Posted on 02/09/2010 1:10:32 PM PST by erod
Hi everyone, I was wondering if you could give a fellow conservative some advice on moving to Texas. I am currently living in Chicago, and I am fed up with the taxes, cold weather, Democratic culture and bad economy here. I am seriously considering a move to Texas, I am fairly young, 26, and I am almost done with my degree in marketing, although I currently posses a B.A. in journalism. I think Texas sounds really cool and I just wanted to get advice from fellow FReepers who have either made the move from other states to Texas or FReepers who currently live there.
Some of my questions are: 1. Do you like Texas better than your former state or why do you think Texas is second to none? 2. Out of the two cities there: Dallas and Houston, which one is the better one to live in? (Basically I want the city that least resembles Chicago, but is fun to live in and doesn’t end up costing me an arm and a leg in rent and taxes) 3. How’s the economic climate in Texas? I know we’re in the midst of a recession but what’s the unemployment rate etc.
Those are just some sample questions feel free to tell me about your move or whatever other advice you can give if you can. Thanks for responding to my thread, God Bless. -Eric
Howdy neighbor! I live not too far away in Krugerville, right up 377 from Denton.
And I’ll help with the whoopin’. The suburbs of Houston are great - Friendswood, Clear Lake, Pearland on the south, Katy on the west. Quick trip to the beach and the bayou for kayaking and deep sea fishing, lots of biking areas. Easy drive to NOLA or to the Hill Country. Taxes are low and you can get a whole lot for your money. And there are jobs - not as many as there used to be though. Dallas, IMO,is not real Texas so don’t go there. New Braunsfels is a hopping area - at least on the weekends as is Austin and probably a better fit for mid-20’s.
There is some Texas-sized suck between those two. That debate last weekend was a hoot.
At least Shami answered the abortion question (1st Trimester only), White was a total coward and side-stepped by saying that Texas had more important things to worry about.
Perry is the luckiest SOB ever - White is a dissembling old pol and will never attract the $ needed to beat Slick Rick.
I’ve been in a lot of different cities around the country, but Dallas sure seems like the “shoppingest city” in the country... to me... LOL...
How is the rebuilding of Galveston going anyway? I notice the media never talks about it
Hey neighbor! I’m over in McKinney...love it here!
lol.
der smell. It smells.
I’d love to move to Texas as well, but have always wondered about the illegal problem down there. I’ve been to San Antonio and Dallas. I know that the Hispanics have lived in the area for maybe 200+ years, but how do you keep the illegals out and especially, how do you keep them from messing with your schools, jobs, employment figures, and culture?
I live in the Bryan-College Station area. It has the advantage of being within a couple of hours of all the large cities, but with few of the disadvantages.
So if you want to catch a pro ball game, concert or some major event, it’snot a long drive to Dallas, Houston or San Antonio. You can make a day of it visiting the zoos, museums, etc.
- JP
Oh and if you happen to be really really rich, I heard the Jackson Ranch near Ft Hood but in Lampassas County is for sale around $37M or whatever. Its 9,300 acres and right nest to a state park. It’d be like a whole ‘nother country.
Future Galt’s Gulch maybe?
Don't care for the city of Dallas (Fort Worth is better), but there are several nice suburban communities north of the city proper.
Austin is the nicest of the large cities, but filled with libs. San Antonio appeals to me because of the low cost of living, but I can't appreciate the weather when there are no beaches to escape to.
Climate-wise, the hill country is your best bet, but it isn't like there are alot of jobs in Fredericksburg or Bandera.
The typical reaction when someone mentions Houston here in Dallas is “that place smells bad.” Please, I mean no offense to our Houston FRiends. I have many friends who have moved there or currently live there, but most of them have moved back.
To be fair, I am sure that Houston is a wonderful place, but I don't know from personal experience, and the above “jabs” at Houston are based on things other people have said.
Dallas isn't all sunshine up your you-know-what either. There are plenty of things wrong here, but I have personally grown accustomed to the place. If you ever want a shot at any weather similar to up north, come to Dallas. We're *cough* expecting snow on Thursday which will be the 4th or 5th time this winter. Don't mistake it for actual snow, it's more like slow falling white rain. The next day it will probably be 70 degrees out. The weather is unpredictable in Texas, one day it'll be nice, the next tornados, the next snow storm, the next sunny and breezy.
Dallas does have a lot of Republicans here, but I kind of feel that Texas has a reputation of being more conservative than it really is. Out of 100 + people on my Facebook of people I actually know, only a small hand-full are actually Republicans. I think there is a good balance of both here...
You'll see the occasional Obama/Biden bumper sticker, but it is usually in the poorer parts of town. You drive through Frisco and won't see but one or two, but get to Carrollton and they're everywhere.
Politics aside, Dallas does have a heck of a lot of venues for concerts, sporting events, dancing, pool halls, bars, coffee shops, and everything in between. Make sure, if you're a smoker, to not break the golden rule of smoking indoors. You'll be looked at like you're a space alien.
One thing you need to know about Texas before you move here is that Texas is it's own country. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who disagrees with that statement. We have so many different geographical features; the deserts to the west, hills to the south, woods to the east, and everything else.
Texas is doing alright as far as the economy goes. We aren't immune from the recession, but compared to the rest of the country we've been very lucky. Developers and Investors are coming to TX from all over the place, especially CA. Recent unemployment numbers put us below the national average, but we're growing.
Just some other numbers for you:
Median age (2007)
Houston - 32.2
Dallas - 31.9
% of individuals living below poverty level (as of 2007)
Houston - 19.2
Dallas - 17.8
Average Annual Growth Rate in Employment (1998-2007)
Houston - 2.15%
Dallas - 1.86%
Average Unemployment Rate (1997-2007)
Houston - 5.21%
Dallas - 4.69%
Real Wages, Average Annual % Growth (1979-2007)
Houston - 2.84%
Dallas - 3.73
Fort Worth - 3.51%
Median Household Income (Adjusted for Inflation 2007)
Houston - $52,988
Dallas - $54,730
Median Family Income (Adjusted for Inflation 2007)
Houston - $61,588
Dallas - $64,324
Per Capita Income (2007)
Houston - $26,697
Dallas - $27,627
Houston ranked 4th largest city as of July 1, 2007
Dallas ranked 9th largest city as of July 1, 2007
(Chicago ranked 3rd largest city as of July1, 2007)
Sources: U.S. Census; Bureau of Labor Statistics; Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas;
Hello my Texas FRiends. Wonder how many more FRiends we have in North Texas. Drinks one day perhaps????
Born and raised here. I've lived north of the Dallas area near the Red River, I've lived in the Austin area, and now am just north of Dallas in the 'burbs. I've also spent some time in Mesa, AZ. AZ was nice in it's own way, but I much prefer TX ... climate, people, etc.
2. Out of the two cities there: Dallas and Houston, which one is the better one to live in? (Basically I want the city that least resembles Chicago, but is fun to live in and doesn’t end up costing me an arm and a leg in rent and taxes)
Houston is near the gulf ... that's a plus. But it's extremely humid ... that's a minus. Of course being on the coasts, you've go the possibility of the occasional hurricane. The burbs of Houston can be nice, ranging from the piney woods of east Texas to flat lands. Dallas is all flat. The northerrn burbs have some low hills, but not a lot. There are lakes everywhere you look. Personally, I prefer the Dallas area over Houston. You didn't ask about Austin. Other than being a liberal hotbed, it's beautiful country. Hills everywhere, live music every night. But traffic's a nightmare.
I've spent plenty of time in Chicago and I really don't think you could say that any of these cities are similar to Chi-town, so you won't be reminded of that anywhere down here.
3. How’s the economic climate in Texas? I know we’re in the midst of a recession but what’s the unemployment rate etc."
Texas is doing better than most during these times. I'm sure others will expand on that.
Come on down ... we have plenty of room. And no state income tax or grocery tax.
How is the rebuilding of Galveston going anyway? I notice the media never talks about it
I haven't been down there since they had the hurricane. I really don't know.
I like Texas. Still own a company there.
Great spirit
Great road system
Great people
Great shopping
Great economy (at least in DFW)
Great restaurants
You have to be willing to cope with heat - lots of it
You will never be a Texan - sorry, your great grandparents weren’t born there. They will, generally treat you with respect.
You will find lots of Chicago refugees there.
You have to put up with Jerry Jones...
On balance, if you can cope with the heat, go.
best,
ampu
“I’ve been in a lot of different cities around the country, but Dallas sure seems like the “shoppingest city” in the country... to me... LOL...”
I wen to a bar in Dallas and noticed EVERY SINGLE FEMALE was blond, including the asians and hispanics.
Same boobs, too.
Golf is relatively inexpensive and lots of it - some pretty awesome courses spread all over Houston with plenty of water holes and bunkers. We do host the Shell Open. Austin and San Antonio have some of the best courses around but are way more hilly. Expect to change your putting stroke.
Ain’t no down side to living here - well, except the occasional Yankee - or mojado.
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