Pros and Cons of Living in Mary Esther Florida

So you are considering moving to Mary Esther, Florida, but you want to know more about the area. Fortunately, Stephanie has got you covered as she presents the five biggest con's and the five biggest pro's of living in Mary Esther Florida.

Let's get things started with the con's of living in Mary Esther:

1. Lack of Entertainment

Mary Esther is a growing city, but most construction happening is residential. If you are looking to have a vibrant night life or wanting plenty of activities for you and friends to do, your best bet would be to travel into Fort Walton Beach or Destin. Fortunately for Mary Esther residents, Fort Walton Beach and Destin are very close, so even though entertainment isn't in Mary Esther, it certainly isn't very far away. 

2. Lack of Retail Stores

If you are someone that likes to partake in some retail therapy, you will definitely need to travel outside the Mary Esther city limits. Similar to the lack of entertainment, Mary Esther really doesn't have any retail stores for its residents to enjoy. Although, Mary Esther does have a Target and TJ Maxx, but for anything else, you'll most likely need to head to the Destin Commons or into Pensacola to satisfy your shopping needs. 

3. No Public Transit

One of the major drawbacks of Mary Esther is that there is no public transportation services. Therefore, if you do not have access to a vehicle of your own, you'll need to rely on other means to get around. Again, Mary Esther isn't too far away from Fort Walton Beach and it is entirely possible to walk or ride a bike to get where you need to go, but because of the weather, that may be a last resort. However, Uber and Lyft do operate in Mary Esther, so you can get a ride if absolutely necessary. 

4. Air Traffic

This one, for some, can be seen as a pro, but that depends on how you look at it. Mary Esther is directly adjacent to Hurlburt and Eglin Air Force Base, so if you don't like the sound of airplanes and fighter jets flying overhead throughout the day, Mary Esther might not be the place for you. Although, these fly overs only tend to occur during the day, so they won't be waking you up in the middle of the night. 

5. Highway 98 Traffic

Highway 98 is the main highway the follows the Gulf Coast and connects most of coastal cities. Since that is the case, it is subject to heavy traffic throughout the day, especially during summer when tourists are on vacation trying to get to Destin. Furthermore, military personnel that work on Eglin and Hurlburt use highway 98 as their route to work, further congesting the highway. 

Now let's get the pro's of living in Mary Esther kicked off:

1. Variety of Neighborhoods

There are a wide variety of homes available for purchase in Mary Esther. Mary Esther has a culmination of older and newer homes available for a reasonable price while also offering waterfront and beach front properties to people that want those. Based on what you are looking for, Mary Esther can pretty much caver all your bases. 

2. Schools

The education system in Mary Esther is one of the best in the area. So if you are worried about the education your children will get if you move here, you'll be well taken care of. Mary Esther boasts a higher graduation rate than both the Florida and national average by 6%.

3. Lower Cost of Living

Something that probably isn't as surprising, but is definitely a big plus is the cost of living in Mary Esther. In fact, Mary Esther is 4.7% less than the national average for cost of living. This percentage takes a number of factors into consideration (including housing, utilities, food, and transportation costs) when determining the cost of living. 

4. Proximity to Work

Most residents of Mary Esther tend to be military personnel, so you are in for a pleasant surprise to learn that your commute to work won't take too long, especially if you are stationed at Hurlburt Field. For those of you that are not military personnel, Fort Walton Beach and Destin are still very close, so the commute will not be terrible, even with all the traffic. 

5. The Beautiful Beaches

One of the perks of living in Mary Esther is that you are never far away from the white-sand beaches of the Emerald Coast. Both Okaloosa Island and Navarre Beach are a short drive away from Mary Esther. So when you need that break away from reality, hop in your car and in a few minutes you'll be in paradise relaxing on the sand. 

Well, that covers the five biggest pros and cons of living in Mary Esther, Florida. If you want to know more about Mary Esther or the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, feel free to get in contact with us anytime. You can give us a call, send us a text, or shoot us an email and we would be happy to help you find the perfect home for you and your family.