There's a good chance we're moving to Amarillo in the very near future. I don't know much about the city, so I'm reaching out to my two favorite sources: TexAgs and Google.

Housing: We've been doing some easy browsing of available homes and we keep finding houses that fit our budget and style in the SW area of town - roughly between 40 and 27, bounded by 335. Opinions on this area of town? Good place for young children (8,5, and 3)?

Are there other areas we should be looking at?

Schools: Any opinions on the St. Mary's Elementary or St. Joseph's (both Catholic elementary) schools? Also, if we decide not to keep them in private schools, any thoughts on the schools for this area?

I'll help as much as I can. My wifes a teacher in Amarillo ISD, and I went to St. Mary's, my parents are still very involved there. I'd recommend St. Mary's over Joes. In the area of town you are looking at the public schools are all pretty good too. Make sure you get a hosue that will go to either Bonham or Crocket JR. highs, then AHS. I can't really recommend the other high schools, including Randall even though I went there. That area has newly built houses, but I found better deals in some of the older neighborhoods.

Tony,

Thanks for the input - especially about St. Mary's. Most of the houses I've seen fall in the zones for those two schools. Do you have any specific "older" neighborhood names?

Anyone else out there in Amarillo have some input?

SW Amarillo is definitely the part of town you want to look at if you are wanting to live in Amarillo. If you're willing to commute, Bushland (~15 minutes west of Amarillo on I-40) is a nice community with newer houses and young families. There is also a lot of development between Amarillo and Canyon west of I-27. I know several families with young kids that live in that area. Good luck!

Windsor, Puckett, Sleepy Hollow, Pucket West, Western Plateau would all be worth looking at.

And as said above, if you don't mind a little drive, you don't have to live in Amarillo. You could go out to one of the new developments at Bushland, go south to Canyon, west to Panhandle, etc. All depends on whether you want the big town or the small.

You can drive from Canyon or Bushland to downtown Amarillo in less time than it takes you to drive 3 miles in Houston.

You'll either love it here and never want to leave, or you'll despise it and can't wait to get out. Seems to be a place few are neutral about.

My Houston-raised wife loves the stars, the open skies, and actual seasons.

Your mileage may vary.

Do you mind telling us (either generally or specifically) where you're working? My wife works at Pantex if you need any inside (non-classified) info.

I don't want to get too specific as things are still being worked out, but it would be a top employer in the area not involved in manufacturing, food processing, healthcare, or education.

I appreciate the comments. We should know something in the next couple of months, hopefully.

Thriller, if by any chance the job is municipal, shoot me an email at tony 52398 at yahoo dot com

I'd like to share some info if that is the case.

Not municipal, more utility.

Tony, if you have any inside info...let me have it. You know I would love to come home, but the money and the job have to be there.

Lived and grew up in Borger which is a short drive away from Amarillo. Agree that it's a place that either you'll grow to love or hate. I personally am really glad that's where I grew up and wouldn't mind living there again (my wife disagrees). SW Amarillo is defintely where all the growth and development is, but also lots of good living in the smaller outside communities. Great plots of land near Palo Duro Canyon too, but they'll run up on the price.

Forget the AHS area. Go to Tascosa