Cedar City (St. George, Panguitch, Garden: how much, home, job transfer)

[WoodPal]

I've found this forum to be very helpful (thank you!) and would value everyone's insight on a relocation to Cedar City UT.

My wife and I currently live in upstate NY. I am retired...she will retire in 18 months. She was born in Las Vegas and we lived in Colorado for 15 years before a job transfer bought us to the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. We love it here, but are seriously considering a move back west. We both would like to be close to family in Las Vegas, though it seems too hot and crowded for us (at least for now). We have family in Panguitch but it seems too small of a town for our us. Cedar City looks like it might be right for us. We are not LDS.

We have been through Cedar City many times, and have spent a couple days there a few months ago, and hope to spend about a week there this coming summer. The elevation seems about right for our lifestyle, and recognize that no place is perfect. Any help with some of our questions would be appreciated.

1) We hear the cost of water in Cedar City is very high. How much should we budget for an older couple with a moderate size lot?
2) My wife loves to garden. Is that something she should plan to give up?
3) We both enjoy hiking and riding our bikes. Are there trails in or near Cedar that we could enjoy?
4) We are prepared to spend more for less home than we have now since housing prices here haven't moved significantly for decades while home prices in the west have risen dramatically. Could we find a nice home in a nice area for about $300k? (i.e. energy efficient, 3BR, 2 bath, 2 car garage, nice lot, view?) or are we dreaming?
5) Are there other retirees moving there, or do most end up in St. George?

Any comments are welcome. Thanks,

[NYtoVT]

Originally Posted by WoodPal

I've found this forum to be very helpful (thank you!) and would value everyone's insight on a relocation to Cedar City UT.

My wife and I currently live in upstate NY. I am retired...she will retire in 18 months. She was born in Las Vegas and we lived in Colorado for 15 years before a job transfer bought us to the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. We love it here, but are seriously considering a move back west. We both would like to be close to family in Las Vegas, though it seems too hot and crowded for us (at least for now). We have family in Panguitch but it seems too small of a town for our us. Cedar City looks like it might be right for us. We are not LDS.

We have been through Cedar City many times, and have spent a couple days there a few months ago, and hope to spend about a week there this coming summer. The elevation seems about right for our lifestyle, and recognize that no place is perfect. Any help with some of our questions would be appreciated.

1) We hear the cost of water in Cedar City is very high. How much should we budget for an older couple with a moderate size lot?
2) My wife loves to garden. Is that something she should plan to give up?
3) We both enjoy hiking and riding our bikes. Are there trails in or near Cedar that we could enjoy?
4) We are prepared to spend more for less home than we have now since housing prices here haven't moved significantly for decades while home prices in the west have risen dramatically. Could we find a nice home in a nice area for about $300k? (i.e. energy efficient, 3BR, 2 bath, 2 car garage, nice lot, view?) or are we dreaming?
5) Are there other retirees moving there, or do most end up in St. George?

Any comments are welcome. Thanks,

As a new relocatee (if there is such a word) to Cedar from Vermont, my wife and I can confidently state that it was the best move we could have made. As far as your questions go:
1) Water from Cedar City Corporation, to us anyway, is cheap. Most of the monthly bill is a flat rate sewer charge of $23.00. The most expensive bill we received with an irrigation system runnng as about $59.00.
2) Gardening here will be different than what you're used to in upstate NY. Because of the arid and hot conditions plus the lack of real good growing soil, you're going to have to plant different things. It's going to be a little like Las Vegas except that annuals (perrennials ?) will die off in the winter.
3) There are many hiking and biking trails in the area. In fact, I can see out my window and see a dirt trail that leads up and over Cedar Mountain. There are paved bike paths thru part of Cedar Canyon.
4) As far as housing goes, 300k can buy you a nice 3 BR 2 bath place. We paid far less than that and have 4 BR and 3 ba new construction unit with a nice sized lot.
5) I'm not sure about the percentage that go to St. George and the percentage that comne to Cedar. My guess is that a larger percentage go to St. George to escape the cold that Cedar can have in the winter. Then again, it gets to be 115 in SG during the summer. If it gets really cold in CC, just get in the car and drive 540 miles south and it's 15-20 degrees warmer.

[WoodPal]

Thanks for the information. We appreciate it. If your worst water bill was $59, that doesn't sound too bad. We'll try out the hiking trails when we visit there again next summer. We'll also take a more serious look at the housing market.

Thanks again,