The Good, Bad, & UGLY Of Living In Longview Texas

Posted on March 15, 2022

Are you thinking about moving to Longview, Texas, but aren’t sure what to expect? In this episode of Level Up, I’m going to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of living in Longview. We’ll explore everything from family-friendly amenities to the weather so you can decide if this city is right for you.

Welcome To Longview

Texas is one of the best places to live. It’s friendly, it’s family-oriented, and its small-town vibe makes it a genuinely great place to raise a family. This is exactly the thing people love about Longview. The perfect example of small-town USA, this city has great rural living with no traffic and plenty of things to do. 

Before we look at the not-so-great things about living in Longview, let’s talk about the good—and why I think this is one of the greatest places to live in Texas. 

Downtown And The Balloon Race

First,  our downtown area is what many people enjoy when they come to visit and is a favorite of local residents. We’ve got amazing coffee shops and breweries, a museum for kids and adults, and other restaurants and activities that the entire family can enjoy. Downtown Longview is definitely the place to be. 

The second thing that we love about Longview, Texas is that it’s a small town with tons of potential. It’s also a very, very good place to raise a family and offers so many educational opportunities for children. Another great thing that we love about Longview, Texas is the world-famous Balloon Race. We have pilots from all over the country and the world come to compete here, and Longview is known as the Balloon Capital of Texas. 

The Bad

Let’s talk about the bad—or what can be better in Longview, Texas. The first thing that’s a little annoying is God forbid we have snow or ice, because the entire city will shut down. This includes our schools. Unfortunately, our residents don’t know how to drive in that weather. On the subject of weather, the next thing you may not like is that Longview experiences 10 to 20 times as many wind storms as tornado events. But if you like flying a kite, you’ll love Longview. 

One last thing you may not like about Longview is that it’s located 50 minutes west of Shreveport and two hours east of Dallas. Let’s be honest: I love Longview and I think it’s fun, but it’s still lacking that big city vibe and entertainment. Unfortunately, no place is perfect. 

The Ugly

Lastly, let’s get into the ugly about living in Longview, Texas. First, brace yourself for plenty of rain. Longview, Texas gets 35 to 60 inches of rain every year, far more than the rest of Texas. If you like dancing in the rain, you’ll love it here. 

Additionally, you do see quite a bit more mosquito activity due to our rainfall. If you don’t like mosquitoes, then as Jenny would say: Run, Forrest, run, because the summers are not for you. Also, if you’re considering moving to Longview, Texas for exciting nightlife and an abundance of restaurants, you won’t find it here. Although we do have some good restaurants, choices are limited. 

Enjoy The Texas Lifestyle In Longview

I hope this gave you some insight into the good, bad, and ugly of Longview, Texas. If you have any other questions about this great city, be sure to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of my show. Stay tuned to see what aspect of Longview living I feature next!