Need advice on potential relocation - Killeen, TX

[ChoralScholar]

I interviewed with the Killeen ISD at a job fair this morning. I am very impressed with the school district, but how is everything else?
I'm looking for things like:

Cost of average rental home
Fuel Prices
Other cost-of-living things like groceries
Night Life/Entertainment
Politics

Any help would be appreciated.

[DenverDem]

1. The best thing about Killeen

is that it's close to Austin. That's the best night life in Texas.

It's probably pretty right wing as there is a large army base there.

Cost of living should be moderate. You will have Waco fairly close to shop in.

I like Denver, but I sure miss Texas. Good luck.

[Mattforclark]

6. shopping

"You will have Waco fairly close to shop in."

For the most part, don't bother. There isn't much you can get at a Waco Sears, Wal-Mart, etc that you can't get at one in Killen or Temple.

[lcordero]

2. It's changed a lot

in 1995 there used to be 2 regular nightclubs, now there is only one that I know of. The club is called "city lights". Make sure not to get out of hand there because the bouncers there are not the very kind or tolerant types.

Make sure to find the gas station that is the furthest away from Fort Hood. It's common place to stiff soldiers.

[mhr]

3. Because Of Ft. Hood, Expect The Politics To Be Extreme Right Wing

With gas prices on the rise, don't expect to make many trips to Austin.

Your closest city will be Waco which is Southern Baptist Wacko.

Personally, you could not pay me to move there.

Your mileage may vary.

[Mattforclark]

4. My parents live in waco

Cost of average rental home - no clue, sorry, but there is lots of space and new houses seem to be constantly going up in the area.

Fuel Prices - Last time I was there (around Christmas), I think they were about $1.50/gallon.

Other cost-of-living things like groceries - HEB is a very good grocery chain. Cost of groceries obviously depends on what you buy, but I don't see a reason why food prices in Killeen would be inflated much.

Night Life/Entertainment - Beyond movies, restaurants, and other basic things, not too much. At least that's in Waco. But there should be plenty of night life type stuff geared towards the soldiers at Fort Hood, if that's what makes you tick. On the bright side, Austin isn't that far away, and it has a great music scene, etc.

Politics - If you move quickly, you can be represented by Chet Edwards until November. After that, enjoy the Republicans... Maybe in 10 to 15 years the dems can stage a comeback in TX, if the hispanic vote trends work out right.

[Wwagsthedog]

5. Killeen is 35 miles, as the proverbial crow flies, from Crawford

Dominant industry is Fort Hood
Rent: Low to Medium $$ (depending on what you're used to)
Fuel: Lower than most of the country
Costs: Reasonable
Night/Ent: Honky tonk
Politics: Saying far right would be a moderate position
Schools: Texas is near the bottom v/v $/student ratio

Hope this helps

[ChoralScholar]

7. They're offering $35,000 plus stipend

for a Bachelor's Degree and no experience. The recruiter painted a good picture, but I wanted to get the word from people who had spent some time there.

Thanks for the input. I'm holding out for a particular job in north Arkansas, but I'm keeping my options open.

[DenverDem]

8. North Arkansas is beautiful.

Probably socially backassward but no moreso than Killeen.

But Austin is still only about 60 miles south of Killeen and is one of the great cities in the country.

[argyl]

9. Couple of good things not mentioned.Countryside is attractive.

This depends on the season;summers in Texas are always bad.Also,Temple,Texas is closeby(closer than Waco).
It's smaller than Waco but as for shopping and a change of pace it might be nice.Killeen is a military town but Temple is not.
I have fond memories of living in that area but I was just a kid.

[SmileyBoy]

10. The only thing I know about Killeen is that cafeteria shooting in 1991.

I remember watching it on the news when I was 9 or so. Some mental dude shot and killed 22 people.

[mykpart]

12. Yeah, that guy that drove a truck through the wall at

Luby's and opened fire. And then there's always the Branch Davidian shootout at nearby Waco. Hope you're not a gun control advocate!

[I AM SPARTACUS]

11. Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

(Abandon hope all ye who enter here)