US Marine with orders to Offutt AFB (Council Bluffs, Glenwood: home, neighborhoods)

[Ginzu]

I just found out that I have orders taking me to Offutt AFB fall 2011. I have two kids that will be in high school. Any recommendations on where to live (NE or IA side)? Which high schools should I target? What is the housing market looking like? I would like to keep my commute to approx 30 minutes or less. My family and I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, soccer and softball/baseball. Any other advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Ginzu
Colonel, USMC

[Dport7674]

I don't know exactly how far Offutt is from Omaha, NE/Council bluffs, IA. But I think it's within a 1/2 hr.

I stayed in Omaha for awhile in 1999-2000 and liked it a lot. It's much larger than people might think, with lots to do. At the time Council Bluffs was kind of run down and beat up looking, but I hear it's looking good now. As far as housing goes Council Bluffs was cheaper than Omaha by a good bit.

They're kind of twin cities the way they sit across from each other.

From what I understand Neb. is more gun owner friendly than Iowa. But that might be handgun laws only, because I know quite a few hunters in Iowa.

Bellevue was an up and coming area of Omaha that I heard had good high schools.

Good Luck!

[mamasker]

I'm originally from the Bellevue/Sarpy County NE area, so I'm probably a little biased. I currently live in Iowa but still have family both in Sarpy County and in Council Bluffs and I spend a significant amount of time in that area. Personally, I would choose Bellevue every time over Council Bluffs. As with any move, there are positives and negatives to both situations. You will find higher property taxes in Nebraska than on the Iowa side. Bellevue East and Bellevue West are more highly regarded schools than the Council Bluffs High Schools (VERY generally speaking). Dport7674 is correct about the Bluffs being more run down and also correct about improvements. IMO, they've still got a ways to go. Bellevue also has a very high military population, which may make getting acquainted quicker as the community has so many connections to the AFB (it is in Bellevue). There are also nice rural areas within 15-20 min. of the AFB if that is more what you're looking for, too. But these would be on the Nebraska side. If you are looking first for lowest cost of housing/property taxes, then Iowa. If you are looking first for shortest Commute, then Bellevue. If you're looking for stronger schools, then Bellevue, IMO. Hope this helps!! :-)

[Ginzu]

mamasker / Dport7674,
Thank you for the insight. I am leaning towards the NE side of the river, more specifcally west or south of the Offutt. So, Bellevue is one of my targets.

Ginzu

[poopycat]

Where you choose to live might depend on your lifestyle preference. If you like being near big-city amenities, then I would choose Bellevue. Or Papillion. Both are close to downtown Omaha and some nice amenities close by, like gyms, shopping centers, etc. I think that if you're looking for a more city-oriented lifestyle, Bellevue and Papillion offer a bit more than Council Bluffs in terms of housing options (although CB would probably have lower taxes since it's in Iowa). I dont know much about the school systems in CB, so I can't offer an opinion there.

If you prefer living in more of a small-town atmosphere, you might want to hop on over to Glenwood, Iowa, which is about 20-25 minutes from Offutt. Glenwood feels very safe; there always seem to be a Glenwood police officer just driving around the neighborhoods (only place I've ever had a police officer wave at me too!). Good schools too. Glenwood High was just rebuilt and has a good reputation. It is a small town however, so if you don't want to drive 18-20 minutes to the shopping centers at the southern tip of CB, you won't be happy here. But if you like to come home and feel a bit like you're getting out of the rat race of the city, you will like Glenwood. You are still only about 25 minutes from downtown Omaha, and the shopping center (don't know its name) near CB keeps growing. A Panda Express just went in, as did an Olive Garden, and a Panera is on its way.

Good luck with your move, and thanks for your service to the country.

[Ginzu]

Poopycat,
Thank you.

[rustyruss22]

Sir,
I'm a Sgt and I'm up for reenlistment, and these possible orders to Offutt AFB came up in my discussion with the career planner. I was wondering if you had any essay on what life is going to be like on an AFB for a Marine? I actually grew up about an hour outside of Omaha, in Schuyler, NE. So, it will be like coming home for me. I'm and 0651 and I've been out of my MOS for a while, I'm am deployed as a RTO in a Scout Sniper Plt. right now from 2/8, so it would be a little of a pace change for me, but it's what I am looking for. Any information you could give me would be extremely helpful and very much appreciated.

Thank You,
rustyruss22
Sergeant USMC

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by poopycat

Where you choose to live might depend on your lifestyle preference. If you like being near big-city amenities, then I would choose Bellevue. Or Papillion. Both are close to downtown Omaha and some nice amenities close by, like gyms, shopping centers, etc. I think that if you're looking for a more city-oriented lifestyle, Bellevue and Papillion offer a bit more than Council Bluffs in terms of housing options (although CB would probably have lower taxes since it's in Iowa). I dont know much about the school systems in CB, so I can't offer an opinion there.

If you prefer living in more of a small-town atmosphere, you might want to hop on over to Glenwood, Iowa, which is about 20-25 minutes from Offutt. Glenwood feels very safe; there always seem to be a Glenwood police officer just driving around the neighborhoods (only place I've ever had a police officer wave at me too!). Good schools too. Glenwood High was just rebuilt and has a good reputation. It is a small town however, so if you don't want to drive 18-20 minutes to the shopping centers at the southern tip of CB, you won't be happy here. But if you like to come home and feel a bit like you're getting out of the rat race of the city, you will like Glenwood. You are still only about 25 minutes from downtown Omaha, and the shopping center (don't know its name) near CB keeps growing. A Panda Express just went in, as did an Olive Garden, and a Panera is on its way.

Good luck with your move, and thanks for your service to the country.

Glenwood is an excellent recommendation. Another I would consider if you're willing to commute within a half hour of Offitt is Treynor Iowa.