Thinking about moving to Galveston area (League City, Texas City: crime, new home, buying)

[cramerhillgirl]

I'm considering relocating my family to the Galveston area. Does anyone have any information about what it's like to live on the island? Most of the information I've found relates more to tourism. We currently live near Chicago, so this would be a major change for us in a lot of ways. Any help or advice would be most appreciated!

[txgrl]

It's like a whole different world but once you get over the initial adjustment I think you'll enjoy it. Most everything you need is on the island so unless you're a big shopper or you work on the mainland you won't have to leave the island all that much. Galveston has its fair share of problems, but any highly populated area does. The schools aren't great but if your kids do well in school they should get along fine. Traffic can be annoying, especially during tourist season. If you aren't used to tourists, be prepared. Living in a tourist trap can be tiring especially if you're in a hurry and it's a summer Saturday afternoon. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I moved here from the midwest almost 4 years ago. It took me a good 3 years to adjust but I also had to deal with the adjustment of country life to city life.

[Vicman]

Keep in mind that the property taxes are rising.

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/07/22coastal.html (broken link)

This is driving many kids from Galveston schools.

If you cannot afford living in Galveston proper or in Jamaica Beach (a city on western Galveston island), La Marque, Texas City, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, Dickinson, and League City are near Galveston.

[mrkool]

I think some of Vicman's suggestions are good. Towns that are nearby Galveston, just not the city itself. Pretty seedy and some crime problems.
I would possibly disagree with his listing of Texas City. Others are pretty good.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by mrkool

I think some of Vicman's suggestions are good. Towns that are nearby Galveston, just not the city itself. Pretty seedy and some crime problems.
I would possibly disagree with his listing of Texas City. Others are pretty good.

There's a bit of Texas City in Dickinson ISD that is getting new homes. That section may be better than the others.

The Galveston article mentions a family moving to Dickinson ISD Texas City.

[liljade]

Originally Posted by cramerhillgirl

I'm considering relocating my family to the Galveston area. Does anyone have any information about what it's like to live on the island? Most of the information I've found relates more to tourism. We currently live near Chicago, so this would be a major change for us in a lot of ways. Any help or advice would be most appreciated!

Hello, I was born and raised on the Island and now live in League city after 30 yrs. on the Island. When I was growing up it was awesome, but so much has changed there on the Island. In all honestly I wouldn"t live there raising kids. In fact I only go to the Island because my parents and Brother still live there. I would't say Lamarque was a good place to raise kids either. League City population is on the rise. They have great schools and lots of oppurtunities. I hope this helps!

[nettle]

I currently live in La Marque and work in Galveston. La Marque is not a bad place to live, as I have a nice house with a huge yard and lots of trees -- all of this at a very reasonable price that you would never find in Galveston. However, the schools in La Marque have a pretty bad reputation, so I wouldn't live here if you have kids. As for the island, I enjoy visiting, but I can't imagine living there. Although parts of Galveston are quite nice, the island is kind of like a third-world country - lots of crime, stray dogs on every street, etc. Furthermore, there is very little zoning on the island except in gated communities. The result? You might find a nice house but there's a crack house right across the street.

In my opinion, if you want to live in the Galveston area and still enjoy a nice quality of life, then consider living further north in League City, Friendswood, Dickinson, or the Clear Lake area. If you want waterfront property, there are plenty of nice places to live other than the island. Hope this helps!

[TootsieWootsie]

Check for previous flooding in any area around Galveston before buying...hint! hint!
I love Galveston despite all the crime, but to actually live there around that? Don't think so.

[roba_c]

Originally Posted by cramerhillgirl

I'm considering relocating my family to the Galveston area. Does anyone have any information about what it's like to live on the island? Most of the information I've found relates more to tourism. We currently live near Chicago, so this would be a major change for us in a lot of ways. Any help or advice would be most appreciated!

I have lived in the Galveston area 40 + years and have enjoyed it the city of Galveston has UTMB is a state hospital that is also a teaching hospital empolyes well over 8000 employes. What is called the mainland is what is off the island, Texas City Santa Fe, Hitchcock, League City, Kemha. We live on the coast which makes it nice but do keep an eye out the the storms. What will be different to you is we do not have mush of a winter, most of the time just and few weeks of 30 - 40 no snow last snow was in 2004 we had a white christmas first time in recorded history snow on Christmas. I do not know what you are looking for Texas has a web site lookup Galveston County and it will explain a lot good luck.