Where to locate to in big ole' TEXAS? (Houston, Dallas: best city, real estate)

[MNDC101]

Comments/Insight/Opinions wanted for following cities: Looking to move, start a business, and want any knowledge you have to offer? (crime, humidity/climate, business climate, school systems, family friendliness, scenery, people, food, etc)

Abilene, Sweetwater, Midland/Odessa, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Round Rock, Austin, San Marcos, Boerne

Thanks All......Happy New Years!!

[Bo]

Since you mentioned humidity/climate, what kind of climate are you looking for? Long winter? Short winter? Lots of humidity? Lots of trees? Coastal? Desert?

Texas has all of those choices and more in climate, so defining that could easily narrow your choices down quite a bit.

[lonestar2007]

It would also help to know what sort of business you intend to start. Some things go over bigger in some areas than others.

[Lucidus]

Well Inc.com did recently list Midland as the best city in the nation for doing business and more recently The Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities Index ranked Midland as the Best Performing City in the nation in its category (small cities). Odessa was in the top 5 as well. Also, Forbes named Odessa as the number one city in the country for new jobs. I don't think you can really beat Midland/Odessa in terms of business climate.

The climate is dry, and therefore the scenery (at least the natural scenery) is well...let's just say that many find it lacking in aesthetics. The suburban scenery is comparable to any where else.

The food is good if you like Mexican, otherwise you have the typical chain restaurants available.

Midland is generally considered family friendly, Odessa a little less so. The people overall are friendly, but some would disagree so YMMV.

I am not really sure about schools and crime. I assume the schools are as terrible here as they are in most parts of the country.

P.S. Happy New Year to you too!

[MNDC101]

would prefer a not so humid place which probably knocks off a lot of them (for sure not Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas areas of TX)..However i've read that Austin and the surrounding hill country isn't as hot as say San Antonio and the surrounding cities/towns as it is at a higher elevation....is this correct? Also I've heard this part of TX is very beautiful and has decent hunting/schools/etc......

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by MNDC101

would prefer a not so humid place which probably knocks off a lot of them (for sure not Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas areas of TX)..However i've read that Austin and the surrounding hill country isn't as hot as say San Antonio and the surrounding cities/towns as it is at a higher elevation....is this correct? Also I've heard this part of TX is very beautiful and has decent hunting/schools/etc......

Austin and surrounding areas are beautiful, make no mistake about that.

But.....they had over 45 days last summer of consecutive 100 degree + temperatures. The drought was pretty bad, too.

It is as humid as it can be, but several who live there and are accustomed to the humidity may tell you that it isn't. Elevation varies, but none of them are high at all. You don't start gaining in elevation until you go west.

You don't get any real elevation until you get past Midland.

[Moonlady]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

....But.....they had over 45 days last summer of consecutive 100 degree + temperatures. The drought was pretty bad, too.

It is as humid as it can be, but several who live there and are accustomed to the humidity may tell you that it isn't. Elevation varies, but none of them are high at all. You don't start gaining in elevation until you go west.

You don't get any real elevation until you get past Midland.

That's a bit misleading. The last 2 summers were not typical. Last summer was the hottest on record by average temp and missed the number of 100 degree days by one. The previous record was set in the 1860's I think. Some summers we have only a few 100+ degree days. If you search the Austin forums for "humidfity" you'll find a lot of neat charts and comparisons (it's been beat to death over there). Austin is significantly less humid than Houston and Corpus and significantly more humid than Midland and far West Texas in general so it's all a matter of perspective. To me, it's just right - not too humid and not too dry.

Also, while we don't have "elevation" - we have rolling hills - it's far from flat here.

One more note - the weather is not significatly different in Austin than San Antonio - they are only 90 miles apart.

[Cathy4017]

How was it misleading? Did last summer have that many 100+ degree days consecutively or not? As my sister lives there, and we talk frequently, I'd say that's correct. Austin and the great majority of Texas are just plain HOT during the late spring, summer and early fall, even if the past 2 summers there were not typical.

But....a matter of perspective is exactly right.

As a native West Texan, I'm accustomed to a far drier climate than Austin and the Hill Country, so anything much to the east feels humid to me, even Abilene--by comparison.

[prsimpson01]

I have lived in Lubbock, San Angelo, Houston, and now reside in Austin. The heat and drought were major last year, but there is no place I'd rather live! The cost of living is very high, though. If am a teacher, and will probably be relocating back to the West Texas area again soon! The median cost of homes in Austin is around $232,000, compared to $130,000 in Abilene! If that is a factor, you might want to consider that!

[BobTex]

Only 2 days over 100 in East Texas. Many mornings over 90% humidity.

Hunting varies in Texas but be prepared to spend $$$$ to secure good hunting. There is public hunting but quite a hit and miss proposition.


Is it humid in Minnesota in summer? Is this what you are trying to escape?