Cedar City vs St. George

[gloo]

There is a very good chance I will need to relocate to southern utah in the near future. I'm trying to figure out what is the better living destination between the two cities.

What's important to me:
-access to outdoors for backpacking, climbing and canyoneering. Both seem to be pretty good if a bit different.
-indoor climbing. As far as I've been able to tell the only indoor climbing in these two cities is the Spot bouldering in St. george. I'd really like to be able to go pull on some plastic at night/when weather is not ideal for outdoor.
-affordable. I'll be gone a ton, so I don't care about having the nicest place. I'd rather save the $$ for grad school.
-ability to get a good drink
-have a crowd that's in their mid 20's.

St. george seems more refined, bigger, lower elevation so better winter but super hot summers and I'm leaning more towards that route. The one thing that cedar seems to have over george is brian head and alpine access.

I'm curious as to what BCPers think of the two cities.

Thanks!

 

[Dave]

Cedar is a nice town but small. It's only an hour away from St. George though. Winters in Cedar can be worse than along the Wasatch Front, for what it's worth. Both towns have colleges and younger residents, but St. George does have a lot of retired folks.

 

[blueeyes]

My guess, when it comes to climbing you will have more time outside than in. If you are in St. George it is only two hours to Vegas where they have indoor climbing. Also the Washington City Rec Center has a small climbing wall. George's Corner and Wing Nutz are good places for a drink. Yes there is a large population of retired people here but you have a larger population period so it is not a bad mix.

I have never lived in Cedar and after three years of living here in St. George it is starting to grow on me. Only thing I miss is the snow and my family. As for the snow I prefer Eagle Point over Brian Head. But love Brian Head in the summer for downhill mountain biking.

 

[Howells Outdoors]

I've lived in Cedar City for several years and what ashergrey said about winter is true! Cedar is great, SUU is the better university between it and Dixie (that's why I'm here), but outdoors access I'd rather be in STG. For what you said mostly, longer summer! It may be super hot, but it's not far to get into the mountains. I find myself going more towards STG anyways for most adventures.
As fo living, Cedar is the choice. It's much cheaper here than in STG or anywhere else in the state. The college age group leaves Cedar in the summer though, for the most part. That's my two cents!

 

[Laura]

Are they active retired people? Not everyone who is retired is confined to a rocking chair. They might have picked St. George for retirement for all the outside activities too! I'm betting all of us will still be doing our outdoor activities well into old age-you just need to take your *Vitamin I every morning.

*that's "ibuprofen" for you young-uns.

 

[Yvonne]

I know here are a lot of retirees in the local hiking group, where Chere and I are members of.
It sometimes pisses me off because I want to have more time to do some hikes and they are out a few times a week.
I would guess a great number of retirees have chosen St. George just for that particular reason. To get out as often as possible and having the pleasant temperatures, too.

 

[gloo]

this is great, thanks guys! It seems that in every way but wanting to save a penny STG is a much better way to go. What are the summers like? How bike/pedestrian friendly is STG overall and are there area's that's better than others for that?

 

[gloo]

Cedar is a nice town but small. It's only an hour away from St. George though. Winters in Cedar can be worse than along the Wasatch Front, for what it's worth. Both towns have colleges and younger residents, but St. George does have a lot of retired folks.

yeah I've heard their winters can be brutal.