I didn't want to move to a remote Texas city because I was scared of crime. I was wrong, and now we're happier than ever.

• Ashley Hindson and her husband moved to Midland, Texas, in 2021 in search of new jobs.
• A year and a half after moving they bought a $395,000 home, and it changed how Hindson felt.
• She said they might not live in Midland forever, but plan to as long as the kids are in school.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ashley Hindson, 29, about moving to Midland, Texas. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

My husband has worked in the oil and gas industry for a long time. When it trickled away in Colorado, we jumped to the next best place: Midland. The city has always been on our radar. It has so much untapped potential, which is why a lot of people move there. 

Even so, I was not fully on board and was nervous about our decision. I had done research and read that Midland had high crime rates and there weren't a lot of activities available for children. For the first year and a half that we lived in the city, I felt anxious and never got that "this is home" feeling. 

Today, I think it is a great place to raise a family — I have 100% been proven wrong. 

The opportunity for growth and the potential to make money here is huge. Back in Colorado, I worked for $12 an hour at a real-estate company. In Midland, I've gotten a substantial raise and so has my husband. 

There are many transplants who live in the city that lack extended relatives. It can feel lonely, but once you start putting yourself out there, the community does eventually feel like a family.

We were able to buy a nicer house than we could have in Colorado 

Myself, along with my husband and two children, moved to Midland in January of 2021.

Businesses come and go quite a bit in this city. And since we've lived here, I have seen a lot of new home construction  — northern Midland is really blowing up. There are houses as far as the eye can see.

The first two and a half years of living here, we were in a small apartment. We were on the third floor and had two dogs and small kids —  we felt like throwing in the towel. 

We wanted to buy a newer home, with a big front and back yard. Location was also important to us, because there are areas of the town where I would absolutely not live. With young children, I'm always cautious of my surroundings.

In 2023, we purchased a more than 2,000-square-foot home for $395,000. While we still probably would have been able to afford a home purchase in Colorado, it would not have been a house to this standard. We live in a new neighborhood that has a Homeowners Association and specifically chose the area because a lot of our friends live here. 

While I know the ins and outs of housing, we waited a year and a half to buy a house because we were scared. When you think about purchasing a home today, sometimes it almost doesn't seem possible. The loan process is so mentally draining and it's become so tough. But I suggest not waiting, just jump in.

Once you get your tribe it feels like home

Though I had my doubts about living in Midland, I can say that my family's life has greatly improved. We're finally starting to find our place and get adjusted to the city. 

Midland can be very cliquey, but once you get your tribe it feels like home. We have more meaningful relationships here. I've noticed that when a tragedy happens, the sense of community is insane. People really come together.

My husband and I are super busy with kids' events. My son is in jujitsu and I coach his soccer team. My daughter does dance gymnastics, and I also signed her up for soccer this year. 

I think when the kids are grown and out of the house, we might consider living somewhere else. But for the foreseeable future, this is our home.