When someone says Texas, the images conjured are of cowboy boots, massive ranches and farms, huge barbeques, sprawling cities, and vast areas of empty space. The word ‘huge’ sums up pretty much everything in the Lone Star State! Everything is bigger in Texas, from the roads and food portions to shopping malls and houses! But there’s so much more to learn about this popular destination.
Texas is one of the most populated and fastest growing states. Hundreds of thousands of people are moving to Texas every year as it offers an irresistible combination of great employment opportunities and highly affordable living. What makes relocating to Texas so popular? Let’s explore the advantages the Lone Star State offers over others.
Things to Know About Moving to Texas
Some of the most significant advantages of moving to Texas include highly affordable cost of living, tax free income, delicious and vast cuisine, diverse cities, rich history, and varied career opportunities. It also boasts some of the biggest oil reserves, the NASA space center, and other world-famous attractions. Besides, it’s home to five of the eleven fastest growing cities in the country.
These lucrative benefits are unparalleled, but like anywhere else, moving to Texas may not be devoid of a few challenges. If you’re contemplating whether you should move to Texas, here’s a guide to the pros and cons of living in Texas so you’re well-prepared for the big (pun intended) move:
1. No State Income Tax
Probably one of the biggest draws of moving to Texas is the zero state income tax policy. However, like other no-tax states, property taxes are higher than average here. Although the state sales tax stands at 6.25%, the sales tax can vary and can reach anywhere up to 8.25% as cities and counties levy their own tax rates too.
2. Affordable Housing & Electricity Bills
Another tempting reason to move to Texas is the affordable housing, allowing one to live big even with a relatively low income. If you’re moving from California to Texas, you’ll find that the housing prices are a whopping 59.1% lower in the Lone Star State, as stated by Investopedia. The median home value in Texas is $197,500, which is even lower than the national average of $229,000, according to Zillow. There is no shortage of land in Texas, making property outside of the inner cities quite cheap.
What’s more, you can even save on electricity expenses as Texas is one of the few states to have a deregulated electricity sector (in most parts), which keeps prices competitive. Many landlords even allow you to choose your own provider based on your requirements.
3. Tons of Job Opportunities
While a majority of the job opportunities in Texas were previously restricted to the oil and gas industry – still one of the major contributors of the state economy – many new industries like IT, aeronautics, computer technology, tourism, and energy have led to diverse career opportunities.
Texas is now home to 54 Fortune 500 companies including AT&T, Texas Instrument, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Whole Foods, Kimberly-Clark, J. C. Penney, and many others!
4. Home to Some of the Biggest Cities in the U.S.
Three of the biggest cities in the country are located in Texas: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The majority of the state’s population, estimated at two-thirds of the total, is based in the major urban regions. There are many other diverse cities too like Austin and Fort Worth.
As if the pros of moving to Texas weren’t tempting enough, there’s another draw for job-seekers and entrepreneurs to relocate here. Austin, the state capital – hailed as the next Silicon Valley – has a ton of start-ups and technology companies, providing immensely lucrative opportunities for innovators, techies, and entrepreneurs.
5. Hot…and Hotter
Due to its sheer size, Texas naturally experiences wide temperature and weather differences, with some areas experiencing subtropical weather while others have dry desert weather. As a result, some areas have dry heat while others have sticky humidity. The average temperature is around 80 °F, but some areas are hotter than the rest, occasionally reaching over 100 °F in summer. Winters are always milder compared to other states, but the coldest season in Texas is still particularly mild in some regions along the Gulf Coast.
Some parts of North Texas receive snow once or twice a year while other regions rarely get snowfall. Rainfall also varies, with some parts receiving more showers. Hurricanes and storms are quite common in some areas like the Gulf Coast. Unfortunately, tornadoes are a frequent occurrence in Texas.
6. Diverse Landscape
You’ll be spoiled for choice when moving to Texas as the diverse topography of the state has something for everyone. The gigantic and beautiful state features a varied landscape ranging from ranches and mountains to forests and deserts. Texas also has 360 miles of stunning coastline, making it a favorite destination for sea lovers.
Outdoor enthusiasts will have a field day here as they can go swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, or camping. It’s hardly a surprise that Texas is one of the most popular tourist destinations.
7. Quality Higher Education Institutes
Some of the top American universities, including Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, Austin (UTA), are all based in Texas. Even the public institutes like University of Houston and Texas State University are held in high regard. Many students worldwide are moving to Texas to study at some of these prestigious institutes, making it an educational hub.
8. Get your Own Car
While some cities like Dallas and Austin have an extensive public transportation network, Texas citizens will be doomed without a car. Like most other states, the vast distances between neighborhoods and cities make it necessary to drive long distances on a daily basis.
Traffic is heavy in the bigger cities, but is still quite lighter than in New York or LA. Since the population of Texas is growing so quickly, new freeways are frequently being constructed, attempting to meet the demand from commuters.
9. Delicious BBQ and Live Music
Texas is known for its own cooking style and extensive and diverse cuisine. It’s universally famous for its barbeque, which is ridiculously good! It’s also well-known for fajitas and some of the largest and tastiest hamburgers.
While Texas is often associated with country music, it’s now also home to many independent artists, making the music scene more dynamic and diverse. Austin is widely regarded as the Live Music Capital of the world.
10. Texan Culture & State Pride
Like everything else that’s big here, Texans too have larger-than-life personalities! And they love their state and are immensely proud of it, so resist the urge to complain if you’re planning to move here!
Making friends with Texans is quite easy as they’re warm, down-to-earth, and will make you feel at home. You may have to make the first move, but once they get to know you, it won’t be long before you’re on backslapping terms. Also, they’re big huggers, so try getting used to it, if you’re not one!
Moving to Texas presents a ton of advantages and very few challenges, but on the whole, if you can deal with big sizes and hot weather, you’ll do great in the Lone Star State. Moreover, if you’re looking to save money and buy a house, moving to Texas may be the perfect destination for you!
What are the Best Places to Move in Texas?
So, you’ve decided you’ll be moving to Texas, you’re probably wondering which city in Texas you would like to call home. Here are some options:
- If you’re looking for a city with great startup and tech opportunities, an amazing music scene, and nightlife, moving to Austin would be the best option.
- If you want to live in a politically and culturally diverse city with great career opportunities and awesome local attractions, moving to Houston would best serve your needs.
- If you’re looking for a very affordable city with great parks, delicious Tex-Mex, theme parks, museums, and plenty of scope for outdoor activities like trail hiking and biking, moving to San Antonio is highly recommended!
- If you’re looking for a booming city that is home to the best Fortune 500 companies and has a good cultural scene, moving to Dallas is a good idea.
- If you’re looking for a culturally diverse city with great outdoor opportunities and a much lower cost of living relative to Dallas, moving to Fort Worth is the most suitable option.
We hope our guide on moving to Texas has helped set the right expectations about living in Texas. Moving anywhere can be a big challenge as you prepare for the move emotionally and physically. Cool Box Portable Storage can make your move to TX as easy and stress-free as possible. We provide portable and insulated moving storage containers that are available in three sizes to help match your moving requirements. What’s more, we offer the best pricing options and even meet or beat competitors’ quotes for the same specifications!
If you’re moving to Texas, get a quote from one of our convenient Texas locations:
