Yeah, I think most of the TX property tax funds schools also. They had really good schools in the area I was looking (Sugarland). There wasn't any state income tax either so it wasn't a dealbreaker. I hear people w/o kids complain a lot about paying property taxes since they don't have kids. I think they fail to realize your point regarding their effect on surrounding home prices. Plus, I don't know of many great shools in bad neighborhoods so it is a proxy for community quality.