Moving from Las Vegas. What's the best city in Texas to relocate to? (Houston: middle-class, crime rates)

[southeasttexas]

Secure a job before you come down. Let the job location determine the living location. Too many people come to TX without an established job, thinking "oh the economy is great there, things will work out for me...".

[Treasurevalley92]

Have you considered other options as well? SLC might be a good fit for you, It has a great downtown area for stuff to do but most of the surrounding suburbs are nice and quiet. Cheaper than Dallas, Houston, or Austin as well.

[Mark Senior]

Slc? San Antonio, Lake Charles Corpus Christi, no I'm sure not.

[Belldandy07]

Originally Posted by southeasttexas

Secure a job before you come down. Let the job location determine the living location. Too many people come to TX without an established job, thinking "oh the economy is great there, things will work out for me...".

Fascinating you mention that, as I'm constantly looking into the possibility of securing a job before the move, yet so many other people on this very forum have told others that getting a job without a face-to-face interview is impossible. Would you happen to have any insider tips on getting a job interview before the move? Such feedback would be most appreciated.

At the moment, I'm still doing heavy research on Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Arlington for possible options. Nothing is written in stone, and this move will take place within 6 months-1 year, so there's still plenty of time for decisions to be made and for savings to stock up. We're certain there are tons of lesser-known cities that would work perfectly, too, so the homework keeps going on.

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by Belldandy07

Fascinating you mention that, as I'm constantly looking into the possibility of securing a job before the move, yet so many other people on this very forum have told others that getting a job without a face-to-face interview is impossible. Would you happen to have any insider tips on getting a job interview before the move? Such feedback would be most appreciated..

I have not looked for a job in over 12 years, so I would not be the one to ask because I don't have any latest info about a how job searches and interviews are conducted now. I think you could easily apply on line, and I have heard of "skype interviews" from remote locations.

I have seen too many people trap themselves by moving to TX, then expecting a job to easily appear. It likely won't happen that way for the vast majority of people who try it, then they end up on assistance.

No offense, but two people moving to TX without jobs and having just $2000 on hand is not a good situation. Rents have skyrocketed the past few years, and without current employment it would be very hard to even be accepted as a tenant.

[gguerra]

No one has mentioned smaller city so if you are set on moving to a larger city I would have to recommend San Antonio and maybe Ft. Worth as already mentioned. Austin, Dallas and to a slightly lesser degree Houston are WAY more expensive on the housing. Everything else not so much.

As far as call center jobs they are available everywhere and at different pay scales which are usually adjusted for the cost of living for a particular city. If you are willing to move into another field than it helps to live in larger cities as there are more opportunities (and higher pay).

So I do not know your preference OP? Do you prefer a larger city or smaller? It depends on what your activities are when not working. Smaller cities are boring but if you are the type that stays at home most of the time, it doesn't matter does it?

[tcualum]

Fort Worth and San Antonio are far from boring and aren't small cities. They're definitely way bigger and full of many more amenities than where you live. I don't think she could afford an apartment in a safe area of Fort Worth.

[StealthRabbit]

I would put your efforts into San Antonio,

There as accessible 'Other' recreation within close driving distance and very slim chance of tornadoes / humidity / population SIZE of DFW or Houston. (from beaches (2+ hrs) to Hill country (<1hr west) venues, all reasonably close)

Lots of variety, and is TX's 'recreation' destination (I.e. variety)

Also a variety of jobs / housing without the choking masses of Houston, DFW or the high trendy costs of Austin. But... you like Austin ? no problem, it is only a one hour drive from San Antonio and MUCH better to visit than to live.

[gguerra]

Originally Posted by tcualum

Fort Worth and San Antonio are far from boring and aren't small cities. They're definitely way bigger and full of many more amenities than where you live. I don't think she could afford an apartment in a safe area of Fort Worth.

I guess you were so focused on bashing the place that I live that you didn't even read my post correctly. You might want to read it before you criticize and you are right, the place I live IS BORING but then again so are most smaller cities many more boring than mine. I never said or implied that Ft. Worth and San Antonio were small OR boring. I mentioned them because they were good alternatives to what many others were suggesting; Austin, Dallas, or Houston. I mention small towns because they have a way lower cost of living than SA or FW and you can still get a call center job like they have. Some people don't want to live in a rat-race and actually like living in a small town.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by gguerra

No one has mentioned smaller city so if you are set on moving to a larger city I would have to recommend San Antonio and maybe Ft. Worth as already mentioned. Austin, Dallas and to a slightly lesser degree Houston are WAY more expensive on the housing. Everything else not so much.

As far as call center jobs they are available everywhere and at different pay scales which are usually adjusted for the cost of living for a particular city. If you are willing to move into another field than it helps to live in larger cities as there are more opportunities (and higher pay).

Ft. Worth may not cut it because of it's proximity to Dallas and being in the expensive DFW metro. Houston would be perfect but is out of reach due to the industry the OP works in. San Antonio is a much better fit for working in call centers.

Houston has nicer weather than Las Vegas, despite the detractors, due to the humidity filtering the heat of the sun, keeping temperatures from reaching 100s most of the time (unless there is a high pressure bubble on top of us) and isolated showers acting as a circuit breaker from excessive heat. I never liked Las Vegas since my hands would crack, bleed, and hurt even in winter. The only time I was comfortable was when it rained on my visit before Christmas and the humidity was closer to Coastal California levels. The I-35 corridor is a little drier and warmer than Houston, but not Vegas hot and dry.