My family is relocating from IA (Houston, Dallas: low crime, best schools, university)

[iowamama26]

Hello. My family is relocating from IA. I was wondering what part of texas is the best. I have looked online at Mesquite, Tyler, Pittsburg, Ennis and Kingsville. I think they all look beautiful but I want to know from people from Texas. Where are the best schools? I have 3 kids. 7,4 and 3. So schools are my number one question. Also the crime rate. We are moving from a town of just under 5 thousand people. So high crime rates are also one thing I am looking to avoid.We are moving because I want my kids to be able to experience things. In this little town there is nothing here. We have to drive 20 miles to get to a walmart. Also I was wondering bout cost of living. So if anybody could help me with my questions that would be great!!!Thank you for your time.

[Kibby]

I checked your old posts to get a better idea of what you are looking for.

The areas you mention are very different in size, location, climate and diversity.

Mesquite is really a part of Dallas - this is going to be an area with higher crime, very large city feeling, poorer schools (I think) - very small fish, large ocean.

Kingsville is on the coastal plane in far South Texas - it is basically a ranching/college town. High Hispanic population - nearest city is Corpus Christi.

Tyler and Pittsburg are in the Piney Woods of North East Texas - pretty area. I know nothing about the school situation but both towns are fairly small with a pretty low crime rate. Tyler is the largest of the two.

Ennis is a pretty small town and I've never heard anything bad about it but you will be about 30 miles away from things just as you are now. Not much in Ennis.

You mentioned Victoria earlier ....... it would probably be my choice. Great climate, very historic town - I've not spent time there but have strong family ties to Victoria.

You asked about racism in Texas - I've lived and visited all over Texas, spent my entire life here with family going back generations. There is racism in any town/community in America but I think very little in Texas for the most part. As far as AA racism - that is more likely to be found in the large cities that have large AA populations ... Houston, Dallas and quite a bit in East Texas. Almost none in South Texas. Even in the mid 60's in Corpus Christi (not too far from Victoria) I had AA students in my high school before the Civil Rights laws were passed. We were already integrated - you went to school where you lived not based on color.

I haven't lived in S. Texas for 40 years (still visit a lot) and it hasn't changed. There is a higher Hispanic population but everyone gets along pretty well without all the segregation baggage that so many communities still carry. Keep in mind that S. Texas was pretty much integrated early so had less problems about it. That was not the case in the larger cities and they still carry some of that baggage but nothing like the Deep South or the Northern large cities. Many towns/cities in Texas have grown tremendously in the last 50 years - consider that if they did not have a "racial" problem when small - they avoided all that baggage as they grew in the new era. You will find that the Hispanic community is the largest of the so called "non white" and yet - the hispanic community and the "anglos" have a long history of symbiosis. We have lived together for generations and depend on each other - I don't think some of the yankees understand that.

The cost of living down here is going to be less than IA -- it will be a bit of a culture shock for you but in a good way. Texans are very friendly - it's the imports you have to watch out for.

Each part of Texas is very different - I live in the DFW area in Arlington. Been here for almost 40 years and seen it grow from 90 thousand to over 300 thousand. Traffic has increased a lot but if you don't have to commute to either Dallas or Ft Worth to work - it's not bad at all. When I go to the grocery - I have a choice of 4 good ones within a 2-3 mile radius and 3 Walmarts within a 5 mile radius.

Arlington is totally diverse - there is NO "black" area, NO Hispanic area, we do have an area that the Asian populations seem to go to but that began with the Vietnamese populations in the 70's and it's a "choice" for them. Schools are good, crime is pretty low and there is a lot to do when you consider that we are right between two very large major cities. You have a choice of Zoos - both the Dallas and the Ft Worth Zoos are highly rated.

Public transportation is almost non-existent in many (most) Texas towns. Arlington is the largest city in the USA with NO public transport.

Google is your friend -- check out the school situation in the town you are interested in, same thing for "crime". "Great Schools will give you some good info.

For Victoria -
Ratings

I think you and your kids will like it here -- Texans are a bit different (independent nature) but very friendly and welcoming. Be open to people and they will open up to you. Bottom line - if you are determined to be happy where ever you move, you will be. The reverse is also true. I won't say we are "recession proof" but we are sure in better shape than most of the country.

Kibby

[iowamama26]

Thank you Kibby. You anwered all my questions. Victoria looks beautiful. I am very excited to move away from blizzards and below zero temps. My kids school has been cancelled monday, 2 late start tuesday, cancelled wed, and thursday and today. Due to the blowing snow and below zero temps. Today it is -45 with the windchill. BRRRR. Again thank you very much for your time! You have cleared up alot!

[Cowboybootnut]

For the towns that I have spent time in Tyler would be my choice of your group. But look at Nacogdoches, and Midland too. Tyler is pretty, historical, has a zoo, college, hospitals, WalMart. Nacogcoches is in the Piney Woods, nice historical college town. Midland is not as pretty, but a lot of families like living there and once they move there, they try to stay.

Welcome to Texas.

[iowamama26]

Thank you CowboyBootNut. My husband did consruction in Pittsburg and visited Tyler alot. He said he really liked it and it was beautiful. the only thing is its not as warm as i would like. He said when we go down to check out the places we will go thru Tyler on our way to look at Victoria and he can show me y he likes it so much. So even though I think I want Victoria I won't know till I see them both. Thank You for your time

[Mark-Tyler is Special]

You certainly don't have to be concerned about in snow in Tyler. I moved back to Tyler 19 years ago from Houston where I lived for 20 years. It has only snowed twice, a snowfall that would be a joke to you - one snow on December 31, 2000 of a whopping 1 inch and a "blizzard" of 2-3 inches that lasted 12 hours on a Saturday Morning on Valentines day about 5 years ago. You would have missed it if you had gone into Wal-Mart to do your weekly shopping.

Tyler does have more like 4 seasons, you really might just miss that?

I hope you visit Tyler in late March or early April when the Azaleas are in bloom. Flowers of all Tyler in bloom all over.

Also, take note that Tyler is the Regional Medical Center of East Texas - Even with a Level One Truma Center that some cities twice our population do not have.
Nice zoo, not crowded - but people from the Dallas like to visit plus school districts from as far a Oklahoma send students our way in the spring.

Really nice East Texas Symphony Orchestra which I have a comparison to Houston Symphony.
Plus more trees and hills than Victoria as well as lakes - golf courses glore

The University of Texas Cowen Performing Arts Center that attracts perfomances that stop in Dallas.
Dallas 1 1/2 hours away for any large metro attractions you want.

Brookshire Wildlife Musem and Discovery Musem for the kids.

Smaller towns (suburbs) of Whitehouse, Bullard, Lindale for your school disrtict or four really good grades 1-12 private schools in Tyler, although many well off people who could afford private schools send them to Tyler public schools.

Oh, not be be looked over, Tyler has the LOWEST CITY PROPERTY TAXRATE of any city over 30,000 population in Texas. Lowered rate 60% over last 12 years.
Of course major shopping available with most of what you could want from upscale to "low scale" stores - serve about 250,000 - 350,000 people 200,000 pop in the county. But, having said all that stuff - just good luck on your decision.

[Cowboybootnut]

Originally Posted by iowamama26

Thank you CowboyBootNut. My husband did consruction in Pittsburg and visited Tyler alot. He said he really liked it and it was beautiful. the only thing is its not as warm as i would like. He said when we go down to check out the places we will go thru Tyler on our way to look at Victoria and he can show me y he likes it so much. So even though I think I want Victoria I won't know till I see them both. Thank You for your time

Tyler, not warm enough???? Wow, your husband must have spent a lot of time in the desert. I've been in Tyler with the temps around 100 and high humidity. That was warm enough for me.

But where ever you go, welcome to Texas! Love her, treat her kind, she is a wonderful lady.

[Mark-Tyler is Special]

But, Tyler is not nearly as hot as North Central, Central or South Central Texas. Did not reach 100 last year, yes close, but kinda unusual - more like 92-96 in the summer.

[Cowboybootnut]

Originally Posted by Mark-Tyler is Special

But, Tyler is not nearly as hot as North Central, Central or South Central Texas. Did not reach 100 last year, yes close, but kinda unusual - more like 92-96 in the summer.

Agree, but I was there during the summer of 1998, it was dry and 46 days of 100 temps. That was burned in my mind.

[Mark-Tyler is Special]

Yep, true, the year that Dallas, had over 100 days in a row of 100.