Info/opinions on Marshall or Waco (Houston, Dallas: apartment, neighborhoods, school districts)

[domin87]

I am attending tstc and can either go to the Marshall or Waco branch.
I am from the Houston area, so the small size of Marshall would certainly be some what of a shock.
I read the majority of the long Waco thread... mixed opinions there.

so does anyone have any comments about the areas around North Waco or Marshall? stuff to do, eat, ethnicity etc...

thank you

[texasdiver]

North Waco would be considered the poorer part of town. TSTC is actually outside Waco to the north but it would still be considered the poorer part of town. Most of the upscale housing and growth is happening in the southern end of Waco and the southern suburbs like Woodway, Robinson, and Hewitt. Or to the west around China Spring. But there are also some very nice older neighborhoods within Waco along the lake and in the Lake Air, Austin Ave, and around Cameron Park. But the city is so small you can basically live anywhere in the greater Waco area and drive to TSTC in 10-20 minutes.

Waco is actually a fairly decent college town and I think you'll have more to do as a student in and around Waco. Baylor has an enrollment of around 15,000 and MCC has an enrollment of around 10,000. Add that to TSTC with an enrollment of around 5,000 and you have about 30,000 college students living around Waco. So there are a decent number of restaurants and businesses catering to students. Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth are both just 1.5 hours away so you have lots of weekend and evening possibilities to get out of town.

If everything else was equal in the two programs then I'd pick Waco to live.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by domin87

I am attending tstc and can either go to the Marshall or Waco branch.
I am from the Houston area, so the small size of Marshall would certainly be some what of a shock.
I read the majority of the long Waco thread... mixed opinions there.

so does anyone have any comments about the areas around North Waco or Marshall? stuff to do, eat, ethnicity etc...

thank you

I'd go with Waco.

Better atmosphere, more to do, centrally located to places like Dallas, Austin and the Killeen/Temple/Belton area, decent college scene, and more. North Waco is a mix of good and bad. Texasdriver is right, but he also forgets that those areas around Lake Waco, and Cameron park are considered part of North Waco.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

I'd go with Waco.

Better atmosphere, more to do, centrally located to places like Dallas, Austin and the Killeen/Temple/Belton area, decent college scene, and more. North Waco is a mix of good and bad. Texasdriver is right, but he also forgets that those areas around Lake Waco, and Cameron park are considered part of North Waco.

Yes, well Waco has a weird directional system that makes no sense to anyone who didn't grow up here. Anyone looking at a map will see three major geographic boundaries. There is Lake Waco that borders most of Waco and Woodway to the west. There is I-35 which runs through the metro area N-S and there is the Brazos River which basically runs through the metro area from the NW to the SE. Generally speaking people travel through Waco on I-35 and think they are traveling either north towards Dallas or south towards Austin.

However the actual neighborhood designations predate I-35 and are defined by the river. The older part of Waco that likes south of the Brazos is considered North Waco. The part of Waco north of the Brazos is actually considered East Waco even through it is further north of North Waco. So someone driving through Waco on I-35 will first past through North Waco and then through East Waco and then finally through the northern suburbs of Bellmead and Lacy Lakeview where TSTC is located.

For someone not from Waco looking at a map of the urban area will see a distinct northern area north of the Brazos that includes East Waco, Bellmead and Lacy Lakeview. This area is generally poorer and more industrial although there are pockets of very upscale neighborhoods, especially along Gholson Rd where people have riverfront property.

There will be a central area that includes Baylor, Downtown, and most of the older upscale neighborhoods in Waco. Some of this area is technically called North Waco.

Finally there is an area of newer suburbs to the south and west of the city including the towns of Robinson, Hewitt, and Woodway. This is where most of the newer residential and commercial development is happening. Most of the new subdivisions are in this part of town. Mostly I think because people want to be in the Midway, Robinson and Lorena school districts rather than the Waco, LaVega and Connally school districts to the north.

Basically you can live in any part of the greater urban area and get to anywhere else within 10-20 minutes.

[txstate]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Yes, well Waco has a weird directional system that makes no sense to anyone who didn't grow up here. Anyone looking at a map will see three major geographic boundaries.

Basically you can live in any part of the greater urban area and get to anywhere else within 10-20 minutes.

Its what makes Waco special to me!!!

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by domin87

I am attending tstc and can either go to the Marshall or Waco branch.
I am from the Houston area, so the small size of Marshall would certainly be some what of a shock.
I read the majority of the long Waco thread... mixed opinions there.

so does anyone have any comments about the areas around North Waco or Marshall? stuff to do, eat, ethnicity etc...

thank you

Marshall is a nice little historic town with a very well preserved downtown & it looks absolutely beautiful at Christmas time, but its just that, a small interstate side town with not much going on. You'd be going to Longview or Shreveport for everything pretty much.

I personally like East Texas much better than where Waco is located, but that's just me. Waco is an Ok place too though.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Marshall is a nice little historic town with a very well preserved downtown & it looks absolutely beautiful at Christmas time, but its just that, a small interstate side town with not much going on. You'd be going to Longview or Shreveport for everything pretty much.

I personally like East Texas much better than where Waco is located, but that's just me. Waco is an Ok place too though.

Longview/Shreveport [Marshall] vs. Dallas/Austin [Waco]???

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

Longview/Shreveport [Marshall] vs. Dallas/Austin [Waco]???

Why do people from Waco (mostly people here on C-D) always feel compelled to lump it in with Dallas & Austin when Waco is almost 100 miles from either city? If that's the case then I could lump Tyler in with Dallas & Shreveport/Bossier City, La. Hell lets throw Houston in there too its only 200 miles away!

Its not all about population. Some people like geographic location as well.

[domin87]

thanks everyone. after finding more information about the program, i am going to the waco school.
now to find an apartment... ill check out Woodway, Robinson, and Hewitt.

[Metro Matt]

Coming from Houston I think you made a wise choice. Waco is a lot bigger than Marshall & therefore has a lot more going on. Don't expect big city living though as Waco is a galaxy away from Houston.