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Are you thinking of moving or relocating to Victoria, Texas? Would you like to know what the quality of life is like living in Victoria?
Keri reports in this review:
| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? | | Summers are unbearably hot and rather humid. Winters are chilly (think 40's) and wet. Victoria is hurricane-prone, but rarely takes a direct hit. There is significant rainfall in the fall and spring. | | As in other cities of the size, there are good areas and bad areas. In the suburbs, the houses are large and ostentatious, and crime is virtually unheard of. In the bad areas, there is a lot of gang violence. Think guns, knives, rape, etc. | | Good neighborhoods are those surrounding the Victoria Mall, from John Stockbauer to Highway 77, and those near the Houston Highway (Hwy 59) and Loop 459. These neighborhoods are inhabited mostly by Whites and college-educated Blacks and Hispanics. The city has grown a lot over the past few years, so areas that were once suburban are now integrated into the city itself. The bad parts of town are generally north of Laurent Street. They are mostly Black and Hispanic, with a fair number of Whites. There is a very high number of high school dropouts, which many people blame on the low-quality public high schools. High school dropouts and illegals are concentrated heavily in the area surrounding Laurent Street. | | The people are somewhat friendly. If you walk into a store, you will probably be greeted politely, but don't expect to engage in more than the usual pleasantries with the workers. There is a strong Hispanic presence (think 50% and up), as is the case in the rest of South Texas. There is a large number of illegal immigrants and high school dropouts, so competition for minimum-wage jobs is high. | | Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life | | The downtown area is up and coming. It was and still is a poor area, but there are some very nice downtown areas to explore. | | Johnny Carino's, Casa Ole, Ramsey's, Rosebud Cafe | | Elementary schools are great. Middle and high schools are terrible. | | There aren't really any meeting hubs for singles. Singles need to get involved in a community group, such as a church, YMCA, etc. | | Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions | | There is a nearby regional airport, but unless you live next to it, you won't notice the planes. There is a train track, but again, unless you live next to it, you won't notice it. | | Victoria is the seat of Victoria County, which consists mostly of small cities such as Inez, Cuero, and Goliad. Many residents of the surrounding cities come to Victoria for shopping and events. Farmers in the outlying areas sell their produce at the Victoria farmer's markets. Victoria is exactly two hours from Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, all of which have bigger malls, more events, and better colleges. | | DeTar | | Riverside Park, shooting range, Victoria Mall | | General comments | | | | | | | | The town generally feels like a growing South Texas city. It has a healthy level of diversity and local entrepreneurship. Texan and Hispanic culture are ver prevalent. There are a lot of places for kids, plenty of shopping, and local parks. | | | | | | |
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