Hey folks, I'm looking to make a move from the big city. I'd like to stay in Texas, perhaps further north (I'd love to grow peonies!) Does anyone want to make a pitch for their town? I'm a native Texan and have traveled quite a bit in East Texas, but not much farther than Tyler and Dallas. I could go anywhere, but can't decide where. I love older homes with character, am female and single (mostly happily so), soon to be self employed and would love a home with 5 acres or less, or in a walkable neighborhood. Any ideas? Thanks!
great mid size & small towns in Texas
Well, its really nice here. We are at the foot of the Hill Country and there are at least 4 lakes with in 45 minutes of here. We are only a 1/2 hr from Austin, and while there is a small town there is definitely country living also. There are also some gated communities that are walkable. What kind of business do you have?
HI --- Well, I have never heard of Liberty Hill. Thanks for your suggestion. I like the location. I have friends that live on Lake Buchanan, and I've been there. I assume the terrain is similar? I'm more familiar with the "green side" of Texas, but I'm open to checking out new places. I am currently an advertising account manager, but I had a gift shop for 12 years and am thinking of going back into retail/wholesale online. I am also looking for freelance writing, editing and proofreading jobs if anyone has any leads.
You probably drove thro Liberty Hill to get to Lake Buchanan, you may not have noticed it LOL.
Very similiar terrain. We don't usually have the humidity that the "green" part of TX does.
Funny! I might have driven through your town. I see a couple of "historic" homes for sale, even a building on Main Street! And, looks like you're getting a new sewer system in the city proper, so that sounds promising.
The only thing good about our humidity is that it's great for the skin, but bad for your hair! Can you say frizz? ha! Thanks again for your suggestion.
Don't EVEN mention the hair thing. I have enough trouble as it is. I think the sewer is done. Wait until you see Main St. HEHE. I'm originally from L.A., so I'm always amused that I live here now.
Well I have a pitch for a place close to Houston, maybe not as far north as you would like. I live in Panorama Village just north of Conroe off League Line Rd. It is a quiet neighborhood built around a golf course and started out as a weekender type subdivision. I moved here when I got a divorce and bought a small house that I have completely redone. I love the Village, it is mostly older retired type people. As a matter of fact my son has a house for rent/sale that is on a street that dead ends into the golf course.
It is only blocks from the police and fire station and the country club. If you are looking for a smaller, (not 5 acres) place that would be safe for a single woman this is it!
Hi Bobyrd -- My mother lives just south of Huntsville, so I'm familiar with Panorama. Yes, I was thinking of something a bit farther north, and I'm not sure the country club is my scene. I've tried golf, but I'm only proficient with a seven iron (and then, not very). ha! I'll admit that I've never ventured off the freeway to get a look at Panorama. I might do that on my next trip. Thanks for the suggestion!
Please let me mention my small town... Linden. It is the county seat of Cass County and home to the oldest working courthouse in Texas, as well as Music City Texas. Our little town is undergoing revitalization due to the restoration of the courthouse and several new businesses.
There was a time when I thought we just might disappear from the map, but I believe we are on our way to becoming a booming small town once again.
I'm including some websites you might want to look at...
www.lindentexas.org
www.musiccitytexas.org
www.tbonewalkerfest.com
I love this place!
Have a look around! Let me know if you have any questions.
Nia
This message was edited Sep 19, 2010 9:48 AM
I'm not the one moving but I'm really liking this thread. There have been some interesting towns already listed. I would like to mention my town as well. I live in Burleson. I am just south of Ft. Worth and SW of Dallas. Very easy commute to both.
I live in Austin proper but my husband's ex-wife lives west of Fort Worth so we've driven all over the place. I have to say one of my favorite small towns to drive through was Hamilton. Lovely older homes line 281, very walkable downtown. Every time we drive through I love to look at the homes (A LOT of Victorian homes) and admire that small town Texas feel. It's about an hour from Fort Worth and about 90 minutes from Austin. http://www.co.hamilton.tx.us/ips/cms
Here's a nice home too. :)
http://www.davidsoncraigrealestate.com/detail.php?id=2700
Can I make a few suggestions ? Make a list of what you want as far as accomadations Etc. water sewer gas vs electric,mail ,home delivery or post office,Medical facillities insurance cost note that the nearnest or farthest from the firehouse will affect rates..just some of the things I learned upon retiring and relocating.... A very good rule to follow is to rent first if feasible...
I live about 30 miles from Hamilton and love the beautiful older homes there. Hamilton has a top notch small hospital that is affiliated with Scott & White Temple. Restaurants are somewhat limited, though we have found one that has good Tex-Mex food.
Even small towns are too big for me. Head to the country, it's all good.
You might want to check out the property taxes also.
We have been house hunting for almost a month now. I suggest you follow 1lisac advice and check property taxes first. We live 30 miles east of Dallas and are looking to move further east in the country. There are a lot of small towns around that are beautiful and have homes for sale. Caddo Mills, Commerce, Royse City, Josephine, and Fate are just a few.
If you are looking for a subdivision to live in, Fate has 3 that are either finished or almost finished. Hotpads.com is a great resource for looking at homes.
Good luck
Tina
Rains county, Hopkins county, Delta county, Lamar county. DH and I love to go on a "country drive" on Sunday afternoons. Lots of small towns or "communities" to explore in all of these counties and not very well populated to you could find some room to spread out a bit and still be within easy driving distance to large town shopping and hospitals, etc. Taxes reasonable in all four.
What a fun decision to make--I had the same fun about five years ago....Good luck and let us know what you decide.
How do you classify small town ? we live in a town of less than 2k and it is a bit too small /8k-10k would seem about right to me ...We are both still able to drive but can foresee a time when that may not be feasable we are fortunate to have OREC(oklahoma regional elderly co- alittion) that provides transportation for the elderly for free to Doctors and any medical treatments ..My motherin law is rather elderly and I still take her to Doctors appt. and such but it helps just knowing there is such a service available
grits74571, for me small is Emory TX pop.1021. Salute!
Obviously, I think my town would be a good choice! Frankston, Texas......25 miles from Tyler, 100 miles south of Dallas, near beautiful Lake Palestine. POP less than 2,000. Lots of country homes and land for sale, taxes cheap, utilities cheap. TONS of people move here from cities to live the country life yet be in a small community and near Tyler and Dallas for great shopping.
Looks like I'm the only one who is out in the middle of nowhere with high property taxes, but I'm not moving!
kenboy-the country life is great but can be very difficult if you are a single female. There are somethings that I'm just not strong enough to do, but I have learned how to fix barbwire, and get the goats' head unstuck from the hog wire.
So many great towns in Texas.
Granbury http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granbury,_Texas
Marble Falls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Falls,_Texas
Bastrop http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastrop,_Texas
maybe a small place on Possum Kingdom lake
Oh my goodness! You guys are great! I've been away from the site for a few days, but my, what a response! I'm going to google all of these towns. Some I'm familiar with, and some I'm not. So glad to know that you all love where you live. I'll be back with questions, I'm sure.
My definition of small town is I guess less than 15K population. (Keep in mind I've lived all my life in the fourth largest city in the USA!) I'd like city water and sewer, but I could function with a good well and septic system. As a Houstonian, I'm used to having to drive for what I want. I'd be willing to drive up to two hours for good medical care-- gosh, I'd hope that an ambulance wouldn't have to come from 2 hours away! And, I don't have to have a Starbucks down the street. :)
I'm not looking for a new home. I really like the character of older homes, although I know that upkeep might not be easy on a single woman. I'll usually tackle any project, and if i REALLY break it, then I'll call a repairman! I guess I'm looking for a little town like Fredricksburg was maybe 20-25 years ago. Is anyone in on the ground floor of a little town that is primed to grow into it's own?
Tina, my brother and his family live near Fate in one of those new subdivisions. His address is Rockwall, but his daughter goes to Royce City High, and you can see the Fate water tower from his front yard! ha! It could be confusing there!
Karen, I've been to Frankston, too, but not in many years. There used to be the best antique shop there in an old red brick building on a corner. OH... I can't remember the name, but it might've been 10 years ago. Pandora's Box? I'll have to check it out again.
Thanks again for all the suggestions. This should keep me busy for a while!
Paris, TX; or Sulphur Springs?
Pandora's is still in downtown Frankston! BUT, it is much bigger and more wonderful than ever now, it has been in an old antique church building for years now. Patty was in the old red brick building when she first started out.....she now has TONS of antiques, and a huge garden center with plants, wrought iron and decorative yard pieces.....she calls it good "junque", lol! Pandora's has a website also you might like to look at....click on all the links inside and have a look around!
http://www.pandorasboxantiques.com/