Texas, the second largest state in the country, is also the nation’s fastest-growing state. Here are five happening Texas towns to consider that are not Austin or Dallas.
Texas – Second Largest State in Country by Size & Population Is Also the Fastest-Growing State
Texas has earned its status as the second-largest state in the country. honestly Texas has more than 268,000 square miles within its borders plus its population numbers now top +29M people.
Additionally, Texas is the fastest-growing state in the country, according to the US Census Bureau. Between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020, 374,000 people moved to Texas. No doubt that 374,000 count is much higher now with so many more people relocating to Texas during the COVID pandemic.
Five Towns Outside of Austin & Dallas to Explore
There are plenty of locations within the state of Texas to explore in addition to and outside of Austin and Dallas. Check out how your and/or your client’s burgeoning Texas lifestyle matches up with these towns:
Corpus Christi
If you and/or your client are looking for an outdoor lifestyle focused in and around water, check out Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is located on the Gulf of Mexico with two islands well within reach, Padre Island and Mustang Island.
Boating, kayaking, windsurfing (Corpus Christi gets a lot of wind), paddle-boarding, and swimming are all very popular. Corpus Christi Bay is relatively shallow so, according to Zoe Gottlich, an agent with Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel Realtors in Corpus Christi, “…you need a flat-bottomed boat.” Those wanting bigger boats tend to consider living on Padre Island.
Gottich pointed out that Corpus Christi has the same quality of food, culture, and music venues as Austin, just on a smaller scale. Gottich said, “We’re getting more tech people and businessowners moving here from Austin and other places because Corpus Christi is a little more relaxed, has less traffic and is close to the beaches.”
Fort Worth
John Zimmerman, an agent with Compass in Fort Worth, said, “Fort Worth has one of the most attractive business climates in Texas, so we’re seeing many business owners from California, Illinois and the East Coast relocate here… (it’s also) a culturally well-rounded place to live, with a vibrant food scene, world-class art museums and performing arts centers.”
Montrachet, a new top-tier development, is just 10 minutes from the city and offers potential buyers luxury homes starting at $1M+ and 50-acres of parks and open space. Rivercrest is an older, more established community that offers lux homes on one-half acre lots.
And, of course, there are large, fantasy-like Texas compounds just 15-minutes from downtown that offer a 12,000 square-foot main house and guest house, pool, putting green and expansive indoor and outdoor spaces for living, working and entertaining.
Marfa
Known primarily as a high-desert ranching community before in the acclaimed minimalist artist Donald Judd came to this off-the-beaten-path small town in the 1970’s, Marfa is a destination for international art lovers and people wanting to escape the humidity and heat of other parts of Texas.
According to Lauren Meador Fowlkes, an agent with Far West Texas Realty in Marfa, the small town (1.5 miles end to end) changed its focus from an agricultural area to a tourism-based economy with “phenomenal” restaurants and boutique hotels.
Many of the town’s 2,000 residents work remotely in mostly in-town homes built on 5,000-square-foot lots. Fowlkes said the luxury market starts at approximately $500,000.
With drive-time to San Antonio or Austin taking more than five to six hours, Marfa is considered to be a remote location.
San Antonio
Just 90 minutes from Austin, “San Antonio attracts people who are looking for more privacy…” with some of the same great music and food scenes as its neighbors. Tamara Strait, an agent with Phyllis Browning Co. in San Antonio and the listing agent for her father-in-law’s, George Strait, custom adobe home.
Strait said, “You can get more land for your money than in Austin…People move here from other parts of Texas, from California, Seattle and New York because they like living in the Hill Country that surrounds downtown and having the convenience of being close to the city.”
San Marcos
Sandwiched in between Austin and San Antonio, San Marcos is a Hill Country town with Hill Country (Austin) amenities and a great music scene. Two rivers cut through the town.
Newer residents are coming from California and Colorado. Typical lux properties sit on one-half acre to an acre of land and are priced from $1M. Homes typically have 4-5 bedrooms, a swimming pool, outdoor entertaining spaces and both outdoor and indoor fireplaces.
Thanks to MansionGlobal.
