New York Girl Looking to Relocate Need Help (Houston, Dallas: best city, safe neighborhoods)

[BirthStar]

Hi everyone I was wondering if anyone has any advice on what steps I should take in relocating to texas. Secondly I was wondering which location is best for me (reading these threads has me going back and forth!). I am not interested in diversity (I'm a hispanic female from the Dominican Republic raised in NY that grew up in a neighborhood consisting primarly of african americans and mexicans and have not had great experiences there, I'm sorry if this offends anyone - just being honest). I'm interested in a suburb that is safe, a good place to raise a family but not to far from "all the action" cause I'm a NY girl who is use to having it all .

I've become interested in areas in Houston such as Katy, The Woodlands, Sugarland and Pearland but all I see are contradictory comments so..... please tell me what you believe is the best city in texas, why, which towns are safest, and which are the most fun, and what has the less traffic (home prices in the neighborhood can go anywhere up to $465,000)

[love roses]

If you have a budget like that, you can pick pretty much anywhere. As far as traffic, there aren't many Texas Cities (especially the larger ones like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso) you won't find traffic. I think the culture shock would be easier for you to bear somewhere like Houston, Dallas or San Antonio, even Fort Worth because they have more metropolitan type amentities as far as libraries, museums, theatre, art scenes. Any of those Houston Suburbs you named are all good, safe neighborhoods with good schools and excepting The Woodlands, not too far from downtown (Well, maybe Pearland too) but I used to live in Clear Lake, Southern end of the city towards the coast and went downtown all the time and it wasn't a bad drive. I also lived in Rice Village (an Inner Loop neighborhood). There were lots of kids there too.

[destin04]

I would go with Austin or San Antonio.....You don't say but if you are single those are fun towns....for that matter Dallas and Houston are too...but if I were young and single I would go towards Austin.

[uglyblackjohn]

Austin has more of a California vibe. Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are good, depending on the area of town you are. I really like Sugarland for it's accessability to downtown and the Galleria- without having to travel through "the hood". As far as being affordable.. all of Texas is pretty fairly priced. Compared to Cali. and New York, these areas will be cheap.

[John Shaft]

If you want some sort of city vibe stay within the major cities...even then there will be a lot of driving for the most part. The Houston suburbs you mention are a long ways away from downtown especially with traffic factored in. Look in N Dallas between downtown and 635...there are pockets of "fun" areas (the "M Streets" area comes to mind). Austin is another good suggestion.

[BirthStar]

Thank you guys so much I feel like I'm really getting alot of insight from you all. I can't wait to live in Texas!