Living in Texas?

[lpace]

We are in search mode for a place to retire (we live in Connecticut and the taxes here are wicked). My wife has developed an interest in Texas, particularly in Waco (she loves Fixer Upper). I'm not against Texas, but I'm not wild about humidity and excessive wind. I've checked out lots of places in Texas with respect to weather, but ultimately end up with conflicting information. So, I'm wondering what people think that actually live in Texas think about the weather there (heat, humidity, wind). For reference, I currently live in Northern Connecticut where there is some humidity in the summer, but it is not overly hot. Not much wind. I did live in the Snake River Plain in Idaho and in Southern Utah where there was no humidity but both had their share of wind.

Thanks for your input!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I am not a native Texan but have lived in Houston a couple of times and also east Texas (Longview). I had a daughter go to college at Baylor in Waco and it's a nice town with lots to offer. Waco does have wind and humidity! The Texas hill country seems to be the area drawing lots of retirees. Boerne, northwest of San Antonio seems to be a popular and growing area. I have some friends (native Texans) that retired on Lake LBJ, west of Austin. That area, around Marble Falls, is worth a look.

No state income tax is a nice deal in Texas, but property tax tends to be high.

BTW, I am currently building my retirement house in Shreveport, LA, a place that some of the locals describe as "a nice East Texas Town." Located in the northwest corner of Louisiana, it's culture is quite different than south Louisiana. Less Cajun and more redneck . Summers are hot and humid and a good time to go elsewhere, but the rest of the year is pretty nice. Also, no traffic or long commute issues like Houston, Austin or Dallas.

 

[sierraone]

Under the right circumstances, I would most probably live in Texas. But my grand kids are in central (where I am from) and north east Arkansas. Will be moving back there in late October from the Florida Panhandle. But if no grand kids?......Probably to a smallish town in the triangle of Houston-San Antonio-Dallas. Spent a lot of time in San Antonio 10-20 years ago and it was hot as hell in the summer!

Been through Waco many times, but don't know much about it.

 

[CAustin]

We are in search mode for a place to retire (we live in Connecticut and the taxes here are wicked). My wife has developed an interest in Texas, particularly in Waco (she loves Fixer Upper). I'm not against Texas, but I'm not wild about humidity and excessive wind. I've checked out lots of places in Texas with respect to weather, but ultimately end up with conflicting information. So, I'm wondering what people think that actually live in Texas think about the weather there (heat, humidity, wind). For reference, I currently live in Northern Connecticut where there is some humidity in the summer, but it is not overly hot. Not much wind. I did live in the Snake River Plain in Idaho and in Southern Utah where there was no humidity but both had their share of wind.

Thanks for your input!

I have lived in Texas twice in the last 35 years. 1982 San Antonio and I loved it. However, it was very hot and humid. West Texas El Paso in 1987. Not humid but hot and plenty of wind.
All that said sir Texas is a great place to live. You will adjust to the heat after a couple of years. Austin is very nice as are parts of Dallas.

 

[BWH]

I’ve lived here my entire life.... highly doubt I would ever leave. Waco would far be from first choice, although location is ok. Yes we get hot... the further South & East you get the humidity gets worse. N. Texas is nice, but growing rapidly. Hill County is nice as well.... but very trendy & getting very pricey. If you have good working AC, why does it matter how hot it gets?

 

[Red Leg]

So we did what you are contemplating. After three decades in the military and another in the defense industry, we retired to Texas. My spouse is a Kansas farm girl, I am from South Louisiana (where real Louisiana culture is located), and we both liked Texas when stationed here. Also, at the time we retired, both our children were in Waco. Important to us, after eleven years in Northern Virginia, was that I was never ever going to shovel a milligram of snow again in my life. Another important thing was reasonable access to a well serviced airport to support my hunting and our travel interests.

Let me preface this next comment on the fact that having grown up on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, I know humidity. CAustin, San Antonio ain't got no humidity! Seriously, the humidity line runs along the base of the Hill Country and then angles off northward toward the rednecks in Shreveport. Houston is, by most civilized standards, almost uninhabitable for about seven months out of the year. The Hill country and points north have what I would consider normal to somewhat drier than normal air saturation.

We chose Georgetown, Texas. We like the Hill Country, on which we are on the eastern edge, we like the restaurants and entertainment scene of Austin of which we are a satellite town, and we love Georgetown. We can be in Dallas or Houston in a little over two hours, and in San Antonio in an hour and a half. We purchased a little 40-acre spread on the San Gabriel River just east of Georgetown, and I have a full-time half-time job looking after the place. We are literally 12 miles east of the geographic boundary which marks the Hill Country, so we have huge pecan trees rather than scrub oaks. Did I mention we love it here?

It is a toss-up rather Waco or Midland are my least favorite cities in Texas. Everyone loves Chip and Jo-Jo but remember before them, Waco was best known for Baylor University and Branch Davidians. The founders of Baylor weren't much into an earthly good time which has spilled over into the modern city's lack things to do. And we all know how it worked out for David Koresh. We visit there a lot because of our daughter, but frankly, it is not a very pretty town. Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Well on their way to destroying their own state, Californians are arriving in droves giving the old part of town a Manhattan Beach feel (without the ocean). Real estate prices are rising with the flood of liberals.

We are compensated for our mild winters by a truly hot August (and July and early September). Due to our relatively low humidity (seriously CAustin), it is a fair trade.

No state income tax is a big deal. Property taxes are high, but homestead exemptions help, and should you buy just a bit of ground an ag exemption is huge. Real estate costs depend upon your point of reference. Compared to Northern Virginia, our place was a real bargain. Certainly the Californians think so. I have no meaningful experience with cost of living in New England.

I would suggest getting on line and booking a long weekend in a Fredericksburg, TX bed and breakfast. It is a charming little hill country town, and with a rental car you can easily drive to San Antonio for a day and dinner on the River Walk. Or fly in there for a day or two and drive on to Fredericksburg.

In short, we love it here and our goal is to be hauled off this place on gurneys.

 

[Shootist43]

Texas is huuuuge! Because of that there are a lot of climatological options available. If you like green and trees than the Piney Woods is the place for you. If you like brown, very few trees and no grass to mow look at West Texas. If you like 8 lanes of traffic and big cities with lots of people Texas can accommodate you. I met and married one of the cutest gals the state of Texas ever produced so over the past 50 + years have traveled to and through all parts of Texas. There are at least three things that I can say about Texas that are probably universally true throughout the state. First they have very good roads, second it is always windy and third I never met a Texan that didn't love it. My advice to you would be to take several years to make your decision and travel extensively staying in the various parts of the state for an extended period of time to see for yourself what you like and or dislike. Them Texans been known to tell some mighty tall tales!!

 

[Bullthrower338]

I am originally from the Great State of Montana but have spent a large part of my adult life in Texas. The people are great here for the most part, very gun friendly with tons of shooting sports. Buy a place large enough to hunt on or expect spending the tax money your move has saved you on a hunting lease. I spent a couple years at Ft. Hood, south of Waco and did not like the weather although I was either running, crawling or humping a rucksack so I might not have a great idea of “living” in the area. The fishing around there is quite good though, especially Benton Lake and Trading House. The hill country is nice as well as Alpine and Marfa out in the big bend country. But with that country comes a lot of wind and dust. My favorite spot I’ve found so far is a little town at the base of the hill country where south Texas starts called Utopia. It is properly named, an absolutely beautiful place. Not to far of a trip to Uvalde or San Antonio for major shopping.
I will get back home to Montana one day, but until then, Texas is damn sure a fine place to live in the interim.
Cheers,
Cody

 

[BWH]

I agree with everything @redleg said..... He is very blessed if he has a 40 acre spread on the San Gabriel in G'Town. That is quite a score for sure. I do love Fredericksburg. It is an awesome little town. However, there is a drawback. That is an OLD German town/community. The heritage & lineage goes way back & runs deep. In other words, they love their visitors. Come, spend your money, shop, wine, dine, stay at a locally own B&B.... then LEAVE. It takes a very long time to be welcomed as a resident. Nevertheless, plenty of nice places for retirees.... Highly consider Glen Rose & Granbury. You will love them both. Also, The Sherman/Denison Area. If you are looking for more of a retirement "community", gated, golf course, rec center..... then look towards places like Del Webb Sun City, Frisco Lakes, Robson Ranch outside of Denton, etc.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Houston is, by most civilized standards, almost uninhabitable for about seven months out of the year.

I concur wholeheartedly! But I would bump it to 9 months out of the year! Thank God for Spec’s Liquor Store and their fine selection of Single Malts!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Never lived there but have visited quite a few times. The Hill Country would be my pick.
Having said that, rent for one year, go through all the holidays, birthdays, etc., then decide. Some that retire to a place they liked on their vacations or just spent a short time regret being away from family and friends they had in their previous residence and return home.

 

[CEO]

I can't say a whole lot that hasn't been said above. I'm about an hour north of Houston and the heat and humidity are the real deal. Texas is huge though so the climate can vary. I recently drove to Guadalupe Peak with two buddies for a weekend hike. 700 Miles one way and never crossed a state line. I don't have any adult experiences with Waco but one thing to think about is it being a college town.

 

[wesheltonj]

I live in the Hill Country, its hot and humid in the summers, but it's not Houston. My wife is a Realtor in the San Antonio & Boerne Area. Prices there are rising, like Austin, Californians are moving here in droves and want it to be just like the place they left. I can tell you that the Boerne area is a nice place to live, there is some new "affordable" housing, on postage size lots. The land value in my area runs about 200k per acre, (thanks to Californians, I would never be able to afford that price now) but not everything is that expensive.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Sign on I-10 when you cross from Louisiana into Texas...........yes Texas is big! Whenever I drive by this sign, it's a good feeling to know I am not driving to El Paso!

 

[Red Leg]

I live in the Hill Country, its hot and humid in the summers, but it's not Houston. My wife is a Realtor in the San Antonio & Boerne Area. Prices there are rising, like Austin, Californians are moving here in droves and want it to be just like the place they left. I can tell you that the Boerne area is a nice place to live, there is some new "affordable" housing, on postage size lots. The land value in my area runs about 200k per acre, (thanks to Californians, I would never be able to afford that price now) but not everything is that expensive.

200k per acre?!? Need to get a tad farther from town. Friend just purchased 100 acres outside Lampasas for 350K.

 

[wesheltonj]

The problem is I am as far away from SA and still keep my job. That's another reason the price per acre is so high.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

We are in search mode for a place to retire (we live in Connecticut and the taxes here are wicked). My wife has developed an interest in Texas, particularly in Waco (she loves Fixer Upper). I'm not against Texas, but I'm not wild about humidity and excessive wind. I've checked out lots of places in Texas with respect to weather, but ultimately end up with conflicting information. So, I'm wondering what people think that actually live in Texas think about the weather there (heat, humidity, wind). For reference, I currently live in Northern Connecticut where there is some humidity in the summer, but it is not overly hot. Not much wind. I did live in the Snake River Plain in Idaho and in Southern Utah where there was no humidity but both had their share of wind.

Thanks for your input!

I lived in the Dallas/Ft Worth area out of college. I moved there from the Washington, D.C. area. Not exactly a cold climate, but not a hot one either. Moving there from the north country, I don't care who you are, you will have an adjustment to the heat. And it's not just hot during the day. I can vividly remember when I was working graveyard shift passing by a bank in downtown Ft.Worth that had one of those signs that would display the temperature. It was midnite or so and it was 99 degrees. With all due respect my Texas friends, that is a perversion of all things good and pure. I say that living it now in Phoenix btw.

Some months later in my first winter there I woke up one morning to let out my dog. On opening the back door I was greeted with a cold blast that made me think I was in Vermont or New Hampshire. It was zero degrees outside. While that is not exactly common there, DFW has winter. It's not Minnesota winter, but it's winter nonetheless. So the joy of DFW is you get both the Texas heat and the cold. Another lovely aspect of Dallas winter is when you get the ice storms and the entertainment of watching people try to drive on black ice. You can and I'm sure have figured out how to drive on snow, but a layer of ice you cannot even see is a whole new adventure you really can't prepare for.

The DFW are has much to offer, but not in my mind as a retirement destination at least in regards to weather. Other than my 2 years in DFW, I've not lived in Texas. But I was there long enough to marry a Texas girl. And so over the course of our marriage I've been there many times driving most of the time. I now have a son in school there. As such I've covered a great deal of Texas on the road. From El Paso to Dallas, Amarillo to Dallas, Dallas to San Antonio, El Paso to Houston and on up to Dallas from there.

I'm not a big city person. I noticed you said you lived in Idaho, I'd suspect you were at least familiar with Pocatello. I lived there for a number of years. That would be the perfect sized place for me. So if I were considering Texas (and actually we are) for retirement, I think the first place I'd look at is Kerrville. It's about an hour northwest of San Antonio in the hill country. Fairly small town, but not a bump in the road either, yet you're well out of the city. However it's close enough to San Antonio that if you really need a city fix, it's an easy drive down I-10.

With it being as far south in Texas as it is, while I would guess there is still the occasional winter weather to deal with but would have to think less so than in DFW. It's also on the transition between humid/green eastern TX to drier/brown west TX. So some humidity but not like Houston.

 

[wesheltonj]

The folks from New Jersey are moving to Kerrville and bringing their NJ bad habits with them.

Soon the whole country will be moving to Texas.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The folks from New Jersey are moving to Kerrville and bringing their NJ bad habits with them.

Soon the whole country will be moving to Texas.

A Jersey boy in Kerrville, now that would be interesting to watch.

 

[postoak]

Humidity is all relative, I guess (lol). The lady that used to run the Afton Guest House told me the humidity in Boerne (Hill County) was terrible. I guess that gives us some idea of how dry it is in the plateau that Johannesburg is built on.

I'm a native Texan, never lived anywhere else, and if I was moving here and had any concerns about humidity at all I wouldn't live anywhere East of Austin.