I heard someone state once that Texas communities were a dime a dozen. It was as if they had run through all the developed preplanned communities in Texas and determined that regardless of the differences, they were all pretty much the same and it didn't matter where you chose to live as long as you lived in one of them. For a long time I subscribed to this viewpoint, simply because I basically didn't know better.

However, as time went on and I began a family, life took on different meanings for me. I looked a little closer at this statement and considered what went into determining that someplace is one of the best places to live in Texas. Ironically, I couldn't come up with all those factors myself. I understood what was important to me, but I wanted to know what the general population felt was required to be one of the best places to live in Texas.

Turns out, they basically feel the same way that I do. Texas communities have a lot to offer, and I am searching for a few basics. To me a top notch Texas community would be first and foremost, safe and beautiful. There is no surpassing the notion of safety. I don't want my children to be a prisoner inside their home because their community isn't safe enough. I also want to like what I see when I stare out my window.

Next on the list was value. I guess this matched my list, although I call it affordability. While I certainly believe that you get what you pay for, I don't want to be paying off an overpriced house when I'm 103 because I get to live in one of the top homes for sale in Texas. Yes, I want to feel as though I am in an elite Texas community but I don't like to pay for a name, rather, I like to pay for what I get. I think overall this is a fairly universal occurrence and most people are interested in fair and reasonable deals.

One of my priorities as a parent when I went looking for the best places to live in Texas was the quality of the schools. Once again, the majority agreed with me. What good is a great community and the top home for sale in Texas cropping up right under your nose if your children aren't going to receive an education that will permit them to do the same with their family?

So I really went about searching out the best communities in Texas based on educational experience. Other parents naturally do the same. Happily, in order get on any list claiming that a community is one of the best neighborhoods in Texas, it has to be in at least one of the better rated school districts. Most also have optional private schools in the area as well as religious schools. This of course factors into any decision to purchase a home that is for sale in the top notch Texas communities when you have kids, or even plan to have kids.

There are of course other factors on the list, and some of them I found important while others I didn't, and there were a few basic criteria in my world that didn't seem to make it on to the list concerning the general public. After all, I want to know exactly how long it is going to take me to drive to regional natural areas, such as lakes, rivers, campgrounds, and other outdoor play areas.

If the drive is exceedingly far, then it doesn't matter where on the list of best places to live the community falls, it doesn't fall on mine. However, not everyone feels that way and perhaps they simply want to know how many golf courses are within an hour's drive. At this stage, the list becomes more personal and can only be tailored to the individual who is seeking out the best places to live in Texas.

I learned a few things while embarking on this search. For starters, I realized that this country's general population, regardless of race, creed, gender, orientation, height, weight, eye color, shoe size, or any other variation or uniqueness all pretty much value the same ideal. We all want safe, attractive neighborhoods that have good schools and are close enough to our passions for us to kick back and play.

The other thing I learned was that these top notch Texas neighborhoods do exist, they just might exist in two different places for two different people. Are these Texas communities all the same? Not a chance. Do these Texas communities deserve to be on the best places to live list? Absolutely. For everyone deserves a great place to call home.