...interested in less traffic, lower population with more 40-50 year olds and less 30-40 year olds.

Out of the following, where would you recommend and why?

Caldwell, Rockdale, Hearne, Navasota, Brenham, Madisonville or Huntsville?

I commuted from Cypress.
It sucked.

I'd go with Caldwell or Navasota. Both are close and 4 lanes all the way. If I needed to drive to Austin often, I'd choose Caldwell. If I needed to drive to Houston often, I'd choose Navasota. HTH.

It depends really how far you don't mind driving. I like Brenham and maybe Huntsville, but those are 50 miles away each. I think these are better towns. Navasota and Caldwell aren't for me even though they are only 17-20 miles away.

Steep Hollow, Edge, Kurten, Gause, Mumford, Snook in a pinch.

All of those more fit the description you gave. Brenham & Huntsville both have significant college populations. Caldwell is not exactly an "older" town for that matter.
Rockdale will have good "buy" points, what with Alcoa closing, but, that commute would be a killer, especially getting stuck in a two-lane-train behind a slow-poker on 21 (and a lot further to stay on 79 to Hearne and turn right).

Given the distances you are talking about, you could look to Cawthon or Washington--other than the shortest way to town gets you into the worst of the commuter traffic on Wellborn. Independence might make sense, you could take 50 to 60 and get into town, or you could take 390 over towards Washington, and have two options, 105 to Navasota and then 6; or 159 to 2154.

Really though, there are plenty of grown-ups in BCS as is; living 1-2 hours' away to not be near "college kids" might be a tad over-the-top.

Getting away from college kids is *not* the reason, they make shopping in B/CS a pleasure and their presence keep a paycheck coming every month.

I would agree, Cypress is too far, Huntsville is a stretch.

Out of those you listed, I would choose Caldwell. Lots of pretty country with nice rolling hills. Prices seem reasonable in Caldwell (moreso than Brazos county), and I would buy 10 acres or so with a house at the top of of one of those hills, and I would watch the sun set every evening. Also, as someone mentioned, it's a straight shot to College Station from there. I know several people who commute every day from Caldwell. It's a cute town with friendly folks, has some choices for restaurants, a grocery store, WalMart, etc. and yet it isn't too big. Other places that people mentioned (Independence, Washington, etc.), you'd have to drive a bit further for a gallon of milk, a box of nails, or some Tex-Mex).

Anderson would be my second choice.

nowhere really, one of the great points of living in CS is that I don't have to drive very far.

I commute from Iola and it's not bad. Live the area and land is cheap.

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Caldwell, Rockdale, Hearne, Navasota, Brenham, Madisonville or Huntsville?

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Of those, I'll say Navasota, which has decent amenities (decent downtown, a small but reasonable collection of fast food, Wal-Mart). Caldwell is too small and dumpy, Hearne even more so (not even a Wal-Mart). Madisonville and Huntsville are too far away (and two way roads, even). Brenham would be decent, if for the fact that there's no direct access to BCS. Unless you wanted to backtrack to Hempstead, have fun navigating twisty backroads.

Indian Lakes

Highway 36 to Highway 60 isn't really '"back roads" from Brenham.

Dime Box

Depends on where you work too for commute time. I work on west campus and live in Independence and it's 30 min from the house to work. It can take that long to get from Campus to South CS when school is in. I love it.

[This message has been edited by Furious George (edited 6/3/2012 9:42p).]

I commuted to SHSU in Huntsville everyday for a year and a half. It isn't a bad drive but a bit long but loved Huntsville. I then drove to Madisonville from College Station for 5 months. The drive was shorter and it was never tiring for me. I would go with Madisonville. My husband and I drive to Caldwell every other week and I think that is the longest drive even though mileage says differently. To me, Caldwell feels like a longer drive than Huntsville. Go check out Madisonville.

[This message has been edited by bearkitten (edited 6/4/2012 6:46a).]

Have you considered Franklin?

I would live about 15 miles east of Hwy 6 on OSR

That's some perrty country.

One thing to consider about commuting from Caldwell is the Sun! In the morning you are staring into on the way to work and staring into it while it is going down on the way home... I did it for years.
It is a nice town and has pretty much all you need. People are nice and it is a slower pace.

I did not include Franklin, Calvert or Bremond, what do they offer?

I am doing the Indian Lakes gig now and look forward to more land, a smaller house and hopefully less expenses overall even with the added fuel cost.

I need to spend at least a Saturday hanging out in each location.

All three offer you peaceful, country living. I'm not too familiar the people of Calvert but Bremond and Franklin folks are friendly and there are plenty of 40-50 year olds and older living there. If it matters to you, Franklin and Bremond both have good schools. Calvert not so much.

Franklin is larger than Bremond and has a couple of motels, a DQ and a decent grocery store. It is also the county seat and has a neater appearance than Bremond or Calvert.

I agree with a poster above. Find a place on OSR or FM 46 in Wheelock. Close to Franklin and a few miles closer to work as well.

Don't goto Navasota. Seriously, you'll come to regret it eventually

Mr. Palsgraf and I are saying the same thing, that 46/OSR area south of Wheelock is some really nice country.

Some really nice houses out on OSR.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5554-E-Osr_Bryan_TX_77808_M89787-11068

Only move to Burleson County if you DON'T want to turn it into a little Aggieland and develop it. There are more cows than people and it's pretty quiet. We like it that way. Most folks are friendly and mind their own business.

techno,

I could live happily in a 1000sf cabin and build a 5000sf barn later.

Sad to see that response from Trey Hadley. I know it's cool to hate the town in which you grew up, but navasota isn't that bad for what this guy is looking for.

1000 sq ft cabin

5000 sq ft barn

25000 acre spread

Sounds about ideal.

What's up with the Navasota hate? They seem to be doing good things down there with their downtown/city hall. Plus Montgomery is coming that way and College Station is literally 15 minutes away. I do think they have some problems with their schools although they seem to spend a chit load on football. Turf field stadium and when AMC was trying to hire their head coach it was reported that the navasota gig paid more than AMC job, seems a little out of whack but this is Texas so what are you gonna do?

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techno,

I could live happily in a 1000sf cabin and build a 5000sf barn later.

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I'm sure you can find what you're looking for, somewhere around BCS.

I would vote for Brenham. nice town,friendly people, good schools and athletics programs. we go there often. It's a 35 minute drive. hwy 36 to 60, make a right, and your there in 15 min. it's not "back roads" by any means.

[This message has been edited by eloc62 (edited 6/5/2012 11:15p).]

North Zulch

If you have any questions about navasota pm me...Or I can share my email address: (whoop03) at the typical gmail extension.

Worked for the city for 5 years, know what's going on for the future, etc. I'll be straight and honest with you with the perspective of someone who moved here after college to stay close to A&M. Didn't grow up here, etc.
We're in the 30-40 range, but my inlaws live here and are 50-60's and we have many friends who are Houston transplants in that age range and I can give you their perspective.

[This message has been edited by Aggoddess (edited 6/6/2012 7:12a).]

If someone asked me about Navasota last year, I probably wouldn't have had anything good to say about it, but that would only have been based on what I've heard other people say. Now that I'm restoring a house there and am in Navasota every day, I can honestly say that my opinion is completely different. Everyone I've met has been super friendly and the town does have a certain charm about it. My husband's aunt and her husband just bought a house there and love living there. I also love that I can get from my house in s. College Station to my reno project in downtown Navasota in 18 minutes. It takes that long to get from my house to my rent houses in Bryan. Just my 2 cents.

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I also love that I can get from my house in s. College Station to my reno project in downtown Navasota in 18 minutes. It takes that long to get from my house to my rent houses in Bryan. Just my 2 cents.

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This. A lot of people balk when I tell them that I live 25 miles outside of town, but it literally takes me 30 minutes to get from my house to town. You could easily spend that amount of time going down Texas Avenue or 2818.

I'd MUCH rather spend 30 minutes going 70mph than 30 minutes going 40mph between stop lights.

I live on Lake Conroe, about a 45 minute drive from kyle. However I go to church in Navasota. If I ever leave the lake I would by some land outside Navasota and live there. Still small town atmosphere but you can get to the larger town amenities in about 20 minutes.