"I'm a ding dong daddy from Dumas / You ought to see me do my stuff / I'm a cider sipper / From Corn Cob Center" -- From "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (from Dumas)" by Louis Armstrong
Dumas is a city of 14,691 people located about 45 minutes north of Amarillo. If you have ever wanted to live in the panhandle of Texas, dangerously close to the borders of Oklahoma and New Mexico - okay, about 5 hours away from them - then this is the town for you. That means it's time to start checking out home rentals of all kinds in Dumas.
Looking for a Rental in Dumas
This city's vacancy rate is a little below the national average, so finding a home - especially those coveted yet rare all bills paid apartments - could be tricky. Just get started on your home search early if you need to find a place by a certain date. The good news is that most of the vacancies are rentals, so whether you are looking at apartment homes or detached houses for rent, you should be able to find something soon.
Want even better news? Buying a home here costs about one third less than the national average. Of course, the median rent is also lower than the average in Texas and in the nation overall. So now might be the time to upgrade from looking at studio apartments to checking out those giant 3 bedroom houses for rent since you may be able to access a larger living space than you thought.
Neighborhoods in Dumas
This city is pretty small, so there are only a few neighborhoods here. But they are distinctly different from each other, as you will probably see when you visit the city. If you don't have time to visit just yet, you can still get an idea of the different areas here without even leaving your chair.
City Center: This is in the northern part of the city and it is the more expensive neighborhood. Maybe that's because it's extremely walkable with a suburban feel and a mixture of detached homes, rental apartments, and mobile homes. When you want to give your legs a rest, you can get in your car and drive down U.S. Route 287 and State Highway 152, which are both nearby. This makes it easy to get to Morton, Texhoma, and Shamrock parks. There's also Lowe's Marketplace, Jack's Car Wash, CVS Pharmacy, and Burger King, which pretty much means you will rarely have to leave this area!
South Dumas Avenue and East 14th Street: This is in the southern portion of the city, and it happens to be a little more affordable to live in. However, it's also very walkable and has a variety of apartment complexes and single-family homes to choose from. And this area gives City Center a run for its money when it comes to parks, because it features both McDade Park and Phillips Park. This is also where you will find lots of hotels and motels, perfect for when you have guests come in from out of town and you're not keen on them staying with you!
Living in Dumas
Buckle up, because there is plenty to do in Dumas! This city might be small, but it is packed with attractions like the Window on the Plains Museum, located at the Art Center. If you want to get active, you can head to the Moore County YMCA. On the other hand, if you're in the mood to relax and enjoy some good food, you can get some tacos at La Herradura, Mongolian beef at China Buffet, or a perfectly cooked steak at 287 Roadhouse. And that's just a sampling of the restaurants available here.
When you need to shop, you have a few options in Dumas. Of course, it's not the big city, so don't come here expecting to fight over the last parking spot at a crowded megamall. But you can prepare to shop at a few well-known stores like Bealls, Sears, and Walmart. And if you do happen to get the urge to people watch, you can head right down the 287 to get to Amarillo's Westgate Mall for more shopping options.
If you are into the great outdoors, check out Pheasant Trails Golf Course, Cactus Playa Lake, or one of the half dozen parks in Dumas. In particular, McDade Park has splash pads, pools, and water slides, making it a perfect destination during the toasty Texas summers you'll experience here. In addition, you will be glad to know that Lake Meredith is nearby, and that's where the locals swim, fish, camp, hike, scuba dive, and even simply sightsee.
No matter what kind of hobbies you have, it's likely you'll be able to exercise them if you make Dumas your new home.