H, E, or B in the HEB (Bedford, Euless: apartment, renting)

[LStrom]

Hi all, we will be moving soon and have been looking at homes in the HEB areas. Because we have 3 children ages 3,4, and 10, schools and safety are our top priorities. Which area would be best for us considering this, Hurst, Euless or Bedford? We will be buying not renting a home, and we would like to stay below 200k.

Thanks everyone for your help!

[ChristieP]

Any one of the three will be fine, although Bedford's city services are not as good as Hurst or Euless. If you want better neighborhoods and better schools, stay north of 183.

[Arcane]

For a start, I can tell you most people consider the north side (north of 183) to be the nicer of the two. That's not to say the south doesn't have nice neighborhoods or new development, there's plenty of both. But the older parts are to the south. The three cities are almost identical architecturally and development wise, but the longer you’re around the easier it gets to tell the difference. 183/820 is a major shopping hub and traffic along 183 can get thick. There are a few posters here who can shed better light on the taxes and finer details.

[rdfw]

Initially I thought this was a question about neighborhoods close to a Central Market...

[loves2read]

cute RDFW--that is because HEB is in the Tarrant side and most people post questions over there

two things---Bedford's city services are just fine--they are building a new library and really have low crime rate--water tastes better than Euless or Hurst's --

I like Bedford--lived there for 20+ years--think now that some of the senior citizens with their private agendas have gotten quieter city council is working much smoother...
there are good/bad areas == most neighborhoods are older since Bedford and Hurst were pretty much built out by the 90s--
there is some newer construction in N Euless but that could also be in S Grapevine or GCISD
Part of NW Hurst is in Birdville ISD so make sure you know what is what before you get set on house
IMO--make sure you get neighborhood with sidewalks--they don't all have them...
watch for cut-through streets going through some neighborhoods or busy streets your older child might have to cross if you want him/her to walk to school--the area I lived in was zones for Spring Garden Elem and there were plenty of kids walking to/from school and some moms walking with their kids and lots of parents picking up--so there are stay-at-home moms
same is true for Meadow Creek and Bedford Heights which are all NORTH of Harwood
the district has crossing guards at all busy intersections...and the police are pretty good about making sure cars don't speed through the zones...

the HEB district has some great programs for elementary kids and middle/high school--suzuki strings is EXTREMELY popular and they are trying to add other classes but it is difficult because of enrollment--these classes are at schools in less desireable areas sometimes to bring better students in as a magnet program...IB and pre-IB and AP programs are strong--they have good teachers for the most part with little turn over--it pays well...strong music program at Bell high school -- Trinity parents adgitated for new band director and got one--when you have a state championship football team you want a state ranked band and so far they don't have one...
if you cannot afford private school but you have a child who cares about school and wants to progress to college/grad school--they can get a good foundation at HEB--even though there is significant # of lower socioeconomic students--HEB is doing a good job of teaching them too...

just check how many apartment kids are zoned for any elementary school--they move around so much and if they are moving within a district their TAKS scores count and can be a real factor in the rating a school receives via TAKS...

north of 183 is generally regarded as better area in all three towns and definitely in Euless...
get a good realtor -- one who has lived in this area for at least 5-10 years--and had kids in HEB schools---I could give you the names of couple if you want but can't post (advertising)...
check out the FTW board and search--plenty of posts about HEB...