Texas Gal heading Home...HELP! :) (Houston, Dallas: low income, apartments, crime rate)

[StormTamer57]

I was born and raised in Texas....but my career path took me in various locations over the past 35 years. I am retiring now and ready to return. Been up to Lubbock and liked it a great deal, but somewhat concerned over the water supply, dust storms/tornadoes. There are pluses though...good medical centers, low humidity, and seems friendly enough. I also like that they do experience a change in climate when winter arrives...not fond of HOT ALL YEAR....love a nice cool down (just not 6 moths straight of it).. Other cities that I am considering are: ABELINE.... may be SAN ANGELO....and EL PASO (I love mountains). I am ex-Navy and would love being around a military base....I realize most of these locations will be Army or Air Force (I can play nice with all branches- promise. lol)

QUESTIONS:

1. Abilene seems like a great town in a great location and a perfect size....not too big...not too small. How is the HUMIDITY??? My dad is down in Conroe area....humidity is horrible. Would not want to live there, though it is beautiful.

2. I went to college in San Angelo, but that was in the late 70's/early 80's....I would imagine things have changed quite a bit. Apartments...at least online...seem small and expensive compared to Abilene. They also seem geared more for college students. Is this a correct assessment?

I don't recall San Angelo being humid, but I left in the summer, so perhaps that's why.


3. How does the medical situation compare between these cities? Do Abilene and San Angelo have good doctors and plenty of availability?

4. Point to consider when answering...I'm moving my 76 year old mom with me. So low cost of living on her fixed income is a plus....as well as the medical situation (in case I have not hinted enough about medical stuff already


5. Last, but not least....would prefer a location where the crime rate isn't horrid. Growing up in Texas, I always felt safe...but heck, times have certainly changed, or so it seems. A bit taken back by some of the crime rate stats I've seen....probably better than where I am now, (north of Detroit), but would like to feel I could step out the front door without having to wear my firearm 24/7.

Final note: If it was just me....I'd be fine in any of these places, but it's not, so your expert opinions are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, y'all!

[C24L]

Originally Posted by StormTamer57

I was born and raised in Texas....but my career path took me in various locations over the past 35 years. I am retiring now and ready to return. Been up to Lubbock and liked it a great deal, but somewhat concerned over the water supply, dust storms/tornadoes. There are pluses though...good medical centers, low humidity, and seems friendly enough. I also like that they do experience a change in climate when winter arrives...not fond of HOT ALL YEAR....love a nice cool down (just not 6 moths straight of it).. Other cities that I am considering are: ABELINE.... may be SAN ANGELO....and EL PASO (I love mountains). I am ex-Navy and would love being around a military base....I realize most of these locations will be Army or Air Force (I can play nice with all branches- promise. lol)

QUESTIONS:

1. Abilene seems like a great town in a great location and a perfect size....not too big...not too small. How is the HUMIDITY??? My dad is down in Conroe area....humidity is horrible. Would not want to live there, though it is beautiful.

2. I went to college in San Angelo, but that was in the late 70's/early 80's....I would imagine things have changed quite a bit. Apartments...at least online...seem small and expensive compared to Abilene. They also seem geared more for college students. Is this a correct assessment?

I don't recall San Angelo being humid, but I left in the summer, so perhaps that's why.


3. How does the medical situation compare between these cities? Do Abilene and San Angelo have good doctors and plenty of availability?

4. Point to consider when answering...I'm moving my 76 year old mom with me. So low cost of living on her fixed income is a plus....as well as the medical situation (in case I have not hinted enough about medical stuff already


5. Last, but not least....would prefer a location where the crime rate isn't horrid. Growing up in Texas, I always felt safe...but heck, times have certainly changed, or so it seems. A bit taken back by some of the crime rate stats I've seen....probably better than where I am now, (north of Detroit), but would like to feel I could step out the front door without having to wear my firearm 24/7.

Final note: If it was just me....I'd be fine in any of these places, but it's not, so your expert opinions are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, y'all!

Hello OP,
Thanks so much for your service.You are one of my heroes.I think Abilene is a great town.I agree it is a good size town with a pretty good location if you like to go to Dallas a lot.Abilene is less humid than Houston but more humid than Midland and El Paso.I think Abilene would offer a lower COL than Angelo.I think medical care in Abilene and Angelo is decent but Lubbock is probably best for health care.I dont know if Lubbock or EP has better health care.Abilene is really dependent on the three universities in town.The largest is ACU which is affiliated with the churches of Christ.I dont know about the apartment situation in Angelo other than them being more expensive than Abilene.I think Lubbock would be a good choice because of the low cost of living and the health care.However,Lubbock is a lot more geographically isolated than Abilene and Angelo.Angelo has a good location if you like to go to Houston/SA/Austin and the Coast.What is your budget for housing.I think you are probably worrying too much about tornadoes and Lubbock.I would be much more concerned about tornadoes in places like OK/Kansas.I think Abilene/San Angelo/Lubbock have been on high crime lists but it should not be an issue as long as you dont go looking for trouble.Best of luck.San Angelo is not humid.Angelo has more intense summers than Lubbock and possibly Abilene.I have seen Angelo get hot weather in April on TV.

[StormTamer57]

Hey There C24L - thanks so much for the reply! Good info on all locations....every little bit helps me sort it out. At present, I'm leaning more toward Abilene....want to scope out the doc to patient ratio a little better. Looking forward to getting back home!!!

[C24L]

Originally Posted by StormTamer57

Hey There C24L - thanks so much for the reply! Good info on all locations....every little bit helps me sort it out. At present, I'm leaning more toward Abilene....want to scope out the doc to patient ratio a little better. Looking forward to getting back home!!!

hey StormTamer57,you are most certainly welcome.Best of luck.If you want anymore info on any of those towns, feel free to PM me.

[Texas Ag 93]

Any consideration of Tyler? For a city of its size, it has a very robust health care system and good saturation of providers, including specialists.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

Any consideration of Tyler? For a city of its size, it has a very robust health care system and good saturation of providers, including specialists.

OP likes low humidity.

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by C24L

OP likes low humidity.

True, but you always have to make compromises when you are looking for a place to live. It seems like she is emphasizing the health care aspect of it as being very important, which is why I threw Tyler out there.

Personally, I don't think Abilene has a very high quality health care market (though as OP points out, it's accessible to DFW). Lubbock would be good since there is an academic medical center. El Paso possibly, but to a lesser extent, moreover, it's a very isolated, so any care not available there would mean a long trip to somewhere else.

[ChristieP]

Abilene and San Angelo are about even in healthcare. Both have two competing hospitals, but for anything beyond their capabilities, you will be sent to DFW. El Paso's isolation makes it difficult to recruit good doctors. There are also several hospitals there, too.

All three of those cities are low humidity.

As for crime, it's really isolated to certain parts of town, mostly low income and high Hispanic population areas, and it's often drug related. Sadly, all three of these cities have significant drug trafficking north from Mexico. Most residents of these cities would never even be affected by the crime since they aren't involved in the drug trade.

[StormTamer57]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

True, but you always have to make compromises when you are looking for a place to live. It seems like she is emphasizing the health care aspect of it as being very important, which is why I threw Tyler out there.

Personally, I don't think Abilene has a very high quality health care market (though as OP points out, it's accessible to DFW). Lubbock would be good since there is an academic medical center. El Paso possibly, but to a lesser extent, moreover, it's a very isolated, so any care not available there would mean a long trip to somewhere else.

Hello Texas Ag 93 and yes, I have considered Tyler! It was one of the first places I had on my list originally - beautiful town! and yes, I have heard great things about the medical situation there, as well. However, I really would like to stay away from the high heat/humidity combination as much as possible and like the idea of a few inches of snow now and then. Thanks so much for your reply though - it never hurts to throw out a suggestion.

[StormTamer57]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Abilene and San Angelo are about even in healthcare. Both have two competing hospitals, but for anything beyond their capabilities, you will be sent to DFW. El Paso's isolation makes it difficult to recruit good doctors. There are also several hospitals there, too.

All three of those cities are low humidity.

As for crime, it's really isolated to certain parts of town, mostly low income and high Hispanic population areas, and it's often drug related. Sadly, all three of these cities have significant drug trafficking north from Mexico. Most residents of these cities would never even be affected by the crime since they aren't involved in the drug trade.

Thanks ChristieP! I appreciate your info. Really sad about the drug trafficking in Texas, but it seems it's bad in many other states as well. At least, I can be aware and try my best to stay away from the crime prone areas.