Newton & Jasper Counties (Tyler, Mansfield: rentals, crime rates, house)

[SweetPea23]

SO I've done some research and we're thinking of relocating to the Newton or Jasper Counties. We're coming from a mid size city of approx. 60,000 and are looking for a much much smaller town or city and these areas look almost perfect. The crime rates look very low and the schools look like they would be good also for our 9 year old. Does anyone have any opinions about these areas??

Also how welcoming are the smaller towns of the city folk?

Thanks for any input!

[love roses]

As long as you don't complain about not having the same things in a smaller town than you get in a big city (within reason of course. I live in Hutto and we always complain about not having a grocery store when every town around us has one, even smaller towns than us ). And are you coming from a city in Texas or somewhere else? I ask that because if you're coming from another state there could be a greater case of culture shock than if you've already been in Texas.

[destin04]

My parents were both from that area. The countryside is beautiful. The air is clean as long as you don't live near a paper mill. Are you from Texas? If not ....you may be shocked at the attitudes of the south. Good Luck!

[SweetPea23]

No..we're not from Texas.. but we can't wait to get there and we're really looking forward to the small town atmosphere, we've even thought about not having things like a Walmart, Target, Mall, Grocery store, 5 minutes away, and yahooo..finally I'm definitley ok with that! The only thing that I may want to have is internet access via cable. Other than that all the other so called amentities, not such a big loss to us.
Also I'm a little wary because I'm a kind of shy especially when I meet knew people, so I wasn't sure how welcoming everyone would be.

Thank you for your input, I greatly appreciate it. I look forward to hearing more.

[HappyTexan]

Better ask about that cable then before you move. A lot of the small towns don't have cable or DSL even. But there is a big drive to get rural wireless going so do ask about that.

I was on dialup until about 2-3 years ago when DSL finally came out my way. No cable though..DirecTV for me.

[BobTex]

I live west of Jasper county in the west adjoining county (Tyler County). I personally would confine myself to northern Newton County because of better drainage. I like mid and north Jasper County. Jasper though does have more than adequate shopping for neccessities and soem luxuries! There is a Lowes, Super WallyWorld, several furniture stores,car dealerships, and plenty of grocery shopping. A few years ago I heard that Jasper was projected to triple in size by 2030. I don't consider Jasper small town enough for me. Want some nice small towns try Woodville (my personal fav), Center, and maybe Diboll.


I guess of tantamount importance is how do y'all plan to acquire income as that would always factor into my decision if I were in your place! If you just want a hamlet area (smaller than a town) I also have some really good suggestions for this part of Texas.

If you're wanting a forested part of Texas anywhere east if I-45 would do! We live on acerage and are 10 minutes to any commercial outlets and 20 minutes from good groceries or the local Wal Mart.

Give me more info and I'll come up with more to see when y'all journey down! Good luck!

PS ... you should check out some of the nicer communities around Lake Sam Rayburn!

[SweetPea23]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and input....It really helps because you can do all the research in the world but you really need the opinions of the folk that actually reside in the area to get a good feel for it.
I actually have a small internet business that I do so that was the reason for needing a high speed internet when we move. My husband on the other hand he'll have to travel to work..he does security so not sure how long it will take for him to find something once we get there. The shopping areas being only 5 or ten minutes away won't deter us but it's definitley ok if we have to drive a distance to get to them. The other thing I was wondering also is: I have been searching and I haven't seen that there are any single family house rentals in that area?? We aren't ready to buy yet which could probably make the journey more of a challenge, but we would like to rent a single family house for a couple of years before we buy, and I haven't had any luck finding any. Are there any or are most residences owner occupied??

Thanks again for everything...

[BobTex]

Working security almost means working on the coast ... where there is a plethora of security jobs at refineries and the ports. Also there is an extreme shortage of construction workers with A LOT of jobs available. gotta run now but look closer to the coast to cut down on a long commute. (Jobs in East Texas / SE Texas (country settings) / Piney Woods are going to pay less and be fewer). Having said that there are a lot of jobs here!

[Kurt]

[quote=BobTex;2490918]I live west of Jasper county in the west adjoining county (Tyler County). I personally would confine myself to northern Newton County because of better drainage. I like mid and north Jasper County. Jasper though does have more than adequate shopping for neccessities and soem luxuries! There is a Lowes, Super WallyWorld, several furniture stores,car dealerships, and plenty of grocery shopping. A few years ago I heard that Jasper was projected to triple in size by 2030. I don't consider Jasper small town enough for me. Want some nice small towns try Woodville (my personal fav), Center, and maybe Diboll.


I guess of tantamount importance is how do y'all plan to acquire income as that would always factor into my decision if I were in your place! If you just want a hamlet area (smaller than a town) I also have some really good suggestions for this part of Texas.

If you're wanting a forested part of Texas anywhere east if I-45 would do! We live on acerage and are 10 minutes to any commercial outlets and 20 minutes from good groceries or the local Wal Mart.

Give me more info and I'll come up with more to see when y'all journey down! Good luck!

PS ... you should check out some of the nicer communities around Lake Sam Rayburn.

Kurt's post starts here:

You know, BobTex, I discovered Center this Christmas break. I have posted my comments already on another thread. But it is a great town. Very upbeat with new stores and Wulf's outfitters and brand new Holiday Inn Express.

It is not all that far from some bigger population centers, but you are right about the jobs--I am not sure what might be offered in the security area. But is is worth a trip there for them to find out and investigate the area. And the housing is much cheaper there than many other areas.

I drove from Center around the big T-Bend to Logansport and on to Mansfield, Louisiana,--what a contrast! I went from upbeat and growing Center to old and weary Louisiana towns that have potential but have a long ways to go.