Morrow: schools, tornado, earthquake)

[jimbo1]

I have enjoyed reading this thread and am going to throw in my two cents worth. I am a recent tranplant (Feb. '06) from Chicago. I looked around the area when my job transferred to Cinci and I settled on the Stone Brook subdivision in South Lebanon. To be honest, my partner and I were a little nervous moving here but EVERYONE we have met has been unbelievably nice. Our neighbors are great and have welcomed us with open arms.
One of the biggest changes coming our way is the Rivers Crossing complex. While a little wary of the congestion it will bring, we are excited to see how it develops. I think it is going to completely change the area.
One last point, and I'm not sure if people are going to appreciate me steering this into politics, but the one and only scary thing I've seen since being here is Jean Schmidt. How she could have won the last election is beyond me. I am looking forward to the next opportunity we have to vote her out of office.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by jimbo1

One last point, and I'm not sure if people are going to appreciate me steering this into politics, but the one and only scary thing I've seen since being here is Jean Schmidt.

LMFAO!!!! I've known Jeannie Schmidt for a long time. When she's not politicking, she really is a fabulous, generous and caring person. So, I won't quibble with your wanting to vote her out!

[cmorris1228]

I would choose Mason over Lebanon. I have lived in Mason my entire life. We are considering moving from here though. It is expensive to live in the city limits but you can move out of the city limits and still attend Mason schools. Look in Deerfield Township for housing and just make sure it is Mason school. This would even be closer to Sharonville. Mason is a great community.

[Mason_rox]

I Personally Live In Mason I Am William Mason high School Student And I Been In Mason From Long Enough To Say Nothing Can Beat Mason The Crime Rate Is Low Great Schools Great Community Great People And Basically Above All Great Place To Be In

[BFrasier]

Working with people finding homes the last 10 years I can say most look first at Mason/Deerfield because of excellent school system, rec. center, tons of shopping and Kings Island. West Chester and Mason would be closest to your husbands work. Finding a very nice house under $250,000 should be no problem and local builders are really offering strong incentives.(price reductions, favorable interest rates, bonus rooms, finished basements etc...) Lebanon is continuing to grow but commute will be longer

[kingjordana]

If you are between Mason and Lebanon I would go with Mason. Lebanon is where my aunt and uncle live, and it has a sort of red-neck element that Mason doesn’t seem to have, at least not nearly as much. Lebanon is a great town, I went to church there but I wouldn’t send my children to school there. As for Landen, they are going through all sorts of problems with the drainage system there but the community is unwilling to pay for the repairs.

The bottom line is that Mason is a much more respected community than either Landen or Lebanon. Many people think of Lebanon as “hick” and King’s Schools is the same. Landen’s King’s Mill School District is known to be a dump since they realized their school was built on lead a few years ago. The whole area is covered in lead, from some old gun powder factory. It also doesn’t have much a reputation but across the state people know Mason as a top notch community. You get a little more bang for your buck in Lebanon, but Mason has everything and the reputation right at your fingertips. Nothing against these other places, but Mason is where it’s at and there is a lot on the market right now, I am sure you can find a deal.

You might also try Montgomery/Blue Ash, a great and established area south of where you are looking. It has top notch schools and is a great community, very near Sharonville.

[Briolat21]

We are building in Lebanon. Yes, we went with "More bang for your buck", but additionally, Mason doesn't have near the new developments, and has that "built out" feeling (at least to us). Lebanon is growing strongly, and is only 15 minutes away from Mason (not even), and all the shopping/restaurants Mason offers. Lebanon's schools seem to be rated very highly, though we don't have children so this is more an issue of future resale for us. Additionally, we could get an acre new lot in Lebanon, and taxes in Mason are VERY high (to support the schools). There is a South Lebanon, and a Lebanon, and from what I've heard (from the locals I've spoken with) South Lebanon had the "hick" reputation, Lebanon itself is a very historic old community with some very historic landmarks. It is more a reputation for a quaint community, antiques, charm, etc..

I think both Lebanon/S. Lebanon will be transformed in the coming years due to all the development in the Lebabon/Morrow/Mainville corridor, and the aforementioned large shopping development that is going in in S. Lebanon. I don't think either of these places will become the next Mason, but remember - 25/30 years ago, Mason was a cornfield with King's Island in it... It is only in the last 25 years that Mason has grown into what it is now.

Similarly, as Mason is "built out", if growth continues, it will be in the surrounding areas.

To the idea of rude or snobbishness that some people mentioned regarding Lebanon, we have seen none of it. Everyone in our community has been very friendly, waving, stopping to talk, stopping to answer questions... We're very happy with our decision to move there.

By the way, we relocated from MI, near Ann Arbor.

The main difference we noticed was that Lebanon still has that "village" feel, while Mason is truly a bursting at the seams Big-Box suburb. We prefer to live in the village and shop in the surburb - so we'll have the best of both worlds.

[UncleRando]

Deciding between Mason and Lebanon is kind of like deciding whether you would prefer a slap in the face or a kick to the shins.

[Ohiogirl81]

Which one's which?

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by kingjordana

If you are between Mason and Lebanon I would go with Mason. Lebanon is where my aunt and uncle live, and it has a sort of red-neck element that Mason doesn’t seem to have, at least not nearly as much. Lebanon is a great town, I went to church there but I wouldn’t send my children to school there. As for Landen, they are going through all sorts of problems with the drainage system there but the community is unwilling to pay for the repairs.

The bottom line is that Mason is a much more respected community than either Landen or Lebanon. Many people think of Lebanon as “hick” and King’s Schools is the same. Landen’s King’s Mill School District is known to be a dump since they realized their school was built on lead a few years ago. The whole area is covered in lead, from some old gun powder factory. It also doesn’t have much a reputation but across the state people know Mason as a top notch community. You get a little more bang for your buck in Lebanon, but Mason has everything and the reputation right at your fingertips. Nothing against these other places, but Mason is where it’s at and there is a lot on the market right now, I am sure you can find a deal.

You might also try Montgomery/Blue Ash, a great and established area south of where you are looking. It has top notch schools and is a great community, very near Sharonville.

Funny, I feel Masonm has more of a redneck element. As a young child on my family Kings Island outing, we passed by one of the Mason city signs. It read Nig#@* don't let the sun set on your black ass. I was appalled even at 10, I felt violated for having read it. Though I don't feel that Mason has this issue in particular nowadays, I feel that the redneck perception of Lebanon is way out of line.