Moving to Southern MS (Gulfport, Biloxi: spring break, real estate, hotel)

[kaymac]

My husband is going to work in Stone County for the next 3 months or so with a big possibility of relocating our family in the summer as well. We have a 14 yr old son who will be a sophmore next year. We currently live in a town of less than 14,000, one school, and limited shopping. So we come from small town and church and communties and are interested in trying to maintain that lifestyle so we won't have cultural shock!

Any suggestions on the communities between Hattiesburg and Gulfport as far as living and raising children. My Husband will be working in McHenry and doesn't want to drive more than 30 minutes to work daily. We also have friends in D'Iberville. We don't want to live in Gulfport or Biloxi, not really on the waterfront at all.

kaymac

[kaymac]

I might mention he reports to work Monday the 19th of this month and will be staying in hotel either in Wiggins, or Gulfport. Family will go down around mid April to check the area out, any suggestions as to what and where to look into in the event we do move there??

kaymac

[Tama]

There really isn't an urban area with the parameters you are talking about. Orange Grove may be a possibility depending, I guess, on how it fared as far as hurricane damage. Check with your friends in D'Iberville about it. Then Wiggins and on into Hattiesburg going north. Lucedale and Vancleave are probably outside the commute time but may be the type of towns you are looking for. Good luck!

[kaymac]

What is your opinion on Wiggins? Seems like a small place more inland and a possible commute to Hattiesburg for Church and yet to work in Mchenry during week.??? Do you have any ideas of the schools there and real estate, etc...

[Tama]

Wiggins would be a good equidistant locale. I don't know anything about it except from driving through. It has a Wal-Mart and some other retail and, depending on where you are coming from, of course, you will most likely find real estate very affordable. I don't know anything about the schools except it is Stone High School and has a small enrollment. Here is a link that might help.

http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/..._school/ms/892

Also, you might want to check the commute time (I think too much, though.) from Lumberton, Popularville, and Purvis on interstate 59--thay are also self-contained communities but may be a little smaller than Wiggins.

[cncguy2000]

wiggins is 30 min to hattiesburg, and gulfport.
nice small town, we go camping there at flint creek.

[Tama]

Sorry-that should be Poplarville !

[kaymac]

Thanks for the school in Wiggins website. I checked it out and the parents reviews are all good except for one. I'm checking on the other towns you gave me to compare the commute time.

Wiggins sounds ideal due to the smaller community. Our town is 14,000 or so, but moving for the first time with our 14 yr old, my thinking is smaller town he wouldn't just be invisible and possibly could adjust better than in Hattiesburg.
Church would be in Hattiesburg, hopefully, and husbands commute to work would be very short to McHenry.

My husband will be staying in Wiggins next week at the hotel there. So he will be able to get a feel of the community for the first time. I plan to visit the area the last of this month as our schools are on Spring Break.

Meanwhile, I'll search the other towns you gave me, and thanks so much.