Lubbock or Leave It Read Guide >
There's one thing everyone agrees on, and that's the fact that Lubbock has virtually no traffic. No matter what neighborhood you end up in, you can bet on having an easy commute. No car? No problem; Lubbock Transit Authority's Citibus routes criss-cross the city and NiteRide provides after-hours door to door service for registered users for way less than the price of a cab. That's right, no more court mandated anger management classes for you, road-rager! Unburdened by traffic and transportation considerations, you are now free to focus on nabbing that dream home – whatever part of town it happens to be in.
Ever lived in a city where open rentals were so elusive that any and all were met with competitors turning out in droves – checkbooks and perfect credit ratings in hand, ready to promise first-born children in exchange for even the most humble abode? Calma, tigre – that's all in the past. Lubbock vacancy rates are well above the national average – that means that rentals in every price range are readily available – even in the more sought-after areas. In fact, there's such an array- the best way to score the perfect rental is to find the neighborhood which best suits your needs in terms of entertainment and culture and then zero in on any available units.
Lubbock streets run in an orderly grid, and the city is often divided by direction, ie: southwest, north, etc. Once you've zoomed in on a quadrant, you can begin exploring the myriad of neighborhoods located within, or you may want to begin your search in one of these three popular areas:
Depot District The Depot District is the cultural hub of Lubbock and of late, developers have been renovating existing vacant downtown commercial space into snazzy, industrial “Manhattan-style” lofts. Just like SoHo! Minus the Olsen Twins! And way cheaper! $$$$
Heart of Lubbock/Central Lubbock: Most student-friendly (read: noisy) apartment buildings and duplexes are found in this area – which makes it one to avoid. Unless you're really into late-night beer pong, that is. $$-$$$
Tech Terrace: Just outside of the Texas Tech hot zone, Tech Terrace's great schools, tree-lined streets and charming single-family homes draw a mixed bag of young families and old-timers, all working together to keep rowdy students in check. $$$
Oh, And A Quick Note About Lubbock's East Side: Those who prefer not to be the victims of crime should avoid Lubbock's East Side. Like mom used to say, “It's all fun and games until the meth lab next door explodes.” $
Admittedly, Lubbock is no Dallas. It's pretty far off the beaten track and it can be a tad dusty (locals say that once, when the wind stopped blowing, their chickens all fell over) but it's friendly, easy to get around in and most importantly – affordable. Looking to put down roots in a classic West Texas town? Lubbock will make you happy as a gopher in soft dirt.