Denton or Amarillo? (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: rent, amusement park, crime rate)

[calimama]

I am a native Californian who is sick of this place and ready to get out! I have finally convinced my husband that Texas is the best place to be. The problem is, I really like the DFW Metroplex and my husband wants something that is more country, so he has been focusing on Amarillo. Denton seems close enough to everything but still pretty rural. Really, the main thing that worries me about Amarillo is the crime rate. It seems very high and there are not really any other cities around. We also have 3 young children so I would prefer a place with good schools and a lot of activities available.Can anyone give me some positives and negatives on both places? I know they are completely different, but I need some advice from people who have spent time in either city. Thank you!

[GayleTX]

Have you visited in either area within the past few years? Denton is really not all that rural any more - not as much as it may look on a map...it now just almost blends right into the rest of the D/FW area and is growing. If easy access to the cultural and entertainment opportunities that city life can offer is a priority for you, then Denton is certainly a better choice for you than Amarillo. Denton may not be a mecca of sophistication, but it certainly does not have the rural atmosphere that Amarillo has.

As for the crime rate in Amarillo, most of the city is very safe and and comfortable place to live. Most of the criminal acts take place in one certain area of town and within one segment of the population among themselves....granted, it's a pretty large area, but it is almost a world unto itself.

As for the school systems.....I'm not familiar with the current Denton school ratings (you might check TEA's website for accountability ratings) - I do know that about 4 years ago there was a big difference in achievement levels at different schools in town....that would make a difference in what part of the city you chose to live. The city of Amarillo has two separate school districts - the south part of town is in the Canyon ISD, the north is in the Amarillo ISD. Amarillo ISD needs a lots of improvement; Canyon ISD is a very progressive district and has consistently good ratings.

Best wishes to you in your move......

[ocean2026]

HI I did my undergrad in California and Texas sure can be different.

You've picked two vastly different cities - Amarillo is a cow town with horrible winters and its not very pretty. When the thousands of cows make methane - you can smell it for miles. Very redneck and conservative and few who think differently ( I was an asst da in hereford for a short time -hated it). Some of the counties around there went over 91% for McCain Roberts--Ochiltree etc

Denton is a college town that's rapidly growing- I lived there 93-8. Not a bad place Lots of traffic between it and Dallas most of the time.

I have actually lived in many places in Texas. My favorites would be Rockport where I am now because its friendly -safe- scenic ( on the ocean) and because of its beauty attracts people from everywhere.

El Paso - friendliest - maybe safest large city and dry summers.


Corpus Christi - see posts under that city ( its 24 miles from Rockport)

Least favs - Amarillo Odessa

The big cities - Houston Dallas San Antonio - nothing special some of the worst commutes in the US - high pollution and crime.


Ft Davis-marfa- alpine are interesting and small but so isolated.

hope that helps

[calimama]

Thank you both for your responses! Actually, I have never been to either city. We were in D/FW a few months ago and really liked the Roanoke area, so if my husband gets a job in Denton, we might go there or look around for a similar place that is closer. And, in my opinion, the more conservative the better! That is one of the reasons I would like to leave California so much. I appreciate the input on the other cities, as well, because we have not settled on a place. I would just like to get opinions from people who are familiar with the various parts of Texas so we can start weeding places out. My husband is from a very rural town in Iowa so he likes that type of thing, but since I am from the San Francisco area, a place like Amarillo might overwhelm me. I would also like to be rural, but within maybe an hour to a big city with lots to do. Any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[wade_word]

Denton. Just do it.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by ocean2026

HI I did my undergrad in California and Texas sure can be different.

You've picked two vastly different cities - Amarillo is a cow town with horrible winters and its not very pretty. When the thousands of cows make methane - you can smell it for miles. Very redneck and conservative and few who think differently ( I was an asst da in hereford for a short time -hated it). Some of the counties around there went over 91% for McCain Roberts--Ochiltree etc

Denton is a college town that's rapidly growing- I lived there 93-8. Not a bad place Lots of traffic between it and Dallas most of the time.

I have actually lived in many places in Texas. My favorites would be Rockport where I am now because its friendly -safe- scenic ( on the ocean) and because of its beauty attracts people from everywhere.

El Paso - friendliest - maybe safest large city and dry summers.


Corpus Christi - see posts under that city ( its 24 miles from Rockport)

Least favs - Amarillo Odessa

The big cities - Houston Dallas San Antonio - nothing special some of the worst commutes in the US - high pollution and crime.


Ft Davis-marfa- alpine are interesting and small but so isolated.

hope that helps

The poster states he/she was an asst da in Hereford which is NOT Amarillo. I didn't spend a brief time in Amarillo. I lived there for 13 years and I moved from CA. At first I hated it but I grew to love it for different reasons. Crime is basically concentrated in an area of town that you'd really have no reason to frequent anyway, so that's not a big issue. You've just got to like the wind in W Texas because it blows quite a bit.

El Paso is NOT the safest large city. Not by a long shot. It's too close to the border not to have its own safety issues. Get on that EL Paso forum and see for yourself.

Anything that is "progressive" or "liberal" in Texas will seem mild to you, coming from the West. Believe me, I'm living in Seattle right now and it makes the most flaming liberal in Austin seem downright Mayberry-ish. Can't wait to leave the hell-hole that is the west coast.

Best to you.

[DiscoTex]

Hey Cobolt, could you elaborate on the main streets that border the bad or dangerous areas of Amarillo?
I understand that it's primarily north of Amarillo Blvd.
Is it gang activity?
How are the shopping malls - are they nice and clean?
Or ar they overrun with thugs loitering and menacing and showing off - like in Albuquerque?


BTW - I live in Dallas and rely on public transportation and already know how to keep my mouth shut and not look at people funny and stay generally safe.

[catman]

calimama: Comparing Denton and Amarillo is really sort of an apples and oranges thing. They are so different! Denton was 'rural' 40 years ago, but it's rapidly becoming a suburb of Dallas. I don't know nearly as much about Amarillo, but I doubt that it is much larger than Denton any more, since the latter is growing like a weed. Amarillo has a whole different kind of West Texas vibe to it. (Impossible to describe!)

[ChristieP]

You could not make me live in Amarillo if the house was free!! It gets VERY COLD and snows a LOT there in the winters, it smells like a cattle feedlot when the wind blows the wrong direction, and it is a LONG drive from anywhere!

If Denton isn't rural enough for you, look at Decatur or Stephenville. All of those PRCA cowboys who live there sure speak highly of both towns.

[karenew]

I agree with the previous posters that mentioned that Denton is now part of DFW.. often when you are traveling from once city to another the boundary lines are quite blurred.

I have been living in Amarillo for the last 5 years now. (We moved here from Ventura County California) Amarillo is a MUCH slower paced lifestyle. Very slow.. almost snail like compared to anywhere in California.

Lubbock (next biggest city) is 2 hour drive. Oklahoma City is about 4, Albuquerque is about 4 also.

The winters can be quiet harsh. The wind is constant. In no time you will opt for either a) short hair or b) ponytails.

There are days that the wind smells like cow poop, thanks to the feedlots in Hereford.

There is activities for children, but not many. (Discovery Center, Splash Amarillo, Wonderland amusement park) For adults.. unless you are into the bar scene, there isn't much happening. Hubby and I have gained so much weight here cause that's all there is to do here.. eat.. rent movies, go to the movies, eat..etc.

Yes, there is the Palo Duro Canyon and it is gorgeous. Been there.. done that.. now what?

The wineries in Lubbock and musuems are worth the drive, but do you want to make that drive all the time?