So, how shocking would an L.A. to Waco move be? (Dallas: crime rates, new home)

[Pipeweld]

How well do you like LA? If you love LA and the life style out there you will probably not like Waco. I live in LA for a year and enjoyed it but I knew that at the end of the year I would be going home, So it was a great adventure to me. But it is a whole nother world compared to a city the size Waco.

[NOTAM]

someone mentioned it's humid in Waco....that is very relative-to me, its dry...but i compare it to southern coastal GA and MS where i have lived for a few stints...

[crbcrbrgv]

I think what you need to do is take a power line, cut it in half, stand in a puddle and then put the live end in your mouth. That is about how shocking it would be.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

I think what you need to do is take a power line, cut it in half, stand in a puddle and then put the live end in your mouth. That is about how shocking it would be.

It's really not....at least it wasn't for me. As far as humidity, it's quite humid even though not as bad as coastal GA, MS, and TX, you will notice the difference. Lately, the dew point has been quite high and quite uncomfortable.

[jluke65780]

Why would it be shocking???? I mean it would be completely different because LA is like 10 times bigger than Waco, but it's not that bad. I just move to Houston from Waco. I wasn't shocked,but it's definatly different than Waco.

[txstate]

For one city of Waco has 150K Very diverse town. There are some bad and good areas. If your pretty wealthy then the Highway 84 corridor and Lake Waco Subdivisions will fit your needs. You can pick up any Dallas Radio or TV Station if you dont watch KWTX 10. Plenty of School districts WISD, Midway ISD, LaVega ISD, Lorena ISD, and Connally ISD. Baylor is there(nice school) Hillcrest and Providence are good hospitals, and scott and white in Temple. Your not far from the largest Military Installion Ft. Hood and Killeen. If you enjoying lakes theres Lake Waco, and the Lakes to the North of town. If you like hiking and nature theres Cameron Park, the states largest municipal park. If you like going out of town there Dallas 90 miles Austin 100 miles and Houston 195 miles, there is a mall but real shopping is in the bigger cities. I too moved to Houston from Waco of course its different like the previous post said. When you live in 100k+ towns you go to other cities I call it a weekend getaway. Regardless of what non-wacoans think its an alright little town, unlike places in East Texas.

[Jerryltx]

Waco is like a 'small' big city. It has a lot of poverty in it's central area although the downtown area is beginning to come back to life around the Heritage Square area. It is totally surrounded by more prosperous suburbs -- hince similar to big urban areas. Greater Waco is about 228,000 and the Waco, Killeen, Temple region is over 500,000 so there are alot of places smaller than this region. The Central Texas MarketPlace and soon to open Hillcrest Hospital on I35 should bring additional growth to that area and hopefully additional shopping and restaurants.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by annagrl775

My husband is interviewing at Baylor, and we will be visiting the area mid-September. This is likely the only visit we will make before we have to decide whether to accpet (assuming he's offered the job). We visited Austin last spring for a conference, and I went to Dallas once, but otherwise I'm fairly unfamiliar with TX. So, here's some questions I have:

1) How humid does Waco feel? Is it anything like Dallas? What months are the worst and how long does it last?

2) Are there alot of racial problems in Waco? Southern California is certainly no model of racial harmony, but overall, how would you describe racial interactions in Waco? Are there any good, ethnically-diverse, non-denominational churches in the area?

3) I know Texas is a big football state, but are there non-sports things to do? We love hiking and our family usually hikes every weekend in our local mountains. Are there any good hiking trails near the Waco area?

4) This probably sounds really silly, but will our kids have southern accents if they grow up in Waco? Everyone we've talked to in the area are Baylor employees and transplants to Waco, so they don't have noticeable southern accents. Our extended family would find it hilarious if our boys end up with southern accents.

5) Is there a cool historic district in Waco with old homes? If so, is it a high crime area or would it be a good place to raise kids?

6) We were really intrigued with the Rapoport charter school, at least from what we could see online. Are there any good neigborhoods nearby?

7) If we move to Waco, we hope our family will eventually follow. Anyone know how much teachers and nurses (RN's) make in the local area? Our sisters are single moms and would need to support themselves on their incomes. They have about ten years experience each.

Thank you for your time and advice. Any other insight would be greatly welcome!

oh god! please don't go to waco! it is an ultraconservative religious hellhole with unrelenting christian bigots. that school ejected a loyal alumnus donor who was on the board of regents because they found out that he was gay. it is really "old south" in terms of race relations. i'm not sure which end of the political spectrum that you are on. if you are liberal to moderate, i can guarantee you that you would be MISERABLE among those ppl. you would be much more comfortable in austin (like EVERY other californian).
Are you from LA proper, orange cty, no cal? i found most of the racial problems in so cal to be with the many illegals that are there. i found most ppl to be "go along, get along". maybe that was just my impression though. i think that you would find waco to be segregated although polite in day to day things.
what's wrong with a texas accent?

[rusty2006]

I grew up in Waco. Cameron Park really is nice, but I wouldn't really say it's the sort of place you head to for a hike, like you would in the mountains. Lots of gang-type activity and driving around in the park - I mean you'd proabably be fine off in the woods. It's more of a picnic kind of place. I remember our church group - and this included grown men - being surrounded by a gang trying to act tough or whatever in Cameron Park. This was in the late 70's, maybe it's changed. The hill country is nice, as someone pointed out, but it is at least 100-150 miles away. I'd move back to Waco, but I think it would be a hell of a shock for a CA person. The religious bigots are absolutely nuts. They try (and mostly succeed) to drive every public decision. The people one-on-one are great. You'd have neighbors in short order that you'd give a copy to your house key too without hesitation. You are in the middle of the country and only 90 miles from DFW - so lots of travel options.

[txstate]

Yeah it was the late 70's and early 80's no gang activity I was out there on sundays ''DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!!'' Cameron Park is great for your kids on weekends they have a spray water park, Ms. Nellies Pretty Place, Lovers Leap, the Pecan Bottoms and the famous Cameron Park Zoo, you will enjoy this park, like I said the city is diverse so if you can deal with Blacks and Mexicans your alright, but as plenty of Waco bashers will make you think other wise.

Originally Posted by rusty2006

Lots of gang-type activity and driving around in the park - I mean you'd proabably be fine off in the woods. It's more of a picnic kind of place. I remember our church group - and this included grown men - being surrounded by a gang trying to act tough or whatever in Cameron Park. This was in the late 70's,