I want to move to Texas but need help narrowing it down to which cities to consider (colleges, economy, etc.) (Houston: section 8, home)

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by triwing

Not quite true. San Antonio has more of a service industry economy for one. Austin has a tough job market, recession or not.

I dunno if A like the plague

You have got to be kidding me. Nobody has even heard of SMU or Baylor outside of Texas.

Maybe SMU, but Baylor is known nationally. Heck before I moved to the states, one of my friends left to go to school at Baylor. The reach is bigger than you think.

It may not be as well known as A&M, but it is still ranked higher.
Besides, the OP stated that she is moving to Texas, she won't need for her Uni to be known outside of the state

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by triwing

Rankings are not that significant when schools are near each other in the rankings.

It is when you are trying to make a point. The poster stated that she would replace those UNis with A&M as the top unis in Texas, and I pointed out that they were indeed ranked as the top UNi's in Texas.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by sweetsweetcyn

Dallas is a LOT less humid than Houston or Galveston or San Antonio.

stop lying. Dallas is less humid than these cities, not a lot less

[rr2005]

[quote=triwing;16155982]NOBODY in their right mind is going to want to move from Santa Barbara, California of all places to San Angelo...




I was under the impression the poster was looking for something different from Santa Barbara, otherwise he/she would not be looking to relocate. Poster also said he/she likes smaller towns and low humidity.

[triwing]

kaenniss,

The more I think about it, the more I think that maybe you'll be better off staying in California education-wise. Have you considered just moving to another part of the state?

California has excellent schools and I would put them up against anything in Texas.

The three most well-known public universities in Texas are UT, A&M, and Tech. UT is probably the most like a UC school but it's pretty overcrowded and Austin's nice and all but personally I'd prefer the experience at a UC school. Plus UT is a pain to transfer into. Their degree plans are a little loony.

A&M has a very fogyish atmosphere and it's going to be a severe culture shock for you. Being from California, you'd feel like you just stepped into the Andy Griffin Show at A&M, haha. I wouldn't really recommend it for you for that reason.

Tech is academically a major step down from UT and A&M, plus it is 300 miles out in the middle of no where. You won't really get to experience much of Texas if you're out in Lubbock.

I guess I could also mention Texas State but it's practically unknown outside of Texas so it might not be of much use to you if you plan on heading back to Cali. Also, the STD rate at Texas State is pretty high, just FYI. It is in a good location of the state if you want to experience the most out of Texas.

Personally if I were you I'd get a degree from a UC school and learn how to surf, but I'm not you, so take it with a grain of salt.

I'm pretty sure you're only saying this to p*** me off, but just so those who don't know better get the wrong impression, Lubbock actually isn't poor and this guy is the only person that I've ever heard say that.

Westerner92, I actually just spent the summer in Santa Barbara AND I used to live in San Angelo AND Lubbock for several months, so no, I'm not trying to **** you off. I don't even know you.

If you don't think Lubbock is poor, then obviously you've never been to Santa Barbara or anywhere where the poverty rate isn't above average.

Lubbock has literally NO major industry outside of Texas Tech. The non-students in Lubbock are mostly self-employed people trying to scrape by. It's freaking 300 miles out in no where, what did you expect? Jeez man, no offense but have you lived in many places? We're talking about Lubbock, not Addison.
Even the houses in Lubbock are old (except the new development on the south side of town.)

I think it's hilarious and horrible advice that people are actually recommending Lubbock and San Angelo for a guy who's moving from Santa Barbara of all places.

You might as well be recommending him moving to Siberia.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by triwing

Westerner92, I actually just spent the summer in Santa Barbara AND I used to live in San Angelo AND Lubbock for several months, so no, I'm not trying to **** you off. I don't even know you.

If you don't think Lubbock is poor, then obviously you've never been to Santa Barbara or anywhere where the poverty rate isn't above average.

Lubbock has literally NO major industry outside of Texas Tech. The non-students in Lubbock are mostly self-employed people trying to scrape by. It's freaking 300 miles out in no where, what did you expect? Jeez man, no offense but have you lived in many places? We're talking about Lubbock, not Addison.
Even the houses in Lubbock are old (except the new development on the south side of town.)

I think it's hilarious and horrible advice that people are actually recommending Lubbock and San Angelo for a guy who's moving from Santa Barbara of all places.

You might as well be recommending him moving to Siberia.

I don't think Lubbock is poor, I think Santa Barbara is rich (and BTW, I took a trip out there a few years ago as well). I am young, but I have been to 30 states and 6 different countries. There is also distinct possibility I'm moving to Silicon Valley next year. So please save your assumptions.

The 2010 Bundle Report: The 25 top-spending cities in the U.S. (plus: the bottom five) : Bundle

This article points to the fact that the cities that made this list were mostly relatively affluent towns with low costs of living. I know you were too busy being miserable in the east side to notice, but Lubbock is primarily middle class. Lubbock is the medical and educational hub for the western half of Texas and most of New Mexico (even El Paso and ABQ send the patients they can't handle to Lubbock). It has a higher than average proportion of bachelor degree holders and a much higher proportion of graduate degree holders, and that's not just because of Tech.

You say Lubbock's houses are old, but Lubbock is one of the newer cities in the US; it didn't even reach a population of 50K until 1950. That means that about 200,000 people live in houses built since then. If that doesn't discredit anything you have to say about Lubbock, I don't know what does. Can you tell me any area west of University (where most of Lubbock lives) that isn't middle class?

The fact is you are the only person I've even heard of that thinks Lubbock is poor. I'm middle class, practically everybody I know is middle class, Moderator cut: off topic/personal

[stan4]

Originally Posted by slo1318

Austin.

Anything south is to humid. However, even up north in the DFW area will be humid for you. DFW is nice to, but if you want a college town feel, than Austin is it.

I love Austin, but it is crazy humid down there.

Op, go farther north for less humidity. Dallas is nowhere near as humid as Austin or Houston.

[rr2005]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

I don't think Lubbock is poor, I think Santa Barbara is rich (and BTW, I took a trip out there a few years ago as well). I am young, but I have been to 30 states and 6 different countries. There is also distinct possibility I'm moving to Silicon Valley next year. So please save your assumptions.

The 2010 Bundle Report: The 25 top-spending cities in the U.S. (plus: the bottom five) : Bundle

This article points to the fact that the cities that made this list were mostly relatively affluent towns with low costs of living. I know you were too busy being miserable in the east side to notice, but Lubbock is primarily middle class. Lubbock is the medical and educational hub for the western half of Texas and most of New Mexico (even El Paso and ABQ send the patients they can't handle to Lubbock). It has a higher than average proportion of bachelor degree holders and a much higher proportion of graduate degree holders, and that's not just because of Tech.

You say Lubbock's houses are old, but Lubbock is one of the newer cities in the US; it didn't even reach a population of 50K until 1950. That means that about 200,000 people live in houses built since then. If that doesn't discredit anything you have to say about Lubbock, I don't know what does. Can you tell me any area west of University (where most of Lubbock lives) that isn't middle class?

The fact is you are the only person I've even heard of that thinks Lubbock is poor. I'm middle class, practically everybody I know is middle class, Moderator cut: see comment

Amen!

[Bo]

Some posts were edited above and I've received a few comments about this thread behind the scenes. Here's a reminder from the TOS for the thread:

Our opinions on a location or issue are just that, opinions. Highly subjective. Personal preferences. Quirks, even. Leave wiggle room for dialogue, others may not see things the same as you, or been there as long as you, and any one of us can be wrong. Pouncing on someone you disagree with runs contrary to the spirit of this board and its members. We are here to help each other.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by kaenniss

I'm currently living in Santa Barbara, CA and going to college. I want to transfer to a University in Texas because I've always been drawn to the state I just am not sure which part of Texas to move to. Things I am taking into consideration are:
1. Weather- I don't mind hot weather or severe winters or anything I would just prefer to avoid humidity if that's even possible haha
2. Work- I want to move to a place where it won't be difficult to find a job with little experience
3. School- I want to be near a good University so that I can transfer but I will not be living on campus
4. Housing- I would like to live in a place where I can find a nice apartment

I like both big cities and smaller towns, I just would like to hear what people have to say about cities I might be interested in... Thanks!

If you want decent public colleges, smaller town lifestyle but close to larger metros, check out:

North Texas in Denton - 40 miles north of DWF, cool smaller town with low unemployment, good college scene.

Texas State in San Marcos - 30 miles south of Austin, close enough to commute/work in either Austin or San Marcos.

If you're looking for the better schools, I agree with SMU, Baylor, UT, A&M (in no particular order) but also agree that A&M is somewhat isolated, as is Baylor.

TCU is another good private university.

Not sure how far along you are in credits, but a lot of young people come to Austin, attend Austin Community College and, with good GPA, transfer into UT as Juniors. I think after 1 year in Texas, you get resident rates, but I could be wrong.

Santa Barbara is a nice place. I think you'll find Austin to have the most demographic similarity to Southern California, with regard to the people and the "vibe".

Good Luck,

Steve