Why Families Are Choosing Abilene, TX
As a military family, the Goldsmiths have lived in quite a few places, including Utah, North Carolina, Korea and Italy. But Alessa Goldsmith hopes their most recent move to Abilene, TX, for Dyess Air Force Base is one that’ll stick – just like it has for many other families.
“We’re hoping to plant our roots down for a good bit,” Goldsmith says. “There is something very special about Abilene.”
With three daughters, Goldsmith and her husband, Nicholas, have found that the community is a great place to raise children, and they’re not alone. Ahead, find out why families are choosing Abilene, TX.
In This Article
Welcoming Spirit
Dyess Air Force Base, where Goldsmith’s husband works, hosts a welcome meeting with newcomers to show them around Abilene.
“We were welcomed with really open arms,” Goldsmith says. “People were really excited to show us the city. They were excited to have our kids get integrated into the community, too.”
Kelsi Mangrem, a clinical audiologist, moved to Abilene from San Angelo, TX, in 2016 when she had the opportunity to purchase a hearing clinic. Now nine years in, she and her husband have grown their family, careers and community in Abilene.
“Once we got settled in Abilene, we joined the Abilene Chamber of Commerce,” Mangrem says. “One of the first events we went to was a young professionals meet and greet. We met many young, friendly professionals we now consider dear friends. It still amazes me nine years later how easy and effortless it was to get connected in Abilene.”
Affordability
Families appreciate the affordability of living in Abilene, TX. The average home value is just under $201,000, according to Zillow, which is significantly below the national average of $367,969. The affordability of the area was a big draw for Shelby Villarreal, who moved from Northern California to Abilene in 2015.
“Cost of living is a lot lower in Abilene, and the people are fantastic,” Villarreal says. “I don’t really have any family here, but I’ve stayed because I’ve made so many good friends who are just like family.”
Great Schools
Families are also happy with the education options in Abilene, TX. Goldsmith’s children attend Dyess Elementary School, which is part of Abilene Independent School District (ISD).
“Dyess Elementary is just fantastic,” Goldsmith says. “The teachers there really care. Their class sizes are smaller. They’re really big on family integration. Their parent-teacher association is really great.”
Abilene ISD and neighboring Wylie ISD have schools with A grades on Niche, which are calculated based on each school’s academics, teachers, clubs and activities, diversity, college prep and administration.
Villarreal’s two daughters attend Wylie ISD schools.
“The school system is so different here,” Villarreal says. “They really care about their school system and are focused on going above and beyond so people can go to good colleges.”
Outdoor Recreation
Abilene, TX, offers families ample outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking trails, parks, lakes and splash pads.
“We’re really big on being outdoors,” Goldsmith says. “There are lots of little lakes you can walk around and just feel the Abilene wind in your hair.”
Goldsmith’s family also enjoys exploring Abilene State Park, playing disc golf on local public courses and visiting the Abilene Zoo. The zoo hosts several events throughout the year, including Wild Days, Boo at the Zoo and the Christmas Celebration.
Kid-Friendly Entertainment
When it comes to entertainment in Abilene, TX, Goldsmith says there’s no shortage of things for families to do. Her family enjoys going to The Grace Museum, catching plays at Abilene Convention Center (where she works) or The Paramount Abilene, and playing on the indoor playground at Imagination City.
“There’s just a lot of diversity in this community when it comes to entertainment options for family bonding and quality time,” Goldsmith says. “I love having my family here and being enveloped in the community, professionally and personally.”
A few more great options for family fun in Abilene include the West Texas Fair & Rodeo, Winter Lightfest and the Children’s Art + Literacy Festival, which celebrates the art of childhood. Plus, Abilene is home to the largest collection of storybook sculptures in the U.S. and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature.
“You have so many things you can do here with your kids,” Mangrem says. “A lot of local restaurants and pubs put on regular music events that are family friendly, as well.”
Rooted in Family
Mangrem can’t think of a better place than Abilene, TX, for her and her husband – and other families – to raise their kids.
“One of the first things I noticed when we moved here and started meeting people was that a huge majority of them were people who were originally from here, moved away for college and moved back to raise their families here,” Mangrem says. “Another large majority of people here are retired military. They could live anywhere in the U.S., but they chose to stay or move back to Abilene. That spoke volumes in my book.”
This article was sponsored by the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance, a division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Abilene Chamber is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian organization that advocates for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow the economy.