Gulfport or Mobile? (West: neighborhoods, public school, live)

[cia191630]

Only name I've know it by, but then I only lived in Gulfport for 1.5 yrs. I left after Katrina, but I'm about to make my way back. But Gaston Point is BAD lol. I got nervous just riding down the street(rolling stops only lol).

[Mississippienne]

Are y'all talking about the area around Memorial Hospital? I live close to the Island View casino, so I'm right in that area. I haven't had any problems walking or driving around. One person in our neighborhood had a radio stolen out of their car a few months back, and that was it. I'm sure there are bad people living here, but it's not like you take your life in your hands everytime you walk out your front door.

[Muhnay]

I lived near there too Mississippienne.. well sorta I was on Reynosa Street above the Seabee Base. I had a cop come to a screeching stop once get out and ask what I was doing in the area. I said I live here.. he said I was crazy, stupid or really brave. Ask me to join the force said they needed more like me out there. I never had any major issues either.

But yeah that area just past the Hospital. Shootings and all sorts of bad things taking place out there.

[downtowndoll]

Originally Posted by smarino

I wouldn't move to either place. I spent my early years in Mobile, and later years in Gulfport. Mississippi is a lot better place in my opinion. The people are friendlier. Mobile has far too much crime and many of the blacks there are angry and mean (or what's called reverse discrimination, but let's call it as it is). Gulfport is great. Nice folks, a more liberal attitude, casinos, entertainment, a beautiful man made beach. Racial relationships are a lot better. .

I'm afraid that you are right about the meanness or whatever of blacks in Mobile. It is really sad when you are used to better relationships. I can't tell you how many times I'm checking out with a sullen, rude cashier in Mobile somewhere. I'm being normal, friendly. I think,"maybe she's had a bad day and taking it out on me." But then, nope, here comes another customer behind me that she doesn't know (who happens to be black)- she's done a 180 and is so friendly to her. How am I going to make a friend if 99% of the time, they are mean to me?
Anyway, there is none of that on the MS Gulf Coast. Keesler Air Force Base is probably a lot of that,delivering pretty sharp people in general, and also the MS Gulf Coast wasn't a big slave area to begin with, since you essentially couldn't have plantations way back when due to the poor soil quality. It was a resort area for New Orleans wealthy. It's amazing an area can be so close to Mobile and really so different!

I grew up in Ocean Springs, MS and it is a great place to live. I prefer Mobile and all the culture that is here, but ,really, O.S. is a wonderful place. The city is arranged differently from the other coastal cities, so only some residential areas were damaged by Katrina. Many people live there for the good schools and commute to Gulfport or Biloxi to work.
I'm sure Gulfport is fine,but I wouldn't live there over other areas on the MS Gulf Coast. A friend is from Gulfport and she says you pretty much need to go to private school there. But she's from an old family there, so I don't know.
We've got college friends that live in Bay St. Louis and love it. My impression, however, is it is kinda crummy in general. My hubby grew up in Bay St. Louis and his public high school was not as good as mine. O.S. High routinely churns out many National Merit finalists and their students apply to schools such as MIT and Georgetown Univ. with no problems getting in.
After Katrina, we did consider moving back to O.S. or Bay St. Louis, but the house/land prices are ridiculous compared to Mobile. I mean, I can buy bayfront property for less than they are charging and I will be surrounded by (for the most part!)cultured people. So we are staying in Mobile.

[oglebee02]

You can still buy a decent house for $150,000 in Ocean Springs. I think it's the best place between Gulfport and Mobile, and very very safe.

[2HHI]

On a newly built 177K home in Gulfport, north of 1-10, my insurance would of been $2,500 to $3,500 per year...this is why I backed out of the contract.
I lived in Biloxi for 1 1/2 years and liked everything about it except the litter and stray animals all over the place. Alabama has beautiful blue, green gulf water, MS does not, but in my opinion, the sand beach, per say, is not that much better...probably cleaner though. I would take the weather there anyday...its great. I also dont consider Hurricanes any kind of threat...there to infrequent to be a major concern...and you simply leave when one comes your way.
I believe the MS Coast offers one far more things to do than anywhere on the Northern Gulf Coast, but if sitting on a sand beach with clear tropical waters is your thing...you'd be happier in AL or FL. Good Luck!

[kwal]

You cannot judge ALL black people in an area based on the meanness of one black person in a checkout line. That is the most ridiculous thing ever. It is not a very "CULTURED" comment. Sounds like you need to travel more and be around more people to understand that you can't group people based on the color of their skin.

Originally Posted by downtowndoll

I'm afraid that you are right about the meanness or whatever of blacks in Mobile. It is really sad when you are used to better relationships. I can't tell you how many times I'm checking out with a sullen, rude cashier in Mobile somewhere. I'm being normal, friendly. I think,"maybe she's had a bad day and taking it out on me." But then, nope, here comes another customer behind me that she doesn't know (who happens to be black)- she's done a 180 and is so friendly to her. How am I going to make a friend if 99% of the time, they are mean to me?
Anyway, there is none of that on the MS Gulf Coast. Keesler Air Force Base is probably a lot of that,delivering pretty sharp people in general, and also the MS Gulf Coast wasn't a big slave area to begin with, since you essentially couldn't have plantations way back when due to the poor soil quality. It was a resort area for New Orleans wealthy. It's amazing an area can be so close to Mobile and really so different!

I grew up in Ocean Springs, MS and it is a great place to live. I prefer Mobile and all the culture that is here, but ,really, O.S. is a wonderful place. The city is arranged differently from the other coastal cities, so only some residential areas were damaged by Katrina. Many people live there for the good schools and commute to Gulfport or Biloxi to work.
I'm sure Gulfport is fine,but I wouldn't live there over other areas on the MS Gulf Coast. A friend is from Gulfport and she says you pretty much need to go to private school there. But she's from an old family there, so I don't know.
We've got college friends that live in Bay St. Louis and love it. My impression, however, is it is kinda crummy in general. My hubby grew up in Bay St. Louis and his public high school was not as good as mine. O.S. High routinely churns out many National Merit finalists and their students apply to schools such as MIT and Georgetown Univ. with no problems getting in.
After Katrina, we did consider moving back to O.S. or Bay St. Louis, but the house/land prices are ridiculous compared to Mobile. I mean, I can buy bayfront property for less than they are charging and I will be surrounded by (for the most part!)cultured people. So we are staying in Mobile.

[dianamarie]

I live outside of Mobile, but lived in Mobile for the past 25 years. Mobile public schools are horrible. You do not want your child(ren) in any of those schools, believe me. I have a little boy now, and the schools are the reason why I moved from Mobile. There are decent private schools (Catholic) but they are very expensive if you are not Catholic. If you are leaning towards Alabama, look instead at Daphne, which is about a 10 minute interstsate drive from Mobile. But I would go with Gulfport.

[GulfportResident]

Honesly, I've never lived in Mobile, But Gulfport is NOT a place you would want to stay. Armed Robbery, Burglary, MURDED, and Theft has Increased REDICLOUSLY through the years. When you can get 50 house break-ins in 60 days that is VERY unsafe!!! We have had 3 murders in 2 weeks time! The neighborhoods are'nt the same anymore. It's not safe to stop at a gas station anymore, since they're robbing them. Im an African American myself and people are making it hard for me to walk around my neighborhood without gettin harrassed by Police. Gaston Point, Ollivet, Pine Hills, North Gulfport, Pecan Grove, Loren D Heights, and Turnkey are prime examples of a Dangerouse neighborhood. Enough Said!

[Stephk0424]

Originally Posted by GulfportResident

Honesly, I've never lived in Mobile, But Gulfport is NOT a place you would want to stay. Armed Robbery, Burglary, MURDED, and Theft has Increased REDICLOUSLY through the years. When you can get 50 house break-ins in 60 days that is VERY unsafe!!! We have had 3 murders in 2 weeks time! The neighborhoods are'nt the same anymore. It's not safe to stop at a gas station anymore, since they're robbing them. Im an African American myself and people are making it hard for me to walk around my neighborhood without gettin harrassed by Police. Gaston Point, Ollivet, Pine Hills, North Gulfport, Pecan Grove, Loren D Heights, and Turnkey are prime examples of a Dangerouse neighborhood. Enough Said!

Yes those neighborhoods have gone down alot in the last few years but I live slightly north of that area around O'neal rd and there are very few problems. My neighborhood has homes under 150,000 and we had very little damage from the hurricane. No flooding at all. My neighborhood has all races living together. White, black, and hispanic to name a few and we all get along just fine. We have always had good neighbors and I feel completely safe living there. We have a section 8 apartment complex across the main street from our neighborhood and if there are problems there we never know about it. Murder & other crimes have increased but I think that is mainly because of the economy and unemployment. Other areas of the coast are nice too but Gulfport has some really nice areas. I have lived in Gulfport all my life and I would not consider it a bad place to live.

Stephanie