142 Apartments in Mascoutah, Illinois

While most cities host some sort of celebration for the 4th of July, Mascoutah undeniably goes the extra mile. The fourth fest events include softball and kickball tournaments, raffles, poker, local artisans and live music, plus, naturally, fireworks.

Primarily known as a quaint small town near Scott Air Force Base, the city of Mascoutah offers fans of wide-open spaces and charming neighbors a fabulous place to settle. Green, fairly flat and boasting easy access to many enticing opportunities, the residents of Mascoutah tend to recognize their good luck in locations. In addition to the gorgeous Midwestern countryside, natives enjoy a low cost of living and low crime, plus St. Louis, The Gateway to the West, is fewer than 30 miles away. That means whether locals want to relax and go for a hike or head to the city for a night on the town they have their pick of adventures any day of the week. Of course, being this close to Scott AFB has its benefits too, and not just for those who work there. Count on seeing strapping young men and women milling about in their uniforms on the regular. And -- it goes without saying -- no one knows how to enjoy life better than a serviceman. Head to the Midwest and discover just how lovely good, clean living can be.

Moving to Mascoutah

It is a truth universally acknowledged that anyone who is moving from their present abode must take care to research the housing landscape and lifestyle of their intended destination or suffer the stress of last minute preparations and certain disappointment. So it is also the case with moving to Mascoutah. Do a little advance planning, and you'll have no trouble fitting in.

Basic Paperwork

The prep work starts with some basic paperwork. Every reputable landlord, whether he's leasing a single-family home or a studio for rent, will require a few key pieces of information in order to hand over the keys. Your ID is a big one; it proves you exist. Helpful. Your recent pay stubs, usually three or four is another essential. It proves you can afford your dream home. The one you don't have to fork over, but is crucial to fine tune, is your credit report. No doubt any potential landlord will look up your credit score on his own time (there may be a fee for this service), but you need to do that too. Make sure there are no inaccuracies or suspicious activities that can affect your score. Finally, pick up a cashier's check so you really look like you're on the ball. A security deposit is fairly standard, and many places won't accept a personal check for it.

House Hunting

Obviously sifting through debt payments and photocopying paychecks is hardly thrilling, but the next step will prove more entertaining. Time to choose the place you want to live. Although location will ultimately drive your decision, it never hurts to fantasize about the four walls and roof you'll get to spend a sizable amount of time in, and rental homes in Mascoutah offer a pretty wide assortment of options to consider.

First off, you have to weigh whether privacy and land are more important, or if access to amenities and low cost are. The Mascoutah landscape is mostly detached homes, but there are plenty of apartment complexes and a few townhouses for rent as well. The rental homes are from nearly every era imaginable, with nearly an equal number of representatives from the modern age, 1970 to today, as historic homes from before 1960. So whether you have a taste for older homes with built-in character (and built-in bookcases most likely) or newer builds with stainless steel and granite, you're pretty well covered.

One thing to note, regardless of which type of home you're interested in, you're going to need to give yourself a little time to secure a place you love. The vacancy rate is incredibly low, so give it a few months to seek out the perfect accommodations.

Neighborhoods

Big cities like New York, Chicago and L.A. are known for their distinctive districts with catchy names, but a little town like Mascoutah, which only has around 7500 residents, doesn't have such a claim. Still, one area may prove more enticing than another, so here are some general differences you might find.

Central Mascoutah: Closer to Scott AFB, HWY 161 and Mascoutah Lake, this section has a lot of open land, but the neighborhoods are still pretty densely packed. That's just how planned areas go. Most of the homes are found south of Fuesser Street, and you're out of luck when it comes to shopping and dining at this end, but it is nice and quiet. Way up to the north you can find Hawkins Point Townhomes, near I-64.

Southern Mascoutah: Greener, more organically laid out neighborhoods and plenty of fast food and dine-in eateries, this is definitely the more happening end of Mascoutah. HWY 177 runs right through the middle of it, so access is easy, but traffic is definitely a problem at some hours. Fountain View Apartments is right smack dab in the middle.

Living in Mascoutah

One of the great things about living in Mascoutah is the appreciation for nature held by the residents. People love to get out and hike, golf, picnic, play and bike around the countryside. There are several golf courses nearby, and outdoorsy types will never be at a loss for things to do, whether they stick close to home or venture out around the state. For those who like to dabble in more intellectually stimulating pursuits, it's worth exploring the big city of St. Louis, less than an hour from town. Museums, art galleries, fancy restaurants and an amazing zoo are all hallmarks of this area. It's a hip college town, too, so expect plenty of young folks who know how to have a good time to pepper the streets.

Hiking, movie watching and dining out are all fun, but you're going to need a way to get to these things. St. Louis has great public transportation options, but Mascoutah is a little bit more limited. However, the Metrolink does connect to St. Louis via the Shiloh station, but it's still a few miles north of town. Ultimately, you're going to need a car, but you can probably get a cup of coffee or a bite to eat by foot or bike, depending on where you decided to live.

Mascoutah enjoys all the best parts of being Midwestern, including having welcoming, kind residents, a gloriously green landscape and an appreciation for the small pleasures in life. If you dream of living close to a military base, a big city and a whole lot of open, beckoning space, you've found home.