Wichita Falls advice and opinions welcome (Fort Worth, Burkburnett: for sale, apartments, high crime)

[mschul03]

Hello, I am considering taking a job that would be out of Ft. Sill in OK. The dilemma that I face is that the research and posts that I have read for the Lawton and surrounding area are just not very impressive to me, high crime and relatively high cost of housing for not very much house. I know that they are building new areas, but most people had very negative comments about the surrounding area. I know that everything should be taken with a grain of salt, but I also believe that you listen to and heed those that have posted, and I am not reading very many positive reviews on the area. I am strongly thinking of residing in Wichita Falls and commuting to the Ft. Sill area. I currently live in Metro Detroit and commute an hour one way (on a good day), and crime is high, but very pocketed, and you learn where not to be. Although if you talked to someone from outside of the Metro Detroit area, they would probably have a much more negative opinion of where I live. I prefer a bigger city appeal with the ammenities, but don't want to live in a huge city (although I think the city I am in now is larger than WF).
I would really appreciate any thoughts on commuting and the acutal drive time ( I have read anywhere from 1/2 hour to 45 minutes). Also, any suggestions on where not to live (definite street names or areas would be helpful). I am also planning on sending my kids to Notre Dame Catholic, which is a huge reason for commuting, so any families with thoughts or opinions would be helpful. I really don't want to have to double back from school and work, so living in Wichita Falls and commuting North seems like the only logical thing to do.
I am not too worried about the weather, as I am from MI, and it is always one extreme to the next, hot and humid or colder than heck and we get our share of tornadoes and it's flat as a pancake. In my opinion, the hotter, the better.
Again, all opinions and thoughts are appreciated. I look forward to the posts.

[caendaniels]

My Army Reserve buddies say it is 45 min from WF to Ft Sill. My niece went to Notre Dame, wanting to be the next Mia Hamm. She liked it and had no problems there. Although the tuition was not their favorite part. Typically the south and west sides of WF are better. The north side is growing and there are some nice houses by the Air Force base. Wichita Falls Association of Realtors will let you search houses for sale in the area if you have not used it already. Wichita County Appraisal District will let you search tax appraisals. Market value is higher than appraisals. Any questions on an area/street let me know.

[Turnerliryc]

Wichita Falls is pretty nice and yes they are building new houses and apartments up on the North side of town. The drive is 45 minutes and requires going through 3 toll booths each way so you might think about getting a OK pass (I think that's what they are called) Burkburnett is about ten minutes to the North of WF would probably have more affordable housing.

Cy

[NOTAM]

i like Wichita Falls-it really aint bad at all. you have good steakhouses, and is surrouned by lots of nice rural towns. beautiful scenery. friendly folks. i would not have ever described it as a high crime city-no way. i worked in WF but drove 45 min from the southeast (lived right smack in middle of WF and Fort Worth, out in the country). there is a good hospital-United Regional (where i worked) and a very good private doctor-owned hospital, i think it is called KELL, that many folks really liked.
cost of living is very low. weather is fun and exciting. i miss some of the severe weather-we seem to get less of it as you go south here in Texas.
will write more when i think of it! or ask away!
i assume yer gonna be GS or contractor on post?

[nking]

WF is a great place, i live 45 west of there and we commute there for most things. WF has just enough things to do without all the CITY as i like to call it. If i was going to move there which i have looked into i would look for a house on the outskirts or toward the southern side of it but everyone has a different oppinion, now by the base there is no way i'd move over there or by the old part of town pretty rough in those ares we looked into buying a house there and over the years i have seen just about all of WF too and i got a good idea where and where not to live, but i think you'de be happy with this town. One other thing you mentioned the School. There are other Christian Schools there that are equally as good so i would recomend checking into but i dont think they are Catholic unless that is the reason you are choosing it.