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About Alice, TX

About Alice, TX

New investments in a small hub for oil and shipping

The self-proclaimed "coyote capital of Texas," Alice is one of the largest cities within an hour of Corpus Christi. Like its bigger, coastal neighbor, Alice is an oil town. Railroads and cattle ranching also helped make it an important regional hub in the 19th and 20th centuries. Prosperity has not been in the air since then, and the declining population now sits at around 17,500 as some employers move elsewhere. But local organizations and developers have started reinvesting in the city's parks and homes, demonstrating an effort to turn a historical tide in the seat of Jim Wells County.

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Alice was founded in the late 19th century as a railroad town.
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Alice, TX, is known as the "Coyote Capital of Texas.
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The Natatorium returns with YMCA partnership

Back in 2016, the city debuted a gem: an expansive natatorium and waterpark featuring waterslides and lap lanes. But after just a year, the facility closed its doors. Now, thanks to a partnership with YMCA, the facility is back up and running. In addition to the natatorium, the city maintains a total of 12 parks, including an 18-hole municipal golf course, a variety of playgrounds like Charles Brazzell Park, sports courts and picnic spots. Heldt Park is the main downtown square and recently debuted a new stage for outdoor concerts. Lake Findley is a popular fishing and hiking area 2 miles north of the city.

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The City of Alice partnered with the YMCA to successfully reopen the Multi-Use Complex.
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Alice offers 12 parks, a golf course, and Lake Findley.
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Investment options in the city core

Alice has a median single-family home price of $208,000, which is fairly low compared to the median for Corpus Christi. Most listings are for established ranch-style homes. Some are sold as rehab properties needing mild to serious repairs, while others are turnkey. There are also many land plots for sale, some sold as teardown properties in the core of the city, others sold as expansive ranches. Typically, land parcels are listed between $25,000 and $100,000 per acre.

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Housing in Alice is more affordable than in Corpus Christi.
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Many homes in Alice are classic ranch-style or fixer-uppers.
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Trade certifications from Alice ISD and Coastal Bend College

The city is zoned for the Alice Independent School District, which has an overall Niche rating of C. The district oversees roughly 4,500 students across 6 schools, including an early college high school where students can earn up to 60 hours of early college course credits and enroll in various career and technical education courses. Some parents avail themselves of public options, opting to send their kids to local religious schools, like Saint Elizabeth Catholic School or the Alice Christian School. Alice is also home to Coastal Bend College, a two-year institution where students can earn various trade certifications.

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Alice High School has a modern sports field for football, soccer, and tennis courts.
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William Adams Middle School is part of the Alice Independent School District.
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Halfway between the Border and Interstate 37

Many residents work in manufacturing, as Alice is home to several offices and plants for major drilling companies like Halliburton. It's also a major shipping logistics hub for the greater Corpus Christi industrial area, as Alice's location on U.S. Highway 281 is roughly the halfway point between Interstate 37 and the U.S.-Mexico border. Spohn Hospital and Alice ISD are also major employers.

Downtown music shops and Mexican cantinas

The downtown core of Alice consists of a Main Street area lined with western false-front buildings, some sitting vacant while others are occupied by clothing boutiques, antique stores and music shops. King Street Grill is the only restaurant in the downtown area. The rest of the city's eateries consist of an assortment of locally owned cafes, taverns and Mexican restaurants as well as fast-food chains and supermarkets, most found on major thoroughfares like Front Street.

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Mexican restaurants and taverns are popular in Alice.
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Downtown Alice features music shops, boutiques, and diners.
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Church crowds, Christmas lights and civic clubs

Many residents find ways to make connections and help neighbors through civic organizations like the Rotary Club of Alice. Churches are also a major component of the community fabric, including numerous Baptist and Catholic churches, plus a whole host of Protestant and other Christian congregations. The city government also contributes to local goings on with library programs like family story times, community events like an Easter Eggstravaganza and holiday light shows at local parks.

High water and crime rates

Some waterways in Alice are prone to flooding in heavy rain, particularly Lake Findley and Lattas Creek. Both create flood zones all throughout the city, many impacting residential areas. These can also become flooded during hurricanes, which Alice is no stranger to with only 50 miles of separation from the Gulf of Mexico. FBI data shows rates of property crime and violent crime in Alice are well above national and state figures. However, community programs and other interventions made by city police since 2022 have also led to declining rates for most forms of property and violent crime.

Tom Jakob
Written By
Tom Jakob
Saeid Zare
Photography Contributed By
Saeid Zare
Rebecca Askin
Video By
Rebecca Askin

Alice by the Numbers

20,217
Population
133
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Alice, TX

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Schallert Elementary School
#1 Schallert Elementary School
C
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Elementary School
#2 Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Elementary School
C
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Saenz Elementary School
#3 Saenz Elementary School
C
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Noonan Elementary School
#4 Noonan Elementary School
C-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Dubose Intermediate School
#5 Dubose Intermediate School
C-
Niche
Hillcrest Elementary School
#6 Hillcrest Elementary School
C-
Niche
Salazar Elementary School
#7 Salazar Elementary School
D+
Niche

Best Public Middle Schools

Memorial Intermediate School
#1 Memorial Intermediate School
C-
Niche
Adams Middle School
#2 Adams Middle School
C-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
William Adams Middle School
#3 William Adams Middle School

Best Public High Schools

Ben Bolt Palito-Blanco High School
#1 Ben Bolt Palito-Blanco High School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Alice High School
#2 Alice High School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Private Schools

Alice Christian School
#1 Alice Christian School
St Joseph Parochial School
#2 St Joseph Parochial School
St. Elizabeth School
#3 St. Elizabeth School

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Alexander Moreno
(361) 600-5161
Looking for a real estate professional in Corpus Christi or the surrounding areas? Then look no further!! As an experienced realtor, I specialize in helping various types of clients including cash buyers or investors, first-time homebuyers, Veterans (VA), and/or resale/ Home sellers to achieve their real estate goals. I feel like every client has unique needs, and I'm confident I can meet them all. Whether you're racing to sell or on the hunt for your dream home, count on me to be by your side every step of the way! Don't hesitate to reach out to me for a free consultation and lets get you on the right path to success!
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.