So, an interesting question. Where to go with a clean sheet? It's hard to advise, since everyone's tastes are so different.
If medical facilities matter, then you need to be within driving distance of Lubbock or Amarillo. Same goes if you think you or your parents will need retirement homes or nursing home facilities.
If it's important to be near a college, the four years will be Tech in LBB, WTAMU in Canyon, and the church schools: Wayland in Plainview, LCC in LBB. Two years will be Clarendon and Amarillo College. Eastern New Mexico is right across the border in Portales.
High tech employment would be the Ag Experiment stations at LBB and Bushland, Bell and Pantex near Amarillo. Probably others in LBB but I can't think of them right now.
Major airports are also LBB and AMA.
The economy is pretty much Ag, oil, and education. If I could predict the ag economy, I'd be rich. So much depends on world markets and local weather. For areas that irrigate from the Ogallala, the aquifer is thicker and thus has a better future generally in the north and west.
The general topography and climate is that it gets higher the further north and west you go. It gets drier the farther west you go. The soils are sandier to the south. There's more cotton and less grain to the south. There is less grassland to the south. All of which means that in normal years, dust storms are worse the further south you go.
Wherever you go, there will be some really lousy weather days. But I like the weather in general. High altitude and low humidity means the oppressively hot days are limited, and the evenings are almost always cool and delightful. Sunrises and sunsets are amazing. If you're coming from Houston or similar places, you will probably enjoy having actual seasons.
Culture, AMA and LBB will have symphonies and ballets. LBB gets better concerts because of the Tech arena. The PPH Museum in Canyon is outstanding, as is the Ranching Heritage in LBB. Lots of good smaller museums: Square House Panhandle. Farm and Ranch, Hale Center. English Field Aviation, AMA. Silent wings, LBB.
Both Palo Duro Canyon and Caprock Canyons are worth visiting. Most local lakes are really low, but if you're willing to travel, look at the distance from your choice to places like Lake Alan Henry or Logan and Ute Lakes in NM. Same way, look at places like Red River, Ruidoso, Big Bend, Santa Fe. Etc etc, all of which are in reasonable driving distance. If you have. A favorite among them, look at the travel time to get there.
For scenery, I would enjoy living just east of the Caprock in the rolling plains. But the economies of most of those little towns are not good nor likely to improve.
Some of the panhandle/south plains towns are struggling, too. Places like Hereford and Plainview have had some setbacks, and the demographics are shifted toward lower income and Hispanic.
Places like Bushland are booming, and Canyon is growing. I think it's mainly related to the school systems, and it's sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy. People perceive the school systems and athletic teams are good, and they want their kids to be part of that. Parents who move to such districts are usually very involved, which leads to good schools.
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So why did we choose Canyon? Wife got a job in Amarillo, and I did not want to live in that big of a town. We had elementary aged kids and Canyon schools have a good reputation. It was within an hour of my parents. I love Palo Duro Canyon. I prefer Amarillo to Lubbock. Low crime rate. It's a dry (no alcohol) community, though it's available close by for those who care. I've always enjoyed the town, even when visiting as a kid. I like the combination of people: farmers, ranchers, academics from the college, college students, high tech folks who work at Pantex, Bell, etc.
Your mileage may vary.
[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 8/6/2014 11:31a).]
