Moving to Lubbock, TX? Read Our Ultimate Moving Guide

Located in the Texas panhandle on its southern edge, Lubbock is not too big and not too small: it’s more than 300,000 residents enjoying living that can be just right. In Lubbock, you can benefit from a cost of living that’s 11.6 percent less than the national average with jobs available in healthcare, manufacturing, technology, supply chain distribution, and other sectors, and opportunities for higher education. Living in the “Hub City” allows you to benefit from city amenities in a place with a small-town feel, including less traffic congestion than other bigger cities. You can enjoy lots of live music, gorgeous sunsets, mild winters, and so much more.

Here’s more information about moving to this friendly city in Texas, the 11th largest in the state.  Know that you can count on Suddath® for all of your Lubbock moving services.

In-Demand Suburbs

Perhaps you’d like to benefit from the excitement of living by a city, but you want to call a smaller suburb “home.” If so, there are excellent Lubbock suburbs to choose from.

Here are just three of them to consider:

• Wolfforth: With a population of 5,000, Wolfforth is located in Lubbock County, a diverse community with a rural feel. There are quality schools and most people own their homes although some rent. This is an in-demand location, so it isn’t surprising that it’s one of Lubbock’s faster growing suburbs.
• Shallowater: In many ways, Shallowater is similar to Wolfforth (with only half of the population: at about 2,500). Life is fairly quiet in this small town, which includes less crime than many places around the state and country. Schools boast high graduation rates, making it an excellent place for families.
• Idalou: The name of this town even sounds friendly! It began as a settlement around a railway depot over a century ago and, even today, there’s only a couple of thousand people in this close-knit community. Just like other small suburbs around the city of Lubbock, you can have easy access to city amenities.

Whether you want to live in the city itself or a suburb in Lubbock County, our moving company makes moving to Lubbock, Texas straightforward and streamlined.

Getting Around Lubbock

Public transportation is provided through Citibus. Once COVID-19 arrived, Citibus added a micro transit option where buses arrive on the hour and you can pick a time to be transported: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. To book a time, you can download a Citibus On-Demand app, visit their website, or call 806.775.3640. You can buy passes here.

Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is a convenient way for you to get where you need to go, longer distance, and a way for people to visit you in your new residence. From there, you can rent cars, take taxis and limos, or use their shuttles, among other ground transportation options.

There are places to park downtown, and city officials are working on a master plan to make it even more seamless as they continue to revitalize the downtown area.

Plenty of biking routes exist—and remember that Lubbock is much less congested than other big cities if you have a car and want to drive. Because of lighter traffic, the average commute time has been listed as only 17.5 minutes. The city has a low number of cars per capita, making traffic jams much less likely.

Lubbock Neighborhoods

Depending on what you want and need, you’ll find some fantastic neighborhoods right in Lubbock proper:

• West Carlisle and Northridge: Located in a prime spot, about a fifteen-minute drive from downtown, homes in this neighborhood tend to have nice yards with two to four bedrooms. Plenty of people own pets and walk them at the Alex and Verna Cooke Park. Families have picnics there and children play on playground equipment while others play basketball and soccer. Antique lovers shop at the Antique Mall of Lubbock, and the neighborhood features popular restaurants.
• Lakeridge: If you enjoy golf and are looking for a luxurious lifestyle, this neighborhood may be the one for you. Homes include townhouses as well as large custom-built homes. The Lakeridge Country Club Golf Course is attractively landscaped. You can also find plenty of dining opportunities, shopping venues, and more.
• Downtown: Here, you’ll find busy streets and lots of nightlife. You’ll find students living here as well as families. Red bricked streets remind you of the past while tall buildings, including skyscrapers, point you towards the future. You can live, work, eat, shop, and find entertainment all in this central area of the city.
• Burris: We bring up this neighborhood because there are so many schools within it, making it a place of choice for many families with school-aged children. This is also listed as one of the safest Lubbock neighborhoods, which is an important factor for parents who want their children to play in yards and parks without as much worry.

Things to Do for Families

Lubbock is home to more than eighty parks—from smaller ones tucked away in neighborhoods to more regional ones. They also offer a Kids Park Passport to offer guidance, personalize the experience, and make it more special. Because of the Texas climate, you can typically enjoy parks throughout the year; bring water and otherwise prepare for the warmer days.

Consider visiting Prairie Dog Town, a free place of interest that attracts visitors from Texas and beyond. You can watch prairie dogs and owls in their natural environments while also reading about them through interpretive signs. It is ADA accessible.

Cool off at Lake Alan Henry where you can camp, boat, fish, and more. There are also fully furnished lodges for a get-away. Plus, you can have water fun at Water Rampage.

At Adventure Park, there are the ultimate adventure towers. Plus, there’s a game room, miniature golf, bumper boats, laser maze, nature trails, ziplines, and more. You can buy day passes, hold a party there, get annual passes, and more.

Visit the Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater where there are more than 250 hand-on exhibits for people of all ages. This includes a public aquarium, daily live science shows, and the fifty-eight-foot domed OMNI Theater. There are science programs, workshops, camps and more to engage youth and make science fun for children as young as two years of age.

The National Ranching Heritage Center, meanwhile, preserves the ranching experience for posterity in fifty different structures while teaching children in fun ways: through a character known as Hank the Cowdog. This field trip video can give you a glimpse into what your children can enjoy, including info shared by Honey Horse.

The Silent Wings Museum gives children and parents a look into World War II gliders while rotating exhibits keeps everything interesting and new.

Education in Lubbock

If you’ll be new to Texas, this state has independent school districts that are separate from governmental oversight with their own taxing authority. This may be different from what you’re used to experiencing. When two or more school systems in Texas combine, this becomes a “consolidated” district.

In this large state, there are about 1,200 school districts. Many of them are labeled as exceptional by the Texas Educational Agency. Ratings are calculated through information provided by the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, College Board AP scores, and so forth. When planning a move to Lubbock, investigate the specific schools that your children would attend.

Higher education institutions in Lubbock include the following:

• Texas Tech University: public, four year-university
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: public medical school
• South Plains College: public community college
• Lubbock Christian University: private, non-profit, four-year university

Sports in Lubbock

The Texas Tech Red Raiders provide plenty of sports action to enjoy. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, and football as well as cross country, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women play basketball, softball, tennis, golf, soccer, and volleyball while also participating in cross country and track and field.

Lubbock got a minor league soccer team in 2022: the Lubbock Matadors. During the first season, the team barely missed the playoffs in the competitive Lone Star Conference with a 6-4-2 record. More than 4,000 fans attended games, on average, bringing their enthusiasm for the sport.

There’s plenty of high school action in Lubbock along with professional sports teams in football, baseball, basketball and more located around the state—meaning that sports fans will have teams to cheer for throughout the year.

What to Do in Lubbock

Plenty of the family activities already mentioned in this guide are appealing to all ages.

Plus, you’ll have to stop by the Buddy Holly Statue, installed in 1979, and the West Texas Walk of Fame. Holly’s statue is larger than life, and plaques surrounding him honor Roy Orbison, Tanya Tucker, Mac David, Joe Ely, Bob Wills, and other music legends. Also go on a two-hour scavenger hunt that will give you a great overview of the city.

As another landmark, check out the Lubbock Lake Landmark—which is really a nature/archaeology preserve: part of the Museum of Texas Tech University.

Tour the FiberMax Center for Discovery to take you back in time and share agricultural history and heritage, and how technology has evolved. Discover the role of windmills over the years at the world’s largest windmill museum as well.

Plus, there’s plenty of dining, nightlife, and the arts to explore and enjoy in Lubbock.

Dining, Nightlight, and the Arts

First, there are the restaurants, including these:

• Cast Iron Grill: The Southern-inspired menu is well known for its amazing pies, such as their pecan pie that’s infused with Jack Daniels, the blueberry banana split pies, and a gooey Sawdust pie. FYI: these pies can sell out by lunchtime! For breakfast, people love their platters (being part of Texas, they’re BIG), their steak and eggs dish, and more. For lunch, you can order sandwiches, salads, burgers, and more.
• One Guy Pizza: This pizzeria has dazzled guests for more than forty years, including those in town for big sports games. They offer choices for everyone from more traditional pizzas and pastas to vegan options, and more. From mussels marinara to mozzarella caprese, Sicilian salads, hot and cold subs—and a welcoming atmosphere—this is the kind of place you’ll want to visit more than once.
• Triple J Chophouse and Brew Co: You’ll appreciate the laid-back ambiance at this restaurant as you enjoy a range of steakhouse dishes as well as its brewpub. This is the only brewpub in town, and they’re always coming up with new varieties for people to sample. Plus, whatever they cook, they use high quality ingredients and then cook them from scratch. Still have room? Enjoy dessert!
• 50th Street Caboose: Beside being a great restaurant, this also features a sports bar and game room. Founded in 1977, they offer classic dishes for lunch and dinner along with truly personal service. Dishes include their sour cream chicken enchiladas, fired grilled shrimp, big as your head nachos, and more.

Lubbock is known for being a leader in Texas wineries, including the award-winning Llano Estacado Winery. They promote themselves as the “largest, best-selling premium winery in Texas,” and they’ve been hard at work in the state since 1976. Visit the winery for a tasting and receive personalized suggestions.

Another wonderful choice: McPherson Cellars. Dr. Clinton “Doc” McPherson converted a 1930s Coca Cola bottling plant into a winery in 2008. The family had been making wine for more than forty years and so opening this winery in an historic building was a logical next step.

As a third option, consider Pheasant Ridge Winery. Owner Bobby Cox, after exploring California and French vineyards and gaining extensive experience, realized how amazing the grapes are in the High Plains of Texas.

If you’re a sports lover who wants to hang out with teammates or fans, The Silver Bullet has the relaxed atmosphere that’s desired. People also head to the bar to sing karaoke, hold parties, celebrate birthdays, and more.

Club Luxor, meanwhile, offers an upscale touch with a contemporary lighted dance floor and in-demand entertainment. A safe environment for the LGBT community, there’s great food and friendly bartenders who make a wide range of drinks.

Plan visits to The Buddy Holly Hall to see Broadway productions, laugh at comedy hours, listen to musical entertainment, and more. The hall is ADA compliant. Founded in 2015, the Caviel Museum of African-American History allows people to gather to celebrate art and culture.

There are plenty of places to enjoy live music and other forms of entertainment in Lubbock.

Shopping in Lubbock

No matter what kind of shopping you want to do, there’s probably something in Lubbock that you’re looking for. From browsing for antiques to clothing, accessory, and cosmetic shopping, and from furniture to jewelry stores and more, Lubbock is the place for you. If you’re looking for a mall, South Plains Mall contains lots of department stores, eateries, theaters, and more. Kingsgate Center has more than forty stores along with places to eat.

Plus, for much of the year, you can get fresh produce and more at the Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market.

Important Lubbock Links

Once you’re in your new home or apartment in Lubbock, you’ll have things to do to settle in. Here’s help:

• Driver’s licenses: If you’re moving from another state into Texas, you’ll need to get a driver’s license. Often, you can take care of this through the internet. To assist, here are guidelines provided by The Texas Department of Public Safety. Two things to note: driver’s licenses in this state remain current for eight years; and two, if you have to go into an office to get yours, you have to make an appointment.
• Voter registration: Be sure to register thirty days or more before an election if you want to cast a vote. Here’s contact information for their board of elections and useful links about voting.
• Trash pickup: The city of Lubbock collects trash for residents with dumpsters typically unloaded twice a week. You can call 806-775-2495 with questions.
• Emergency preparedness: The Office of Emergency Management handles disaster preparedness and response situations.
• Here’s information about Lubbock utilities along with intel about current scams to protect you.

Moving to Lubbock? Our Movers in Lubbock, TX Can Help!

When comparing moving companies in Lubbock, TX, please contact us for a free moving quote. We make it easy to relocate, offering a range of services and helping you to customize your move. If you’d like, our local Lubbock movers can pack your belongings, load and transport them, unload and more. Although not all moving companies in Lubbock, TX have storage, we do, no problem. So, you can benefit from just what you need—or allow our experienced team to handle it all for a stress-free relocation. Whether you need local movers, long-distance movers, or even international movers in Lubbock, TX; Suddath can help! Take advantage of our century-plus of experience and let us leverage that for you.