Comfortable, Conservative and Safe Place to Live
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9/1/2022
I moved here seven years ago for my job and I have to say it was better than I expected. First off, it is a small city not a small town. After you live here for awhile, having to drive for more than 20 minutes to get somewhere you need to go is considered too far. Meaning, most things are conveniently located and easily accessible--if you have a car. So here a some non-political statements:
-When I first got here housing was affordable but now not so much. People moving here from more expensive places are, according to a realtor I talked to, are bidding up prices.
-Overall, cost of living is affordable and grocery store prices are 20% lower than anywhere else I have lived (and I have lived all over the United States).
-Everybody, and I mean everybody is nice as long as you are nice to them back. To me that is very refreshing, but others find it creepy. Depends on where you come from and what you are used to.
-Yes the area is very conservative. That means people here are willing to extend a hand up. They will not offer a hand out-you need to earn what you get. Again, some find that refreshing, some find it mean. Let you conscience be your guide.
-There are a wide variety of restaurants but a lot of them are restaurant chains. You can find local only places, and they tend to be quite popular, but with over 60,000 Texas A&M students here, they are looking for hometown comforts which means regional and sometimes national chains.
-Health care services are improving but for specialty services, you will be driving 90 minutes to Houston (providing Houston traffic is its normal self. If there are incidents that can double!).
-Crime is low, but as the area grows, it is increasing. According to the police chief, we are seeing criminals driving up from Houston to take advantage of locals lack of crime crime concern. No break-ins to homes, but things like catalytic converters being taken and unlocked cars being robbed. People here complain that its not like it used to be where you could leaves homes and cars unlocked, but I never lived in a place where you could do that, so for me it is a non-issue.
-The weather here is like a good chili pepper. It can range from mild to really hot. We have had snow twice in my seven years, but for the most part, you don't need a winter coat. A lightly-insulated coat every once in a while with light gloves, yes but usually not a winter coat. Two mild tornadoes (EF-2 and below for very short distances). No hurricane force winds and no hurricanes, but some heavy rain events that cause localized flooding in low-lying areas. You drive downhill to get to Houston, so we seem elevated enough to keep us safe. Having said that, we have not been in the path of the remnants of a hurricane since I have been here.
-College Station schools are top notch. Bryan (the twin city to College Station) not so much. Being in a republican-controlled area, they teach conservative values. So if letting students choose their own pronouns to describe themselves is what you want, this is not the place to raise your kids.
-Everything revolves around Texas A&M, from sports to entertainment. Texas A&M prides itself on conservative values, so if you a looking for a liberal college town, this is not for you.
-Unless you have a white-collar job at the University, in the bio-tech industry, or in financial, real-estate, or related services, then yes your job prospects are in retail and services. You either need an employable college degree or have a trade skill to earn more than minimum.
-People here attend church regularly, but they don't shove religion in your face. Having said that, the local religion is predominately conservative which aligns with local political views. There are liberal protestant churches and there are conservative protestant churches but finding one in the middle will be difficult (I know because I have being trying for the seven years I have been here.)
Overall, I find this a comfortable, conservative and safe place to live.
Daniel | College Station, TX