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Old 12-29-2014, 11:48 PM
 
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
226 posts, read 265,625 times
Reputation: 327

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I get enough to "get by" on but barely. However, I currently live in Kansas City, MO and the neighborhood has seriously gone downhill and I no longer feel safe at all with good reason. Police Dept has gone down as well so I just want somewhere quiet, safe peaceful. I can't afford any of the very popular places most likely but that doesn't matter to me.

I like nature, flowers, birds, etc. I want a peaceful quiet place to enjoy same even if its in a small out-of-the-way town. I am SO BURNED OUT on life in Kansas City, I want to be able to feel safe going for a walk at a reasonable hour. Does such a place exist or am I just dreaming. THE WARMER THE BETTER.
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Old 12-30-2014, 12:19 AM
 
Location: Dallas
2,413 posts, read 3,460,323 times
Reputation: 4129
If I were retired, and on a fixed income I'd look for something close to a lake on the outskirts of the big metros. Close enough, so that you could find part-time work if you need it, but far enough out for lower cost of living and safety. Plus, you probably want to avoid all the rat race "give me, give me" nature, insane traffic, expensive tollways, and the keeping up with the jones's attitude of the suburbs here.

West of DFW: Weatherford, Granbury, Azle, Springtown, Aledo

East of DFW: Rockwall, Sunnyvale

South of DFW: Waxahachie, Midlothian, Corsicana, Ovilla, Lake Whitney (far out)

North of DFW: Krum, Lake Texoma, Sherman, Denison

You might also consider Oklahoma, or Arkansas. I think those are great states to retire, and there are some great little towns up there, with gorgeous scenery (beats anything in Texas IMO). If I were retired and had no family in Texas, that's where I'd be!
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Last edited by RonnieinDallas; 12-30-2014 at 10:12 AM..
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Old 12-30-2014, 12:29 AM
 
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
226 posts, read 265,625 times
Reputation: 327
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonnieinDallas View Post
If I were retired, and on a fixed income I'd look for something close to a lake on the outskirts of the big metros. Close enough, so that you could find part-time work if you need it, but far enough out for lower cost of living and safety. Plus, you probably want to avoid all the rat race "give me, give me" nature, insane traffic, expensive tollways, and the keeping up with the jones's attitude of the suburbs here.

West of DFW: Weatherford, Granbury, Azle, Springtown, Aledo

East of DFW: Rockwall, Sunnyvale

South of DFW: Waxahachie, Midlothian, Corsicana, Ovilla, Lake Whitney (far out)

North of DFW: Krum, Lake Texoma, Sherman, Denison

You might also consider Oklahoma, or Arkansas. I think those are great states to retire, and there are some great little towns up there, with gorgeous scenery (beats anything in Texas IMO). If I were retired and had no family in Texas, that's where I'd be!

Yes, I do prefer to avoid the rat-race and traffic and yes, I'm not interested in keeping up with anyone.

I read that Mesquite is, as far as safety is concerned, a good place. Curious for input about Mesquite.

I wouldn't even care if the place was BORING as I am not into on-the-go life, I like to make my home attractive and hang out on my patio/balcony with my pets - I spend TOO MUCH TIME probably on the net - I like to read a lot. So if I have a sunny spot outside and a pile of good non-fiction books I'm happy!

Last edited by RonnieinDallas; 12-30-2014 at 10:13 AM..
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Old 12-30-2014, 12:35 AM
 
Location: Dallas
2,413 posts, read 3,460,323 times
Reputation: 4129
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmericnGrl View Post
Yes, I do prefer to avoid the rat-race and traffic and yes, I'm not interested in keeping up with anyone.

I read that Mesquite is, as far as safety is concerned, a good place. Curious for input about Mesquite.

I wouldn't even care if the place was BORING as I am not into on-the-go life, I like to make my home attractive and hang out on my patio/balcony with my pets - I spend TOO MUCH TIME probably on the net - I like to read a lot. So if I have a sunny spot outside and a pile of good non-fiction books I'm happy!
Mesquite is one area I'm not too familiar with. I know 2 people from there, and they rarely talk about it. There's a poster in the Dallas forum who knows it pretty well. I do know the part zoned to Poteet Highschool is supposed to be the better part of Mesquite.

I don't think the city is dangerous, but it's also not the safest from what I've heard. The southside borders Balch Springs and Southeast Dallas/Pleasant Grove, and those are both known to have high crime rates. There are others out there who know more about Mesquite than me, so hopefully they will chime in.
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Old 12-30-2014, 03:03 AM
 
11,181 posts, read 10,467,569 times
Reputation: 18618
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmericnGrl View Post

I read that Mesquite is, as far as safety is concerned, a good place. Curious for input about Mesquite.
Mesquite's an ok place, I worked in downtown Mesquite for several years, but it no way no how meets your stated criteria of small, walkable, quiet, safe, peaceful, nature, out-of-the-way. Scratch it off your list.
Nor does any other community in the DFW area. Take RonnieinDallas's advice and look elsewhere, in OK or AR.
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Old 12-30-2014, 09:26 AM
 
Location: Warrior Country
4,573 posts, read 6,740,500 times
Reputation: 3978
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmericnGrl View Post
Yes, I do prefer to avoid the rat-race and traffic and yes, I'm not interested in keeping up with anyone.

I read that Mesquite is, as far as safety is concerned, a good place. Curious for input about Mesquite.

I wouldn't even care if the place was BORING as I am not into on-the-go life, I like to make my home attractive and hang out on my patio/balcony with my pets - I spend TOO MUCH TIME probably on the net - I like to read a lot. So if I have a sunny spot outside and a pile of good non-fiction books I'm happy!
If you are retired, look further away from the big cities (look past the suburbs, look further out....at a small town/county seat).

Living in a suburban town (or area within commuting distance of a city) means that you'll have higher home prices, higher taxes (building lots of schools & infrastructure in the suburbs...these are paid for with higher tax rates & higher taxes overall) & also lots more traffic. There's frankly no upside for a retiree (in the city) who doesn't directly benefit from the schools & who wants quiet, less expensive & boring. I would look at nice little towns 80+ miles from the larger cities.

There are probably a 200-300 little towns in Texas that might be a fit. I would get the Texas Travel Guide (which will describe all of them) & also look at all the neat towns in Texas that are county seats. County seats have newspapers, cool courthouses, county fairs & other free events & a real Mayberry feel.

I'll be looking to retire in 10-12 years & am scouting these type of towns as well. 100 - 150K could get you a nice little home in most of these towns (I'm looking for a lower payment AND lower taxes in a nice town with a downtown square & nice parks). Towns that are on my radar: (Gonzales, Hallettsville, Schulenburg, Gatesville, Seguin, La Grange, Caldwell, San Saba, Goliad, Cuero, Burnet, Lampasas, Mason & two dozen others.)

Here are some similar threads:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...l#post35789227

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...-rural-tx.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...ml#post9137169

Here's a neat website with info on small towns & courthouses in texas:

http://www.texasescapes.com/Texas_ar...ourthouses.htm


Note: I've only given you towns in Central & South Central Texas. Small towns located in North Texas, East Texas, Eastern OK & Arkansas are nice too.

Good luck!

Last edited by hound 109; 12-30-2014 at 10:01 AM..
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Old 12-30-2014, 09:52 AM
 
Location: Riding the light...
1,635 posts, read 1,804,283 times
Reputation: 1162
Like hound 109 says, there's dozens of towns in Texas. Search along I-35 south of Dallas and to the east. Like Nacogdoches or surrounding area.

You can also view the Texas tarvel guide at Traveltex dot com where you can also request your own hard copy delivered to your address in KCity.
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Old 12-30-2014, 10:17 AM
 
Location: plano
7,885 posts, read 11,318,809 times
Reputation: 7789
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmericnGrl View Post
I get enough to "get by" on but barely. However, I currently live in Kansas City, MO and the neighborhood has seriously gone downhill and I no longer feel safe at all with good reason. Police Dept has gone down as well so I just want somewhere quiet, safe peaceful. I can't afford any of the very popular places most likely but that doesn't matter to me.

I like nature, flowers, birds, etc. I want a peaceful quiet place to enjoy same even if its in a small out-of-the-way town. I am SO BURNED OUT on life in Kansas City, I want to be able to feel safe going for a walk at a reasonable hour. Does such a place exist or am I just dreaming. THE WARMER THE BETTER.
You didn't comment about jobs, so assuming that isn't an issue consider Durant, Oklahoma. It's less than 90 miles from Dallas and is a nice growing small town. There us a state university there with plays and performances to entertain you and a casino that brings great entertainment and restaurants for a town IRS size. The cost of living is low, it's near lake Texoma and SE Oklahoma hills and small mountains. There is an income tax in Oklahoma but property taxes and overall taxes and cost of living are lower than Texas. It's one of the better small towns in Oklahoma and benefits positively from its proximity to Dallas and the university there. Do a little research on it and see what you think or fire away with additional questions if you wish, I grew up there and visit often to see family. I've lived in Plano, Houston, some rest county NJ and N. Hills od Pittsburgh and attended school in Stillwater, Oklahoma and travelled globally with mu job at a major oil company to give you my background and experience.
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Old 12-30-2014, 05:00 PM
 
3,028 posts, read 5,039,641 times
Reputation: 1910
Most of these towns are small, but you might want to keep good medical care nearby is a consideration.
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Old 12-30-2014, 05:46 PM
 
227 posts, read 382,690 times
Reputation: 191
I can't see how moving from Kansas City to Dallas would be a win in terms of safety. I get the warmer weather but safety seems to be your main motivation.

I would also add that college towns dominate in all the listings of best places to retire so why not pick a college town like Columbia, Ames, Lawrence, Manhattan, Stillwater or Norman?
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