And no bass all the lakes done dried up I'd bet most places in tx would beat Kansas if you do your homework.maybe not the duck hunting tho

Lots of great info. Thank you guys!!!!

Gonna agree with Tyler. Don't think they have transplant services even though they're Level 1 (ETMC).

I gonna throw this out there . . . St Lukes in The Medical Center, Houston pioneered heart surgeries and transplants. If that's the case you'll need to be withing 2 hours of your center. Lufkin, Huntsville, Conroe all fit the bill for Houston. Conroe is getting crowded but it may be what you're looking for. Katy Texas too and they are close to Eagle Lake which is pretty famous for its hunting.

On Texas waterfowl hunting is not what it used to be. Most of our big ducks get short circuited in places like, well, uhhhh, Kansas. This is an ongoing phenomena for the last 40 years. Federal refuges stimulated by DU seems to be part of the issue. Panhandle should hold similar big duck populations to Kansas. I quit duck hunting for the most part 25 years ago. I'll still roost woodies from time to time.

Finances. The best bang for your buck will be East Texas. This brings Tyler back into the convo. I can't say the costs of real estate north of I-20 but south of Tyler down to Lufkin might be in your cost range. Closer you are to metro areas the less bang for your buck. Get a map and start searching. I live about 90 miles NE of Houston and land prices are stabilizing here . You could definitely get into a few acres and a pretty decent house here in your price range.

Oh, we need more Champions. Rayburn is calling you.

Agree to Greenville and Tyler recommendations. Stay 30 minutes east or North of Greenville, or west of Tyler.

Come on further south of Houston, around Tx City , by Galveston. This area is growing fast, new homes being built, a lot for sale, near saltwater, and many major hospitals.

Tx Motor Speedway is just north of Fort Worth too.. NASCAR..INDY

I just want to welcome another conservative to the great state of TEXAS!

As you can already see, there many great areas for different reasons you should be able to find something you and the family enjoy here-

Come on down sir!

Nacogdoches has a heart clinic etc.

Thats where I would want to live, 4 great smaller lakes within half hour, a hour to rayburn.

Belton Texas

Great schools.
Baylor Scott and White Hospital within 10 miles.
2 lakes, decent bass fishing within 20 minute drive.
250K will get you a very nice home.
Not familiar with the waterfowl hunting status.
Immediate I-35 access
20 minutes to Waco and 30 minutes to Austin

If I didn't have to worry about job availability, Nacogdoches might be my pick as well. It's in the heart of bass country. 2 hours to Houston. 2 Hours to Dallas. Nice college in the town. 250 should get you something decent there. 5 years ago, 250 could still get you a nice home in Houston. After Harvey though the reduction inventory of houses that didn't flood caused prices to spike. I prefer Houston to Dallas because of the proximity of the ocean, but everyone is going to see that differently. Good luck and welcome, Texas is a great state!

Consider renting until you find an area/town and house that you really like.

Nor Lubbock. Lubbock has a Heart Hospital and has been performing heart transplants for over 30 years. 250k will definitely get you a nice home. Lake Alan Henry is 40 miles away just outside of Post for bass fishing. Lubbock schools are good and so is Texas Tech University. Duck hunting is excellent but almost exclusively on private land. But once you meet the locals, I'll bet you can find a nice playa lake or two that you can hunt. Plus, Lubbock looks a lot like Kansas (which may or may not be a bad thing).