Interested in Rockport (San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi: apartments, rental, crime)

[LizzyBizzy47]

I'm living in New York state currently, interested in relocating to another part of the country. I heard about Rockport and I was wondering what you could tell me about it.

Some things about me:
- I'm a 22 year old young woman
- I just graduated from a 4 year college, I have my bachelor's degree
- I run my own personal business
- I don't have kids, so good schools aren't that important to me right now
- I'm young and not looking to buy a house; I am however looking for decent rents... what can you find in Rockport? Is nice housing available for under $800 a month?
- I've lived in a small town (3,000 people) all my life and love it.
- I love the quiet and don't care too much for busy nightlife.
- Living somewhere safe is important to me, being a single female. I heard crime here is higher than the national average but I heard that is skewed because it's a tourist town.
- I can't drive (medical restriction) and need to live somewhere where I can get around easily without a car.
- I crave warm weather and really don't like the cold

Thank you.

[jbtx]

Lizzy;

A quick google of Rockport apartments reveals:
The Oaks at Bentwater Luxury Apartment Homes - Home
and this,
Rockport Apartments for Rent - Rockport, TX on ApartmentGuide.com

I don't know any thing about public transportation in Rockport,,, just about everyone has a car here.

Good luck to you.

[Westerntraveler]

I would rethink moving to Texas if you cant drive

[jbtx]

Originally Posted by Westerntraveler

I would rethink moving to Texas if you cant drive

I agree. In my post above I should have said, "just about everybody above the age of 16 has a pickup here".

I have googled Rockport, "mass transportation", "public bus", and a few other key words and haven't got a "hit". I guess it's either walk or taxi, unless maybe there are some Rockportites who can give feedback on the issue of public transportation in Rockport.

[CptnRn]

Rockport is easily the nicest part of the Texas coast, I would encourage you to live there if you can get the transportation issues worked out.

I could not recall noticing a mass transportation system in Rockport during our visits. I did a little research and found this: Transportation

Transportation
Land
Main Highway serving the area: State Highway 35Hwy; 35 Bypass to Corpus Christi
State Highway 188 from Business 35 to Sinton connecting IH37 to San Antonio; FM 1069 from Business 35 at Market Street to Aransas Pass.
Business 35 Aransas Pass north through Rockport-Fulton
Loop 70 through downtown

Taxi
24-Hour Taxi Service available at 361- 729-9999 City Cab Co;
Gulf Coast Taxi & Shuttle Service 361- 729-6620

Air
Aransas County Airport (361) 790-0141
Closest Major airport serving area: Corpus Christi International - American, Delta, Southwest and Continental Airlines

Bus
Valley Transit Bus Line makes two stops per day; once to the North & once to the South; Bus Station & Ticketing at the Stripes Convenience Store, 902 E Market, Rockport, (361) 729-5228; Jordan & Jordan Charter Bus 361-729-7999 or 1-800-829-4816; Aransas County Public Transportation local curb to curb service within the Rockport-Fulton area to Corpus Christi and Portland available to the general public 8am till 5pm Monday thru Friday call (361) 729-8007 for details

and this: Aransas County Council on Aging

Transportation 361-729-8007
Transportation is available for the elderly for local shopping, medical appointments and visits to the Center.
Public transportation within the Corpus Christi area is available for anyone.

I found that phone number is for Aransas Rural Transportation, 912 S Church St, Rockport, TX 78382, 361-729-8007.

I could not find a website for them but did find this Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend

Aransas County Rural Public Transportation
Aransas and Rockport areas on Monday – Friday; Corpus Christi and Portland areas Wednesday only. Wheelchair accessible, all transportation by appointment, 24 hour notice required. Appointments are scheduled between 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, to schedule an appointment and get cost; call (361) 729-8007.

It could be worth contacting them to see if arrangements can be made for someone who cannot drive due to a medical condition. You might mention the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA). I would expect that the ADA would require that they accommodate your needs. I have contacted a friend of mine who is an ADA specialist with the City of Austin to see if she can shed any light on these requirements. I will add information here when I hear back from her.

These links might be useful to you: Chamber of Commerce: Welcome to Rockport-Fulton! The Charm of the Texas Coast

DADS: The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

This looks like a good link regarding transportation: Help for Texans: Transportation (DADS)

Other threads about Rockport:

//www.city-data.com/forum/corpu...ckport-tx.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/corpu...y-sailing.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/corpu...xas-taxes.html

When we stayed in Rockport it was usually on our sailboat or in a motel. So I don't know that much about rental prices in the area but did find this City-Data web page about housing and rental costs, which indicates you should be able to find something in your price range. //www.city-data.com/housing/hou...ort-Texas.html

Note that same webpage indicates there are very low numbers of people in the 20-25 age bracket. I'm not sure why that is.

In regard to crime, the actual numbers are very low, especially considering the number of festivals this community hosts which draw numerous visitors into the town on those occasions. The numbers are skewed badly when comparing small towns like this to larger communities or national averages. //www.city-data.com/city/Rockport-Texas.html

In 2009 there were:
0 Murders
2 Rapes
2 Robberies
14 Assaults
147 Burglaries
365 Thefts
10 Auto Thefts
1 Arson

In the three years we had our sailboat at Key Allegro in Rockport, we did not experience a single problem, amazing given that our boat was usually there unattended and the marina had no locking gates.

[LizzyBizzy47]

Originally Posted by jbtx

"just about everybody above the age of 16 has a pickup here".

HAHA, I love this! Sounds a lot like the town I live in now!


And on the transportation... I wasn't asking if Rockport has a mass transportation system, I know they don't have subways and things like that. I was just curious if it's small enough that you can walk to the grocery store, the doctor, etc. or if things are really far apart

Also, whoever said nobody without a car should move to Texas... Austin is ranked as one of the most walking-friendly cities in the US.

[Westerntraveler]

One city being walking friendly is a whole lot different matter than the whole state being walking-friendly.Texas is still very auto-centric.

[CptnRn]

I live in Austin, and while parts of it may be some of the most walking-friendly cities in the US, most of it is not. Same goes for Rockport. I think to a large degree, the Rockport community is fairly ignorant regarding the concept of "Walkable City".

Nevertheless, if you choose your living location carefully you could easily be within walking distance the Walgreens Drug Store and HEB grocery store which would take care of most of your basic needs. They are also within a short walking distance of several Doctor's offices, see the E & F designations on the image attached below "DOCTORS.jpg".

How far are you willing to walk? Rockport/Fulton is small enough that if you were patient and willing to spend a lot of time walking, you could cover substantial portions of the major business areas while walking, if you pick your residential location carefully. However, in late Summer the heat and humidity will probably mean you will arrive at your destination drenched in sweat when you do, even if it is only 1-2 miles. Is it possible that you could legally drive a low speed Segway, electric golf cart, bicycle/tri-cycle or wheel chair, that could greatly increase your range and minimize your discomfort. Most can also be equipped with racks to carry groceries, etc.

One option that many people don't think about is that you could easily buy a old sailboat or houseboat to live aboard, renting a slip for it at one of the several marinas which are very close to the areas I described above, and it could be much more economical then buying a house or renting an apartment.

[jbtx]

We are in and out of Rockport 2 or 3 times a year, I think the last time was a company weekend thing at the pavilion at the end of the big pier in the main marina. My point being, that while I semi-know the area, I don't live there.

Living aboard an old sail boat sounds fun and romantic, however I fear that might be fairly high maintenance. Boats are defined as a hole in the water into which you pour your money. I'd be careful of that, but a houseboat might be different.

I'd suggest you begin your housing search with Google maps, locate the several apt complexes on the web sites mentioned that interest you on the map, and then chart the distances from each of them to the local H.E.B. (our grocery store chain), Wal-Mart, Whataburger, Burger King, McDonalds, (whatever), and see if this stuff is within your capabilities. You didn't tell us what your medical restrictions are that preclude driving, but an electric golf cart might solve all your problems.

HAHA, I love this! Sounds a lot like the town I live in now!

yeah, but it doesn't snow much here.

[ocean2026]

Rockport like much of rural Texas is only walkable downtown. Otherwise its a safe,scenic and friendly place and Lizzy you might like knowing Rockport has more men then women. If you like the ocean and boating and are a casual person -this is a great place. I grew up in NYC - like both places.