I find just about all of your comments utterly ridiculous. Of course the ratings will be lower than average if you're comparing the biggest cities in the state. You complain about crime rates, bad education, pollution---not ALL cities in this state house a million people FYI (which is the main cause for all three of your listed bad symptoms of the state). I grew up in the country, and aside from the hot climates, I'd move back there ANY day. Hills and countryside are amazing, especially at sunrise and set, privacy from your neighbors gives you good quiet time to yourself, close enough drive to any major city gives you the amenities that you might like in the city without having to actually deal with it 24/7 (esecially in regards to shopping, dining, and nightlife). On top of that, you still maintain close-knit communities, so when privacy isn't needed, you are given the opportunity to have get-togethers with your friends, family, and neighbors. You all act as if the big cities set the standard. Just about EVERY state would have a 2 average rating if you did this to THEM. Crime, pollution, and poor education affect more than just this state so all of you can stop acting as if it has nothing else to offer other than headaches, stupidity, and death. Texas is more than just the big cities that you used to base your generalizations, whether you agree with me or not.