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Moving to BCS- Bryan or CS?

10,939 Views | 75 Replies | Last: 5 mo ago by Barnyard96
trouble
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Most actual neighborhoods in either town aren't the places with crime outside of car break ins. There's drug issues in both towns but it's not happening where it when you are going to be. A lot of the CS crime is coming in from Houston but it's also not going to be people you interact with.

I'm off Carter Creek and Villa Maria and absolutely love my hood. We've been here 6 years now and I've never ever felt unsafe. My kids play outside without us watching every second, we walk the dog without worries. I trust my neighbors to keep an eye out when I'm out of town and they do the same.

I can't say anything about the schools because we homeschool but if we decided not to, I wouldn't move.
Sub4
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As a St Louis native and resident of College Station I find it funny how some people talk about how "bad" the crime is in Bryan. Sure there are some areas that have more crime than others, but that's not indicative of the whole city.
Bryan or College Station there are places I would and would not recommend.

CM_92
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I agree, as someone who has lived in South Los Angeles and Long Beach, while working in Compton CA. Shoot, I've seen worse neighborhoods when I was working in Salem OR, and Portland. Overall BCS is honestly pretty ideal to raise a family. I don't like the weather in Houston or Dallas, and Austin's cost of living is ridiculous.

I've been out in the country for over a year, and while peaceful for my wife and I, I want my kids to have more of a community. The avg age around me is 60 yo in the Caldwell countryside.
double b
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As someone who works with all the school districts, public and private, they each have their positives and negatives. They all deal with issues related to bullying, drugs and alcohol.

Be an involved parent, inside and outside the classroom, and you'll find success.
Red Pear Luke (BCS)
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I really don't think you'll regret moving to BCS.

We moved from Dallas for similar reasons and I grew up here. It's a great place to raise a family and grow together. We are in a neighborhood with several young families around us and our kids all play together abs run around while we sit and chat. It's great.

That's my recommendation - find y'all a spot that has some younger families so you can walk in similar journies! There are several, so it might just mean driving around on a Saturday and seeing how the neighborhood vibes check out.
TheOC16
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woodiewood said:

FILO505 said:

MS08 said:

Would not recommend Southwood Valley. I think The Oaks in Bryan is a great spot/neighborhood - sold a number of homes in there. If you are looking to stay in this home for a while and schools is a big deal, then Emerald Forest is another solid College Station option. Would not suggest Raintree. Shenandoah is sprawling but offers some good options. Reatta Meadows area off of Barron has good options and close to CSHS and a park


I bought in SWV, had my kid go through SWV Elementary, and all the follow-on schools (to include AMCHS), and I've yet to experience crime. And my kid got into A&M. Maybe your experience is an outlier? Or biased?

CSHS and AMCHS have different programs. Care more about that and your kids' future than whatever somebody says about neighborhoods they never lived in
All of CS including Southwood Valley are great places to live. The area on and off of Deacon from Brothers to Wellborn is very nice with no issues. I lived there for 15 years on one of the dead-end culdesac streets and loved it. I like the larger lots and mature trees in that area. Also no HOA which to me due to past experiences is a huge plus. Close to shopping, schools, A&M and many restaurants.

All of the residental areas of CS are very low crime and quiet. It's just a matter of your price point and what features you prefer.


I bought a house on Brothers. The house is amazing and I wouldn't undo it. But it definitely affirms my initial thoughts that this will be the last time I don't have an HOA...



...I just deleted the long list of kooky neighbors I have for fear that some of them are y'all...
legalbird
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How much are you going to spend on the house?

Dustoff00
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We moved into Mission Ranch (Holleman and Deacon/Rock Prairie) a little over a year ago. There are tons of kids all over the neighborhood and a good mix of us Older folks with kids in HS or College, as well.
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CM_92
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350-400k. Would prefer 350. There's plenty of houses that are in good condition and are 4bd 2b 1800sqft+. I definitely don't want HOA
trouble
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There are several houses on or just off Carter Creek that meet your requirements.
JP76
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I would never live on Carter Creek with young kids. Way too much traffic
trouble
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That's what back yards are for.
woodiewood
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CM_92 said:

350-400k. Would prefer 350. There's plenty of houses that are in good condition and are 4bd 2b 1800sqft+. I definitely don't want HOA
If I was looking at that price point, I would look at the homes off of Deason from Rio Grande to Wellborn. Many are on culdesac streets so no fast traffic

If you have small children, the area off of Barron/Southern Plantation where the homes have access to the swimming pool/tennis court. That would be a great location to meet other families with children of the same age.

Rex Racer
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Sounds like Memorial Forest.
Stupe
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S
CM_92 said:

350-400k. Would prefer 350. There's plenty of houses that are in good condition and are 4bd 2b 1800sqft+. I definitely don't want HOA
I wouldn't automatically dismiss a neighborhood because of an HOA. Ours is pretty good about leaving people alone while mostly enforcing yard upkeep and Christmas decorations still up in February.

No, I'm not on the HOA board and wouldn't want to be.

BiochemAg97
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Stupe said:

CM_92 said:

350-400k. Would prefer 350. There's plenty of houses that are in good condition and are 4bd 2b 1800sqft+. I definitely don't want HOA
I wouldn't automatically dismiss a neighborhood because of an HOA. Ours is pretty good about leaving people alone while mostly enforcing yard upkeep and Christmas decorations still up in February.

No, I'm not on the HOA board and wouldn't want to be.




Some people like valentines lights.
Aggiewoman
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I've lived in the same house in Bryan for 11 years. It's an older neighborhood (built in the 80's) and I'm a block from 2 main roads. Even though I'm around the corner from several HUD properties, I haven't had a single issue. I love the Bryan area because of its more "local" feel. Downtown is flourishing and there are more locally owned, non-chain food and shopping options. We also don't have to deal with traffic as much. I'm former LEO in Bryan and the crime is nothing significant.
histag10
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BluHorseShu said:

Carlos Martinez said:

I plan to move from the Caldwell countryside to BCS very soon. My wife and I are in BCS at least 2-3 times a week and we are starting our family. Target areas at the moment are Memorial Forest/Briarcrest vs Southwood valley. I've done a fair enough of research in both communities and school districts but would love locals perspective.

-Schools are a big factor.
(Is CS ISD really far more superior? Schools like Johnson and Bowen in Bryan are nationally recognized).

-Community to raise a family.

-I plan to stay in my new house a long time.
(1. A&M Consolidated vs Bryan HS,
2. developments in community
3. crime)

Anything would help.
Either city is great. Both have good schools, good developments and crime exists in both but you'll likely never experience it.

LIfelong resident who lives in Memorial Forest and loves the neighborhood


Speak for yourself... our vehicles were broken into 3 times in 2 years in college station (glass completely smashed in multiples windows- even took what appears to be a crowbar to our carseats in one instance). Lived off Holleman.

To balance this out- my house in Bryan was broken into twice (once while I was home, and I woke up with a methed out dude standing in my bedroom)- in Villa Forest (the nice cul-de-sac streets between wellborn and 2818 on Villa Maria near the dollar general)

Now we live in the country north of Bryan, and have FINALLY gotten out of BISD (had lots of issues at the elementary we were zoned to)
Vinewood_03
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My three kids attend BISD with the oldest heading into 8th grade. We have nothing but great things to say about their experience and teachers along the way. One thing you should know about B/CS is there has historically been a piling on of Bryan. Having lived here my entire life (BHS grad) I can tell you that most of the rumors are unfounded but makes for good fodder on message boards. Where ever you choose, get involved - church, PTO, little league...etc. You'll discover pluses and minuses to both towns - but overall its a great place to live.
trouble
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And Easter and Cinco de Mayo and Father's Day etc.......
FILO505
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trouble said:

And Easter and Cinco de Mayo and Father's Day etc.......


We're a festive people in BCS
Barnyard96
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We deliberately sent our two kids to the "lesser" of two districts in a Houston suburb area. Both finished top 5%, one was valedictorian. Both Aggies.
Gasbandit
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One thing that may or may not figure into your calculus - if you plan to do solar, BTU (Bryan) does net metering... CSU (College Station) does not.

IE, Bryan will "refund" you electricity kw for kw that you use vs put back, College Station will give you the same rate it buys electricity for from the power plants (which is much, much less than what it sells it for)

(caveat - if you actually give BTU back more electricity than you buy from them in any given billing period, they do the same for the excess as CSU - but that's a rare circumstance)
techno-ag
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Gasbandit said:

One thing that may or may not figure into your calculus - if you plan to do solar, BTU (Bryan) does net metering... CSU (College Station) does not.

IE, Bryan will "refund" you electricity kw for kw that you use vs put back, College Station will give you the same rate it buys electricity for from the power plants (which is much, much less than what it sells it for)

(caveat - if you actually give BTU back more electricity than you buy from them in any given billing period, they do the same for the excess as CSU - but that's a rare circumstance)

You will pay more in utilities and property tax in CS too. And to build.

We had a friend looking in both towns at different subdivisions with the same builder. The same floor plan to build was about $12,000 higher in CoSta.
Barnyard96
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techno-ag said:

Gasbandit said:

One thing that may or may not figure into your calculus - if you plan to do solar, BTU (Bryan) does net metering... CSU (College Station) does not.

IE, Bryan will "refund" you electricity kw for kw that you use vs put back, College Station will give you the same rate it buys electricity for from the power plants (which is much, much less than what it sells it for)

(caveat - if you actually give BTU back more electricity than you buy from them in any given billing period, they do the same for the excess as CSU - but that's a rare circumstance)

You will pay more in utilities and property tax in CS too. And to build.

We had a friend looking in both towns at different subdivisions with the same builder. The same floor plan to build was about $12,000 higher in CoSta.


Its about $10-15 sqft more between Oakmont (bryan) and Mission Ranch (CS). Same developer and builders.
A Net Full of Jello
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TheOC16 said:

woodiewood said:

FILO505 said:

MS08 said:

Would not recommend Southwood Valley. I think The Oaks in Bryan is a great spot/neighborhood - sold a number of homes in there. If you are looking to stay in this home for a while and schools is a big deal, then Emerald Forest is another solid College Station option. Would not suggest Raintree. Shenandoah is sprawling but offers some good options. Reatta Meadows area off of Barron has good options and close to CSHS and a park


I bought in SWV, had my kid go through SWV Elementary, and all the follow-on schools (to include AMCHS), and I've yet to experience crime. And my kid got into A&M. Maybe your experience is an outlier? Or biased?

CSHS and AMCHS have different programs. Care more about that and your kids' future than whatever somebody says about neighborhoods they never lived in
All of CS including Southwood Valley are great places to live. The area on and off of Deacon from Brothers to Wellborn is very nice with no issues. I lived there for 15 years on one of the dead-end culdesac streets and loved it. I like the larger lots and mature trees in that area. Also no HOA which to me due to past experiences is a huge plus. Close to shopping, schools, A&M and many restaurants.

All of the residental areas of CS are very low crime and quiet. It's just a matter of your price point and what features you prefer.


I bought a house on Brothers. The house is amazing and I wouldn't undo it. But it definitely affirms my initial thoughts that this will be the last time I don't have an HOA...



...I just deleted the long list of kooky neighbors I have for fear that some of them are y'all...
Geese and Gorillas?



I really can't say anything. We love walking by Gus the Gorilla and seeing how they have him styled for the season. And the geese near there make us laugh... but I'm not sure I'd want to live next door to them.
TheOC16
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A Net Full of Jello said:

TheOC16 said:

woodiewood said:

FILO505 said:

MS08 said:

Would not recommend Southwood Valley. I think The Oaks in Bryan is a great spot/neighborhood - sold a number of homes in there. If you are looking to stay in this home for a while and schools is a big deal, then Emerald Forest is another solid College Station option. Would not suggest Raintree. Shenandoah is sprawling but offers some good options. Reatta Meadows area off of Barron has good options and close to CSHS and a park


I bought in SWV, had my kid go through SWV Elementary, and all the follow-on schools (to include AMCHS), and I've yet to experience crime. And my kid got into A&M. Maybe your experience is an outlier? Or biased?

CSHS and AMCHS have different programs. Care more about that and your kids' future than whatever somebody says about neighborhoods they never lived in
All of CS including Southwood Valley are great places to live. The area on and off of Deacon from Brothers to Wellborn is very nice with no issues. I lived there for 15 years on one of the dead-end culdesac streets and loved it. I like the larger lots and mature trees in that area. Also no HOA which to me due to past experiences is a huge plus. Close to shopping, schools, A&M and many restaurants.

All of the residental areas of CS are very low crime and quiet. It's just a matter of your price point and what features you prefer.


I bought a house on Brothers. The house is amazing and I wouldn't undo it. But it definitely affirms my initial thoughts that this will be the last time I don't have an HOA...



...I just deleted the long list of kooky neighbors I have for fear that some of them are y'all...
Geese and Gorillas?



I really can't say anything. We love walking by Gus the Gorilla and seeing how they have him styled for the season. And the geese near there make us laugh... but I'm not sure I'd want to live next door to them.
The gorilla is far enough a way that it doesn't bother me, but the geese are near the top of my list. It might be cute (for a while) unless you have a highly trained waterfowl dog that is now very confused as to why our prey is allowed to taunt him from the protection of a fenced yard.
Dustoff00
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We built in Mission Ranch knowing this difference and don't regret it one iota... $30K More for the same plan, but location, location, location. FYI, we used RNL Homes and they are great. Best build experience to date and he have built 4 houses from scratch. Including Full Custom and also well known/respected builders (Highland Homes/David Weekly) in the DFW area. RNL hands down the best experience and quality. Costs a bit more, but when you are building hopefully your last home, you want what you want...
Dedicated Unhesitating Service To Our Fighting Forces
Rex Racer
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Dustoff00 said:

We built in Mission Ranch knowing this difference and don't regret it one iota... $30K More for the same plan, but location, location, location. FYI, we used RNL Homes and they are great. Best build experience to date and he have built 4 houses from scratch. Including Full Custom and also well known/respected builders (Highland Homes/David Weekly) in the DFW area. RNL hands down the best experience and quality. Costs a bit more, but when you are building hopefully your last home, you want what you want...
Love RNL, but they won't build on your lot.
Barnyard96
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We are building with RNL in Oakmont bc we felt the location was much less busy than Mission Ranch area.

To each his own I guess.
Dustoff00
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We lived in the Residences at Oakmont while we did our build and liked the area, as well. But liked the amenities, commute to all the sports(preferred west of tracks), got a great lot with greenbelt for our backyard. The last part sold us.
Dedicated Unhesitating Service To Our Fighting Forces
A Net Full of Jello
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TheOC16 said:

A Net Full of Jello said:

TheOC16 said:

woodiewood said:

FILO505 said:

MS08 said:

Would not recommend Southwood Valley. I think The Oaks in Bryan is a great spot/neighborhood - sold a number of homes in there. If you are looking to stay in this home for a while and schools is a big deal, then Emerald Forest is another solid College Station option. Would not suggest Raintree. Shenandoah is sprawling but offers some good options. Reatta Meadows area off of Barron has good options and close to CSHS and a park


I bought in SWV, had my kid go through SWV Elementary, and all the follow-on schools (to include AMCHS), and I've yet to experience crime. And my kid got into A&M. Maybe your experience is an outlier? Or biased?

CSHS and AMCHS have different programs. Care more about that and your kids' future than whatever somebody says about neighborhoods they never lived in
All of CS including Southwood Valley are great places to live. The area on and off of Deacon from Brothers to Wellborn is very nice with no issues. I lived there for 15 years on one of the dead-end culdesac streets and loved it. I like the larger lots and mature trees in that area. Also no HOA which to me due to past experiences is a huge plus. Close to shopping, schools, A&M and many restaurants.

All of the residental areas of CS are very low crime and quiet. It's just a matter of your price point and what features you prefer.


I bought a house on Brothers. The house is amazing and I wouldn't undo it. But it definitely affirms my initial thoughts that this will be the last time I don't have an HOA...



...I just deleted the long list of kooky neighbors I have for fear that some of them are y'all...
Geese and Gorillas?



I really can't say anything. We love walking by Gus the Gorilla and seeing how they have him styled for the season. And the geese near there make us laugh... but I'm not sure I'd want to live next door to them.
The gorilla is far enough a way that it doesn't bother me, but the geese are near the top of my list. It might be cute (for a while) unless you have a highly trained waterfowl dog that is now very confused as to why our prey is allowed to taunt him from the protection of a fenced yard.
I'm not sure how/why geese are allowed under city ordinance but roosters are banned. I get that geese give eggs just like ducks and chickens, but they are so dang loud. Roosters are -and should be- banned because they are a noise nuisance. Geese are just as annoying.
TheOC16
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A Net Full of Jello said:

TheOC16 said:

A Net Full of Jello said:

TheOC16 said:

woodiewood said:

FILO505 said:

MS08 said:

Would not recommend Southwood Valley. I think The Oaks in Bryan is a great spot/neighborhood - sold a number of homes in there. If you are looking to stay in this home for a while and schools is a big deal, then Emerald Forest is another solid College Station option. Would not suggest Raintree. Shenandoah is sprawling but offers some good options. Reatta Meadows area off of Barron has good options and close to CSHS and a park


I bought in SWV, had my kid go through SWV Elementary, and all the follow-on schools (to include AMCHS), and I've yet to experience crime. And my kid got into A&M. Maybe your experience is an outlier? Or biased?

CSHS and AMCHS have different programs. Care more about that and your kids' future than whatever somebody says about neighborhoods they never lived in
All of CS including Southwood Valley are great places to live. The area on and off of Deacon from Brothers to Wellborn is very nice with no issues. I lived there for 15 years on one of the dead-end culdesac streets and loved it. I like the larger lots and mature trees in that area. Also no HOA which to me due to past experiences is a huge plus. Close to shopping, schools, A&M and many restaurants.

All of the residental areas of CS are very low crime and quiet. It's just a matter of your price point and what features you prefer.


I bought a house on Brothers. The house is amazing and I wouldn't undo it. But it definitely affirms my initial thoughts that this will be the last time I don't have an HOA...



...I just deleted the long list of kooky neighbors I have for fear that some of them are y'all...
Geese and Gorillas?



I really can't say anything. We love walking by Gus the Gorilla and seeing how they have him styled for the season. And the geese near there make us laugh... but I'm not sure I'd want to live next door to them.
The gorilla is far enough a way that it doesn't bother me, but the geese are near the top of my list. It might be cute (for a while) unless you have a highly trained waterfowl dog that is now very confused as to why our prey is allowed to taunt him from the protection of a fenced yard.
I'm not sure how/why geese are allowed under city ordinance but roosters are banned. I get that geese give eggs just like ducks and chickens, but they are so dang loud. Roosters are -and should be- banned because they are a noise nuisance. Geese are just as annoying.

I have thought about getting into politics.

Maybe this is what I build my initial campaign on.
SPI-FlatsCatter 84
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Bryan is full

CS is your best bet. Try to be in Champions High area (CSHS) as opposed to Consol

YWIA
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Nothing is getting fixed in D.C. until we get term limits for both the House and the Senate
Charpie
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SPI-FlatsCatter 84 said:

Bryan is full

CS is your best bet. Try to be in Champions High area (CSHS) as opposed to Consol

YWIA
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