Is Austin a good place to raise kids? We cant decide whether to accept a relo - help! (Houston: homes, buy)
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mimimom - we are very fiscally conservative... so good to know, we will need to research this further. we are in a very high tax area of Dallas, so are somewhat used to what you describe, but will definitely go seek more info... thanks!
We currently live in Dallas. We have two young boys in preschool and kindergarten. My husband has an opportunity to accept a transfer with his company to Austin. We both used to live in Austin when we were younger. We met when we were in our 20s in Austin. We love Austin and have very fond memories of it. We got married there. But we were at a different life stage then. We wonder if the city is too "college" oriented or even too "liberal" for our child rearing years. We are fairly socially liberal, but we are Catholic and would like a traditional upgringing for our two boys at early ages.
Things we like about Austin - the outdoors opportunities, parks, local owned businesses, proximity to coast, Houston, San Antonio (Sea World, etc.), pace/culture/soul, etc.
Things we are worried about in Austin - traffic/congestion, lack of seasons (even get these a bit more in Dallas), being rejected for being too conservative, i.e. not fitting in, focus on college students and singles, not married with children
We feel Dallas lacks the soul and character of Austin, but it is indeed very kid focused. Lots and lots of things to do here with kids --- Aquarium, two big zoos, state fair, Dallas Cowboys/Mavericks/TX Rangers, rodeo, trains, kid museums, great public and private schools, etc.
I think in our hearts we would like to be back in Austin. I think our heads are telling us that Dallas might be a better place to raise our boys. I am hoping that some Austin parents will chime in here and set me straight! Any opinions and insight appreciated. thanks you!
If the job transfer is stable/good..Follow your hearts!
Yes, most Austin voters never met a bond they didn't like. Wake up call: Bonds are TAXES.
I think this is a very misleading statement. Most bonds that are issued and put up for voter approval are related to schools. Any school district with growing enrollment will have to fund new construction and that is done through bonds.
Voters DO defeat bonds - as Round Rock voters did just a few years ago for a very poorly built $300M bond package.
As for Austin itself - I don't think bonds/taxes are any more common than any other Texas city with growing needs.
The first light rail project in Austin, over ten years ago, was soundly defeated because of the poor economics of the proposal.
Overall, tax rates (sales, property) in Austin are comparable to those in other Texas cities.
We were in a similar situation. I lived in the Park Cities for eighteen years, lived in Dallas (Munger Place/M Streets/Deep Ellum) for the next eleven, and now have lived in Austin for the last three (Onion Creek). Having small children, we moved here for similar reasons - family and lifestyle. We have been very happy with our decision. The smaller sized city, more amenities/events per capita, affordable proximity to the city center, and lower crime rate were very appealing for us. If it helps, here is my take when comparing Dallas vs. Austin neighborhoods:
Lake Highlands = SW Austin/Oak Hill
East Dallas = South Austin
Lakewood = Barton Hills
M Streets = Bouldin
Munger Place/Junius Heights = Travis Heights
Lower Greenville = South Congress
Plano/Frisco = Round Rock
Allen = Cedar Park
McKinney = Georgetown
West Dallas/South Irving = North Austin
Garland/Mesquite = Pflugerville
Kessler Park = Onion Creek
Lewisville/Carrolton = Far South Austin
Denton = San Marcos
Trophy Club/Southlake Carroll/West Plano = Lakeway
Cedar Hill = Bastrop
Park Cities = Westlake
Little Elm = Lago Vista
Far North Dallas = NW Austin
South Dallas = East Austin
Oak Cliff = NE Austin
Love Field/NW Dallas = SE Austin
North Dallas = Old West Austin/Rollingwood
Uptown = 2nd Street/west 6th/Warehouse district
Cedar Springs = South Lamar
Casa Linda = Allandale/Crestview
Forest Hills = Rosedale
Bishop Arts = Central East Austin
Fair Oaks = Sunset Valley/Westgate
Prosper = Liberty Hill
Leander = The Colony
Waxahachie = Elgin
Duncanville/DeSoto = Manor
Sherman/Denison = Marble Falls
Quite honestly, I really couldn't think of too many worse places to raise a family than in Austin. You MIGHT be better off in the suburbs which are quite a bit more affordable. But Austin proper?? That's insane. Austin offers almost nothing for kids.
No zoo - you must drive to SA for that
No Aquarium - you must drive to Dallas for that
Has a childrens museum, but it's a joke compared to the one in SA.
Most of Austin ISD is terrible, must goto the suburbs for decent schools
Very few childrens stores (as far as shopping goes)
Also, no inflatable places--those are both located at Lakeline Mall in CP and one in RR.
If you're single and 18-35, Austin has a decent amount to offer, but for familes??? OMG, too funny.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lynnsl
We currently live in Dallas. We have two young boys in preschool and kindergarten. My husband has an opportunity to accept a transfer with his company to Austin. We both used to live in Austin when we were younger. We met when we were in our 20s in Austin. We love Austin and have very fond memories of it. We got married there. But we were at a different life stage then. We wonder if the city is too "college" oriented or even too "liberal" for our child rearing years. We are fairly socially liberal, but we are Catholic and would like a traditional upgringing for our two boys at early ages.
Things we like about Austin - the outdoors opportunities, parks, local owned businesses, proximity to coast, Houston, San Antonio (Sea World, etc.), pace/culture/soul, etc.
Things we are worried about in Austin - traffic/congestion, lack of seasons (even get these a bit more in Dallas), being rejected for being too conservative, i.e. not fitting in, focus on college students and singles, not married with children
We feel Dallas lacks the soul and character of Austin, but it is indeed very kid focused. Lots and lots of things to do here with kids --- Aquarium, two big zoos, state fair, Dallas Cowboys/Mavericks/TX Rangers, rodeo, trains, kid museums, great public and private schools, etc.
I think in our hearts we would like to be back in Austin. I think our heads are telling us that Dallas might be a better place to raise our boys. I am hoping that some Austin parents will chime in here and set me straight! Any opinions and insight appreciated. thanks you!
Quite honestly, I really couldn't think of too many worse places to raise a family than in Austin. You MIGHT be better off in the suburbs which are quite a bit more affordable. But Austin proper?? That's insane. Austin offers almost nothing for kids.
No zoo - you must drive to SA for that
No Aquarium - you must drive to Dallas for that
Has a childrens museum, but it's a joke compared to the one in SA.
Most of Austin ISD is terrible, must goto the suburbs for decent schools
Very few childrens stores (as far as shopping goes)
Also, no inflatable places--those are both located at Lakeline Mall in CP and one in RR.
If you're single and 18-35, Austin has a decent amount to offer, but for familes??? OMG, too funny.
So glad you are back posting today with a positive attitude. Why do you live here again if you hate it so much?
Quite honestly, I really couldn't think of too many worse places to raise a family than in Austin. You MIGHT be better off in the suburbs which are quite a bit more affordable. But Austin proper?? That's insane. Austin offers almost nothing for kids.
No zoo - you must drive to SA for that
No Aquarium - you must drive to Dallas for that
Has a childrens museum, but it's a joke compared to the one in SA.
Most of Austin ISD is terrible, must goto the suburbs for decent schools
Very few childrens stores (as far as shopping goes)
Also, no inflatable places--those are both located at Lakeline Mall in CP and one in RR.
If you're single and 18-35, Austin has a decent amount to offer, but for familes??? OMG, too funny.
What's funny is that your points almost suggest you don't/didn't have kids.
Zoo/aquarium, how often do folks go to these things to make having one in town all that imperative. We've been to the SA zoo twice and the Austin "zoo" maybe three times. We have no strong urge to need to go to a zoo. Ditto aquariums, it's nice to go maybe every several years, but I certainly wouldn't call an area family unfriendly due to a lack of it.
Agree about Austin's children's museum not being as nice as others (visited the Houston Children's museum recently, pretty nice). Then again, I can remember the days before it opened so it's nice having something at all and last I heard, it will be moving soon so perhaps that will also bring some extras along with it.
Don't know about all of AISD being "terrible", I think that's a gross overstatement.
And I don't understand what you mean about a lack of "children's stores" or a lack of inflatable "places"? Those are two incredibly subject statements.
If those negatives weigh most heavily into your perception about what makes a place "a good place to raise kids", then that's certainly your prerogative. However, being someone who's lived in major metro areas and the most middle of nowhere areas I'd have to say that Austin provides one of the best compromises I've experienced and for raising a family, I find it very hard to beat. I find it hard to imagine many other places that would be clearly superiour to move my family to.
What is an inflatable place? Is that one of those things people rent for kids parties where they jump around inside a "room?"
Would parents say something like "Honey, that town has everything we need for our family: safety, affordable housing, good schools, clean air and water but they don't have any inflatable places. I guess we'll scratch that city off our list."
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