Interested in a possible move to a Tx coastal town...suggestions? (Houston: rental homes, crime)

[Gina70]

Prefer a smaller town to a larger city. Currently near Columbus, Ohio. I've been searching jobs and rental homes along the east coast but I have had a long time interest in Tx. I definitely want a beach area. I don't have a large budget. That may be out of the question, but that's where you all may be able to have info for me. Any suggestions are appreciated!

[7ry1an3]

South Padre Island if you can afford it i know you said you dont have a large budget but It has the nicest beaches in texas hands down. Corpus for the smaller town feel or SE Houston/Galveston for the larger city vibe. Galveston Island itself has a smaller town feel than Corpus but is less than an hour from the 4th biggest city in the US so you can kinda live in both worlds. Corpus beaches are nicer than Galveston for the most part. There are smaller towns between the two like freeport, Lake Jackson, Victoria, and rockport.

[gabetx]

Well, I can list a few towns/cities...

Rockport, Port Aransas, Portland, Corpus Christi, specifically around Padre Island, Palacios, Galveston, and one I would not recommend South Padre Island.

Don't get me wrong about South Padre Island, it is a great place for a vacation, but to actually live in the Rio Grande Valley, you are isolating yourself from the rest of TX, and you might as well be living in northern Mexico, for most people speak Spanish.

As far as all of the others, they are all great choices. To me, Galveston beaches are not very nice, but are beaches none-the-less. Corpus Christi would be nice. It is a decent sized city, and is in a great location, falling less than two hours from San Antonio, and three hours form Houston and Austin. Rockport is beautiful and is not far from Corpus.

[Gina70]

Thank you both so much for the advice! I will take it to heart and do my research! I am looking forward to a big change....maybe this will be it!

[txsizzler]

I second Gabe's selection, although there are several areas in the RGV that would be fine for a caucasion male/female. I personally live in Portland, and with a size of just under 20k people, it would fit the bill nicely for you, plus its right in the middle for easy access to the Gulf beaches, not to mention that we sit on a bluff overlooking the Bay (can easily see downtown Corpus from here). So, you also get great fishing, kite surfing, and other recreational activities here too!


Ian

[shootertoo]

Gabe is right on. I lived in Galveston and wouldn't recommend it because there's a lot of Houston crime that operates there. It used to be great but no more.

Those smaller towns in the Corpus Christi area are quaint but have everything you would want.

[CptnRn]

Look at the outskirts of some nice places like Rockport/Fulton, Port Lavaca, Sea Drift... probably more jobs near Rockport/Fulton

[bigtexan99]

Corpus Christi might be the best fit, if you are looking for work. It's a small city, by the beach. If you don't need to work, then South Padre Island is a true resort, but not much in the way of employment, nor much in the way of city.

[Gina70]

Thanks again to all for the support! I've been doing some research, job hunting, and browsing rentals. I'm praying I can swing this. I'd love to be in Texas!

[jbtx]

I'd love to be in Texas!

Come on down!!! The weather is great.