Brideoffranken

jayhawk25

I'm mostly a lurker, but just got on and saw your post asking about Lawrence.  I've lived here 12 yrs- dh and I moved here for college and decided to make it our home, so we obviously like it pretty well.  Because of the university, it's got a lot more diversity and culture than the typical Kansas town, not that that's saying a whole lot    But there are quite a few activities and opportunities for children, and it's a very family friendly town.  Feel free to let me know if you have other questions about it!

Brideofranken

hi! Thanks!!

everything I hear and see makes me like the idea of it- I keep hearing it compares to Boulder, Co (which I LOOOOooove)

so...

we're still trying to decide how quickly we could get our house on the market, or if we should keep it and rent it out...

I don't know- it came up very suddenly.

how are schools?

jayhawk25

The schools are good.  My kids are prek and younger, so I don't have firsthand experience, but everyone I know has been happy with them.  There are a couple that aren't that great-Kennedy off the top of my head.   One of the things that made DH and I decide to raise kids here was the fact that they have kept neighborhood schools.  We do have a new superintendent, and there was talk of school closures due to budget cuts, but the community really supports the idea of keeping neighborhood schools, and they decided not to close any for now. 

We're really happy with my DS's preschool, and there's also a good coop preschool in town.    

Brideofranken

my kids are still under 3, too- so I have time to worry  (a little, anyway) but one thing I really do not like about my current city is the schools are some of the worst.

I looove the idea of neighborhood schools. I also love the idea of less crime, and less everything in general!

We'd probably rent briefly, just to get a feel for the area- I tend to jump the gun and I would like to shop around more this time...

do you think it would be pretty easy to find a decent rental house in a decent area?

 

jayhawk25

There are a ton of rental houses,but the good ones get snapped up pretty quickly.  There are some slumlords, and anything too close to the university (dubbed the "student ghetto") isn't real family friendly (loud house parties, etc.) West Lawrence is more like the suburbs-newer houses and not as much charm. 

We rented for 5 yrs. before we bought our house, and really lucked out-found a cute bungalow in an established neighborhood.  We would have loved to bought in that same neighborhood but looked for 2 yrs. without any luck. 

If you decide to go through with your move and want more detailed info, I'd be glad to email you more specifics about neighborhoods and schools.  During the 2+ years we house-hunted, I saw way more houses than I ever cared to!  Good luck with your decision!

Brideofranken

thank you SO much!!

I forgot about college rental areas- yuck!

we'll have to avoid that part of town....

I would LOVE to email you if this becomes more serious- its still all up in the air as of now.

 

thanks again!