A boomer moved from Silicon Valley to a small city in Texas' Hill Country. He said the people are friendlier and his community is much more peaceful.

• Bill Ross moved from the mountains of Silicon Valley to a city half an hour north of San Antonio.
• He said moving to Texas was like a weight lifted off his shoulders due to the lower cost of living.
• He said his children get a better education, neighbors are friendlier, and infrastructure is better.

Bill Ross, 65, worked in high-tech for four decades — three of which were spent in Silicon Valley. But California didn't have the same charm for Ross any longer, and he decided he wanted to move.