Looking For Feedback on Moving To Texas
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
I'll weigh in on the Dallas - Fort Worth side. I'm originally from south of Houston, near Galveston and finally got the hell outta' there in '99 when my then girlfriend (now wife) and I moved to Lewisville, which is about 30 minutes north of Dallas. I gotta' say I love North Texas! Traffic sucks, but not nearly as bad as Houston, and yeah it's hot, but it's much drier than the Houston area. Humidity down there is killer. We still go down pretty often because our parents are there, as well as lots of other family, and I can always tell when we get there because the air quality changes instantly.
I've never lived in the Austin/CenTex area, but my dad spent about 5 years there and just recently moved back to the Houston area. He hated it there! Said people were more often snotty and rude than anything else, and of course extremely liberal. I'd say Austin is probably the most Democratic city in the Lone Star state. But...there is good wheelin' nearby. There are a few good private parks that are within an hour's drive. The one downside to my dad moving back to Houston is that now I have to get a hotel in & around Austin if I want to go wheel there.
Here in NTX, though, we have a couple of decent off-road parks that you can drive to, spend the day, then head home. Bridgeport is about 45 minutes from me, so I can leave and get there when the gates open at 8 and be home for dinner that afternoon. And I'd like to think we have the best Jeep clubs in the state. Lone Star Jeep Club is based here, Texas JK is based here....those are the two I'm associated with and they're really a great group of people. Doesn't matter who you are....if you have a Jeep...you're family. And we'll wheel with just about anyone.
Okay, okay....enough rambling. Obviously, my vote goes to Dallas-Fort Worth. One of my better Jeep buddies is originally from Vegas and I think he and his wife moved here (about 3 miles from me) in 2009-2010. He seems to like it here pretty well and I've never heard him talk about moving back or moving away. Gotta' count for somethin'.
I've never lived in the Austin/CenTex area, but my dad spent about 5 years there and just recently moved back to the Houston area. He hated it there! Said people were more often snotty and rude than anything else, and of course extremely liberal. I'd say Austin is probably the most Democratic city in the Lone Star state. But...there is good wheelin' nearby. There are a few good private parks that are within an hour's drive. The one downside to my dad moving back to Houston is that now I have to get a hotel in & around Austin if I want to go wheel there.
Here in NTX, though, we have a couple of decent off-road parks that you can drive to, spend the day, then head home. Bridgeport is about 45 minutes from me, so I can leave and get there when the gates open at 8 and be home for dinner that afternoon. And I'd like to think we have the best Jeep clubs in the state. Lone Star Jeep Club is based here, Texas JK is based here....those are the two I'm associated with and they're really a great group of people. Doesn't matter who you are....if you have a Jeep...you're family. And we'll wheel with just about anyone.
Okay, okay....enough rambling. Obviously, my vote goes to Dallas-Fort Worth. One of my better Jeep buddies is originally from Vegas and I think he and his wife moved here (about 3 miles from me) in 2009-2010. He seems to like it here pretty well and I've never heard him talk about moving back or moving away. Gotta' count for somethin'.
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield, TX
I'll toss in my $0.02.
I'll second the recommendation for Fort Worth--it seems to fit your description of yourself better than Dallas. Fort Worth, more than any other place I've been, offers the small town feel with big city opportunities. People are friendly, and they are proud of where they are from. All that creates a really family friendly, thriving local scene. If you're looking for somewhere with good access to both Dallas and Fort Worth and can stand suburbia, places like Arlington, Mansfield to the south and Grapevine, Flower Mound to the north offer great options. Each of these suburbs are large enough they have local scenes in their own right, and offer better school options for kids if you're going there.
I've lived in Mansfield/S. Arlington area since 1998 and can't think of a better mix of small town/city access/local events/family friendly/excellent schools (specifically Mansfield ISD).
Welcome to TX no matter where you end up!
I'll second the recommendation for Fort Worth--it seems to fit your description of yourself better than Dallas. Fort Worth, more than any other place I've been, offers the small town feel with big city opportunities. People are friendly, and they are proud of where they are from. All that creates a really family friendly, thriving local scene. If you're looking for somewhere with good access to both Dallas and Fort Worth and can stand suburbia, places like Arlington, Mansfield to the south and Grapevine, Flower Mound to the north offer great options. Each of these suburbs are large enough they have local scenes in their own right, and offer better school options for kids if you're going there.
I've lived in Mansfield/S. Arlington area since 1998 and can't think of a better mix of small town/city access/local events/family friendly/excellent schools (specifically Mansfield ISD).
Welcome to TX no matter where you end up!
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth
yes you should move to Texas
Hey guys ...
Thought I would post this up in here as if I moved one of the first things I would do is look for a local Jeep crew to meet up with and make some new friends.
I wanted to get some thoughts on my situation from people that live in Texas. So here it goes.
Currently I live in Las Vegas, been here since 2001 (so Im considered a local), prior to that grew up in Orange County area of CA. Recently married to a native Texan (she grew up in Houston and moved to Vegas for me about 5 years ago). She has friends in Houston, as well as I do (only 1 though) so Houston seems like the easiest of places to move for friends, however we have been looking at a few cites:
-Houston
-Austin
-Dallas
I work out my house as I do sales for a Medical Device company, and have the ability to move anywhere I want, however Texas would be ideal as we have a lot of business in the area and it would benefit our company to set up a location there for shipping purposes. She is a event planner and is looking to work in corp or charitable events, but still would need to find a job where ever we move.
Reason for moving to Texas: 1) Good for work, 2) Looking to get out of Sin City and have a place we are comfortable having a family 3) Values - seems to both of us that Texans have more traditional values then those on the west coast 4) Cost of living - Texas with no state income tax and cost of housing is similar to Nevada. 5) More opportunity long term - Vegas has nothing to offer long term
My wife and I are both pretty conservative, Christian, libertarian leaning republican, love guns, like hunting (ducks and pheasants), foodies, movie buffs, love the outdoors (offroading, snowboarding {yea I know good luck with that in TX}, hiking, mountain biking, etc.), big motorsports fan, etc. So with that said here are my current thoughts on each place and how they would fit me:
Houston - easiest for friends, housing is fairly inexpensive, good job market for the wife, great for food, all the traditional big city amenities we are use to (shopping, restaurants, theaters), Great night life, down side seems to be humidity in the summer (although cooler then Austin and Dallas?), and lack of outdoors activity, hurricanes,
Austin - seems the best for outdoor lifestyle (lake Travis, tons of events {Formula 1, SBSW, X Games } mountain biking in the hills, track days at circuit of americans), also a great food town, less humidity then Houston, Google Fiber
, great night life (music scene is awesome), however downside seems to be more liberal there, housing is more expensive, less jobs
Dallas - seems to have the least extreme heat in the summer, coolest winter (this is actually a plus for me), most conservative of all 3, cheapest housing of the 3, downsides seem too be: most conservative of all 3 (yes I know I put this as a benefit as well but can be a fault as well), seems like the least activities of all 3, most uptight and least receptive to out of staters (this is rumored, not saying this is true).
Whats all your thoughts? How off base am I on any of these? out of the 3 is there any one city you think we would fit best in? And of course which is the best town to own a Jeep in?
Thanks for any feedback you guys can throw out there
Thought I would post this up in here as if I moved one of the first things I would do is look for a local Jeep crew to meet up with and make some new friends.
I wanted to get some thoughts on my situation from people that live in Texas. So here it goes.
Currently I live in Las Vegas, been here since 2001 (so Im considered a local), prior to that grew up in Orange County area of CA. Recently married to a native Texan (she grew up in Houston and moved to Vegas for me about 5 years ago). She has friends in Houston, as well as I do (only 1 though) so Houston seems like the easiest of places to move for friends, however we have been looking at a few cites:
-Houston
-Austin
-Dallas
I work out my house as I do sales for a Medical Device company, and have the ability to move anywhere I want, however Texas would be ideal as we have a lot of business in the area and it would benefit our company to set up a location there for shipping purposes. She is a event planner and is looking to work in corp or charitable events, but still would need to find a job where ever we move.
Reason for moving to Texas: 1) Good for work, 2) Looking to get out of Sin City and have a place we are comfortable having a family 3) Values - seems to both of us that Texans have more traditional values then those on the west coast 4) Cost of living - Texas with no state income tax and cost of housing is similar to Nevada. 5) More opportunity long term - Vegas has nothing to offer long term
My wife and I are both pretty conservative, Christian, libertarian leaning republican, love guns, like hunting (ducks and pheasants), foodies, movie buffs, love the outdoors (offroading, snowboarding {yea I know good luck with that in TX}, hiking, mountain biking, etc.), big motorsports fan, etc. So with that said here are my current thoughts on each place and how they would fit me:
Houston - easiest for friends, housing is fairly inexpensive, good job market for the wife, great for food, all the traditional big city amenities we are use to (shopping, restaurants, theaters), Great night life, down side seems to be humidity in the summer (although cooler then Austin and Dallas?), and lack of outdoors activity, hurricanes,
Austin - seems the best for outdoor lifestyle (lake Travis, tons of events {Formula 1, SBSW, X Games } mountain biking in the hills, track days at circuit of americans), also a great food town, less humidity then Houston, Google Fiber
, great night life (music scene is awesome), however downside seems to be more liberal there, housing is more expensive, less jobsDallas - seems to have the least extreme heat in the summer, coolest winter (this is actually a plus for me), most conservative of all 3, cheapest housing of the 3, downsides seem too be: most conservative of all 3 (yes I know I put this as a benefit as well but can be a fault as well), seems like the least activities of all 3, most uptight and least receptive to out of staters (this is rumored, not saying this is true).
Whats all your thoughts? How off base am I on any of these? out of the 3 is there any one city you think we would fit best in? And of course which is the best town to own a Jeep in?
Thanks for any feedback you guys can throw out there
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth
yes you should move to Texas
Hey guys ...
Thought I would post this up in here as if I moved one of the first things I would do is look for a local Jeep crew to meet up with and make some new friends.
I wanted to get some thoughts on my situation from people that live in Texas. So here it goes.
Currently I live in Las Vegas, been here since 2001 (so Im considered a local), prior to that grew up in Orange County area of CA. Recently married to a native Texan (she grew up in Houston and moved to Vegas for me about 5 years ago). She has friends in Houston, as well as I do (only 1 though) so Houston seems like the easiest of places to move for friends, however we have been looking at a few cites:
-Houston
-Austin
-Dallas
I work out my house as I do sales for a Medical Device company, and have the ability to move anywhere I want, however Texas would be ideal as we have a lot of business in the area and it would benefit our company to set up a location there for shipping purposes. She is a event planner and is looking to work in corp or charitable events, but still would need to find a job where ever we move.
Reason for moving to Texas: 1) Good for work, 2) Looking to get out of Sin City and have a place we are comfortable having a family 3) Values - seems to both of us that Texans have more traditional values then those on the west coast 4) Cost of living - Texas with no state income tax and cost of housing is similar to Nevada. 5) More opportunity long term - Vegas has nothing to offer long term
My wife and I are both pretty conservative, Christian, libertarian leaning republican, love guns, like hunting (ducks and pheasants), foodies, movie buffs, love the outdoors (offroading, snowboarding {yea I know good luck with that in TX}, hiking, mountain biking, etc.), big motorsports fan, etc. So with that said here are my current thoughts on each place and how they would fit me:
Houston - easiest for friends, housing is fairly inexpensive, good job market for the wife, great for food, all the traditional big city amenities we are use to (shopping, restaurants, theaters), Great night life, down side seems to be humidity in the summer (although cooler then Austin and Dallas?), and lack of outdoors activity, hurricanes,
Austin - seems the best for outdoor lifestyle (lake Travis, tons of events {Formula 1, SBSW, X Games } mountain biking in the hills, track days at circuit of americans), also a great food town, less humidity then Houston, Google Fiber, great night life (music scene is awesome), however downside seems to be more liberal there, housing is more expensive, less jobs
Dallas - seems to have the least extreme heat in the summer, coolest winter (this is actually a plus for me), most conservative of all 3, cheapest housing of the 3, downsides seem too be: most conservative of all 3 (yes I know I put this as a benefit as well but can be a fault as well), seems like the least activities of all 3, most uptight and least receptive to out of staters (this is rumored, not saying this is true).
Whats all your thoughts? How off base am I on any of these? out of the 3 is there any one city you think we would fit best in? And of course which is the best town to own a Jeep in?
Thanks for any feedback you guys can throw out there
Thought I would post this up in here as if I moved one of the first things I would do is look for a local Jeep crew to meet up with and make some new friends.
I wanted to get some thoughts on my situation from people that live in Texas. So here it goes.
Currently I live in Las Vegas, been here since 2001 (so Im considered a local), prior to that grew up in Orange County area of CA. Recently married to a native Texan (she grew up in Houston and moved to Vegas for me about 5 years ago). She has friends in Houston, as well as I do (only 1 though) so Houston seems like the easiest of places to move for friends, however we have been looking at a few cites:
-Houston
-Austin
-Dallas
I work out my house as I do sales for a Medical Device company, and have the ability to move anywhere I want, however Texas would be ideal as we have a lot of business in the area and it would benefit our company to set up a location there for shipping purposes. She is a event planner and is looking to work in corp or charitable events, but still would need to find a job where ever we move.
Reason for moving to Texas: 1) Good for work, 2) Looking to get out of Sin City and have a place we are comfortable having a family 3) Values - seems to both of us that Texans have more traditional values then those on the west coast 4) Cost of living - Texas with no state income tax and cost of housing is similar to Nevada. 5) More opportunity long term - Vegas has nothing to offer long term
My wife and I are both pretty conservative, Christian, libertarian leaning republican, love guns, like hunting (ducks and pheasants), foodies, movie buffs, love the outdoors (offroading, snowboarding {yea I know good luck with that in TX}, hiking, mountain biking, etc.), big motorsports fan, etc. So with that said here are my current thoughts on each place and how they would fit me:
Houston - easiest for friends, housing is fairly inexpensive, good job market for the wife, great for food, all the traditional big city amenities we are use to (shopping, restaurants, theaters), Great night life, down side seems to be humidity in the summer (although cooler then Austin and Dallas?), and lack of outdoors activity, hurricanes,
Austin - seems the best for outdoor lifestyle (lake Travis, tons of events {Formula 1, SBSW, X Games } mountain biking in the hills, track days at circuit of americans), also a great food town, less humidity then Houston, Google Fiber
, great night life (music scene is awesome), however downside seems to be more liberal there, housing is more expensive, less jobsDallas - seems to have the least extreme heat in the summer, coolest winter (this is actually a plus for me), most conservative of all 3, cheapest housing of the 3, downsides seem too be: most conservative of all 3 (yes I know I put this as a benefit as well but can be a fault as well), seems like the least activities of all 3, most uptight and least receptive to out of staters (this is rumored, not saying this is true).
Whats all your thoughts? How off base am I on any of these? out of the 3 is there any one city you think we would fit best in? And of course which is the best town to own a Jeep in?
Thanks for any feedback you guys can throw out there
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Lived in Austin for 5 years and loved it. There are liberals and conservatives all mixed together. Surprised to hear people bashing Austin on here as most people generally love it there.
Did Dallas for 6 months. Coming from Austin it was a let down. Fort Worth was considered nicer than Dallas by all those I met there.
Lived inside Houston for 1 year and hated it. Pretty much a sh*thole compared to Austin. Wife drew some unwanted attention while washing her car at the local carwash one day. The guy was sitting at a bus stop and thought a woman was an easy target. He didn't know that her husband was in the next carwash stall over. After me threatening the guy with a gun he left.
Lived at the edge of Houston for 5 years after that and it was just OK. Plenty of blue collar and white collar folks mixed together. We enjoyed the zoo and that sort of thing with the kids, but still didn't like the traffic, humidity, and some of the thuggery around the area. Had to pull a shotgun on someone trying to break into the house next door one night while they were on vacation. Decided we were still too close into the inner city to be safe.
Lived on the very edge of Houston for 3 years (Katy). All white collar, but it was like a bubble away from Houston. Family loved it. Humidity still sucked. If you work in Houston the traffic still sucked. But, we rarely went into Houston so it worked out just fine.
San Antonio is usually loved by most people. The terrain is not flat like Houston or Dallas. My family has discussed moving back to Texas and San Antonio would be our choice.
Did Dallas for 6 months. Coming from Austin it was a let down. Fort Worth was considered nicer than Dallas by all those I met there.
Lived inside Houston for 1 year and hated it. Pretty much a sh*thole compared to Austin. Wife drew some unwanted attention while washing her car at the local carwash one day. The guy was sitting at a bus stop and thought a woman was an easy target. He didn't know that her husband was in the next carwash stall over. After me threatening the guy with a gun he left.
Lived at the edge of Houston for 5 years after that and it was just OK. Plenty of blue collar and white collar folks mixed together. We enjoyed the zoo and that sort of thing with the kids, but still didn't like the traffic, humidity, and some of the thuggery around the area. Had to pull a shotgun on someone trying to break into the house next door one night while they were on vacation. Decided we were still too close into the inner city to be safe.
Lived on the very edge of Houston for 3 years (Katy). All white collar, but it was like a bubble away from Houston. Family loved it. Humidity still sucked. If you work in Houston the traffic still sucked. But, we rarely went into Houston so it worked out just fine.
San Antonio is usually loved by most people. The terrain is not flat like Houston or Dallas. My family has discussed moving back to Texas and San Antonio would be our choice.
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Katy, TX
Been in Houston for 7 years (live just west of downtown), and have loved every minute of it. Traffic sucks, but its one of those things you get used to, and dont notice it after a while. Plenty to do, if you like a shitty beach, its about 45 minutes away. Great food, great people, great jobs. Housing is extremely cheap, but its worth it to step up a little bit and get into a nicer neighborhood as a lot of rifraf is in the area as well.
Austin is by far my favorite city in Texas but its also full of liberals. Gorgeous area though with plenty to do... and its far from flat!
San Antonio is also great, but with the way the job market is - Ill stay in Houston! Great place to raise a family (especially areas like Cypress, Katy, Woodlands, Sugarland)
Austin is by far my favorite city in Texas but its also full of liberals. Gorgeous area though with plenty to do... and its far from flat!
San Antonio is also great, but with the way the job market is - Ill stay in Houston! Great place to raise a family (especially areas like Cypress, Katy, Woodlands, Sugarland)
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Brownwood, TX
Hey guys ...
Thought I would post this up in here as if I moved one of the first things I would do is look for a local Jeep crew to meet up with and make some new friends.
I wanted to get some thoughts on my situation from people that live in Texas. So here it goes.
Currently I live in Las Vegas, been here since 2001 (so Im considered a local), prior to that grew up in Orange County area of CA. Recently married to a native Texan (she grew up in Houston and moved to Vegas for me about 5 years ago). She has friends in Houston, as well as I do (only 1 though) so Houston seems like the easiest of places to move for friends, however we have been looking at a few cites:
-Houston
-Austin
-Dallas
I work out my house as I do sales for a Medical Device company, and have the ability to move anywhere I want, however Texas would be ideal as we have a lot of business in the area and it would benefit our company to set up a location there for shipping purposes. She is a event planner and is looking to work in corp or charitable events, but still would need to find a job where ever we move.
Reason for moving to Texas: 1) Good for work, 2) Looking to get out of Sin City and have a place we are comfortable having a family 3) Values - seems to both of us that Texans have more traditional values then those on the west coast 4) Cost of living - Texas with no state income tax and cost of housing is similar to Nevada. 5) More opportunity long term - Vegas has nothing to offer long term
My wife and I are both pretty conservative, Christian, libertarian leaning republican, love guns, like hunting (ducks and pheasants), foodies, movie buffs, love the outdoors (offroading, snowboarding {yea I know good luck with that in TX}, hiking, mountain biking, etc.), big motorsports fan, etc. So with that said here are my current thoughts on each place and how they would fit me:
Houston - easiest for friends, housing is fairly inexpensive, good job market for the wife, great for food, all the traditional big city amenities we are use to (shopping, restaurants, theaters), Great night life, down side seems to be humidity in the summer (although cooler then Austin and Dallas?), and lack of outdoors activity, hurricanes,
Austin - seems the best for outdoor lifestyle (lake Travis, tons of events {Formula 1, SBSW, X Games } mountain biking in the hills, track days at circuit of americans), also a great food town, less humidity then Houston, Google Fiber, great night life (music scene is awesome), however downside seems to be more liberal there, housing is more expensive, less jobs
Dallas - seems to have the least extreme heat in the summer, coolest winter (this is actually a plus for me), most conservative of all 3, cheapest housing of the 3, downsides seem too be: most conservative of all 3 (yes I know I put this as a benefit as well but can be a fault as well), seems like the least activities of all 3, most uptight and least receptive to out of staters (this is rumored, not saying this is true).
Whats all your thoughts? How off base am I on any of these? out of the 3 is there any one city you think we would fit best in? And of course which is the best town to own a Jeep in?
Thanks for any feedback you guys can throw out there
Thought I would post this up in here as if I moved one of the first things I would do is look for a local Jeep crew to meet up with and make some new friends.
I wanted to get some thoughts on my situation from people that live in Texas. So here it goes.
Currently I live in Las Vegas, been here since 2001 (so Im considered a local), prior to that grew up in Orange County area of CA. Recently married to a native Texan (she grew up in Houston and moved to Vegas for me about 5 years ago). She has friends in Houston, as well as I do (only 1 though) so Houston seems like the easiest of places to move for friends, however we have been looking at a few cites:
-Houston
-Austin
-Dallas
I work out my house as I do sales for a Medical Device company, and have the ability to move anywhere I want, however Texas would be ideal as we have a lot of business in the area and it would benefit our company to set up a location there for shipping purposes. She is a event planner and is looking to work in corp or charitable events, but still would need to find a job where ever we move.
Reason for moving to Texas: 1) Good for work, 2) Looking to get out of Sin City and have a place we are comfortable having a family 3) Values - seems to both of us that Texans have more traditional values then those on the west coast 4) Cost of living - Texas with no state income tax and cost of housing is similar to Nevada. 5) More opportunity long term - Vegas has nothing to offer long term
My wife and I are both pretty conservative, Christian, libertarian leaning republican, love guns, like hunting (ducks and pheasants), foodies, movie buffs, love the outdoors (offroading, snowboarding {yea I know good luck with that in TX}, hiking, mountain biking, etc.), big motorsports fan, etc. So with that said here are my current thoughts on each place and how they would fit me:
Houston - easiest for friends, housing is fairly inexpensive, good job market for the wife, great for food, all the traditional big city amenities we are use to (shopping, restaurants, theaters), Great night life, down side seems to be humidity in the summer (although cooler then Austin and Dallas?), and lack of outdoors activity, hurricanes,
Austin - seems the best for outdoor lifestyle (lake Travis, tons of events {Formula 1, SBSW, X Games } mountain biking in the hills, track days at circuit of americans), also a great food town, less humidity then Houston, Google Fiber
, great night life (music scene is awesome), however downside seems to be more liberal there, housing is more expensive, less jobsDallas - seems to have the least extreme heat in the summer, coolest winter (this is actually a plus for me), most conservative of all 3, cheapest housing of the 3, downsides seem too be: most conservative of all 3 (yes I know I put this as a benefit as well but can be a fault as well), seems like the least activities of all 3, most uptight and least receptive to out of staters (this is rumored, not saying this is true).
Whats all your thoughts? How off base am I on any of these? out of the 3 is there any one city you think we would fit best in? And of course which is the best town to own a Jeep in?
Thanks for any feedback you guys can throw out there
Good luck on your decision.