Texas is such a big state, and with so many cities to consider, how do you narrow down where you want to live? It may come down to jobs, cost of living, community or something entirely different. No matter what, though, make sure Houston is toward the top of the possibilities.
Why you may ask, is Houston really a stand-out Texas city? From its food to its being the home of NASA to its assortment of neighborhoods to its nightlife. Tallying up the reasons to move to Houston will leave you with a long list of positives.
What will seal the deal for you?
1. You can afford to live here
Fitting into your budget is most likely the number one requirement of any city you decide to call home. You don’t need it cheap, but you have to afford it, right? Houston works.
Coming in below the national average for its overall cost of living, Houston also has affordable rent. With prices rising just slightly over last year, an average one-bedroom apartment carries a monthly rent of $1,287. For a two-bedroom, it’s $1,614 per month.
Other categories that make up the overall cost of living that are cheaper than average in Houston include food, transportation and healthcare.
2. Downtown has a lot going for it
A pretty expansive area, Downton Houston is home to Minute Maid Stadium, the city’s central business district and three major parks. It’s a draw for young professionals who lead an active life. You have the option to get outside at Market Square Park, Sam Houston Park and Graffiti Park, while also being close to plenty of bars, restaurants and coffee shops. Living here can also make your commute that much easier, especially if you can get around using the METRO.
3. Take it down a notch in quality suburbs
If you’d rather live city-adjacent, Houston offers so many idyllic suburbs that keep Houston proper within reach. These stretch out beyond those neighborhoods considered part of the city, which also provide some great places to live.
Since Houston is the fourth largest city by population and the ninth by actual land area, it’s no surprise that some of the best spots to live in aren’t technically in Houston. Two of the best suburbs are The Woodlands (about 30 miles from downtown) and Sugar Land (about 21 miles from downtown), two more reasons to move to Houston.
4. Plenty of jobs
Houston is a big place, which means a lot of space for major corporations to call the area home. There are actually dozens of Fortune 500 companies in Houston, including Sysco, Phillips 66, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Academy Sports & Outdoors.
Job opportunities are one of the primary reasons to move to Houston for many. Major employers in the area include Walmart and Texas Medical Center. The city’s key industries are energy, healthcare and aerospace, which can bring in a hefty salary and provide job security and stability.
It pays to seek employment in Houston, and the median household income is $53,600.
5. You could work for NASA
Yes, you will need specific work experience on your resume, maybe a doctorate or two, as well. But, the reason aerospace is a leading employer in Houston is because it’s the home of NASA, situated about 25 miles from downtown, in Clear Lake.
Flashing a business card with The Johnson Space Center as your work address is pretty impressive. NASA is also constantly recognized as a great place to work, with plenty of opportunities for job growth.
6. No income tax required
This is a state-wide perk, but there being no income tax in Texas means those pulling in a nice salary in Houston get to keep more of their paycheck.
7. Weather worth moving for
Are harsh winters getting you down? Not in Houston. Here, the weather is pretty sublime. The average yearly high is a comfortable 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low is only 60 degrees. There are about three months of winter, and three hotter months in summer. All the rest are in that sweet and comfortable spot where you might need a light jacket, but may also get away with a T-shirt and shorts.
There’s minimal rain, as well, and plenty of sunshine.
8. A fun place for foodies
Beyond the kolaches, barbecue and Tex-Mex, Houston has deep roots in Vietnamese food. You can find delicious pho and Viet-Cajun crawfish alongside homemade tamales and so many types of tacos.
Even though Texas barbecue usually takes the top spot, Houston elevates dining with its James Beard Award-winning chefs and upscale eateries throughout the city. You can grab oysters in River Oaks before venturing across town to the Sixth Ward for Vietnamese.
9. A sports team for every season
Sports fans rejoice! Houston has a team for you to root for no matter what sport you call your favorite. You can catch the Houston Astros as they round the bases at Minute Maid Park. They may only have one World Series championship under their belt right now, but another could be in their future.
Basketball fans can catch a Rockets game, and football aficionados can cheer on the Texans as they stomp through the AFC South. There’s even a Major League Soccer team, the Houston Dynamo FC.
10. A massive amount of museums
The amount of museums in Houston is worth taking note of. Museums not only offer ideal ways to spend a rainy day but are great places to take visitors.
Houston boasts a well-rounded Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection with its free admission and variety of exhibits, the Museum of Natural Science, the Holocaust Museum, Space Center Houston and so many more.
11. Shop until you drop all over town
While you’ll find plenty of boutiques and smaller shops around Houston, the city does a great job of creating concentrated areas for some retail therapy, one of the many key reasons to move to Houston.
For some upscale shopping, check out the four blocks that make up GreenStreet or the River Oaks destination, Highland Village. There’s also solid shopping and dining in Rice Village and a great open-air market, Traders Village, which is open on weekends.
12. Strong schools
It’s not always the case that the public school system where you want to live meets your standards, but the Houston Independent School District (HISD) hits a lot of high notes. As the largest school district in Texas, it’s known for its AP program and stellar education.
When your kids are grown, if they want to stay local while getting a college degree, you can’t do much better than Rice University for a private school and the University of Houston for a public one. You’ll also find Texas Southern University and an assortment of community colleges.
13. An appreciation for the outdoors
With such perfect weather, it’s no surprise Houston has over 50,000 acres of parks within the city. It’s a perfect place to walk, run, bike and picnic. Some favorite parks around the city include Hermann Park in the Museum District and Tranquility Park downtown.
Hermann Park is a 445-acre paradise with a lot of surprises within. Make sure to visit the Bill Coats Bridge, the Friendship Pavilion and the Hawkins Sculpture Walk as you explore this wide expanse of green.
Digging into the city’s connection to the stars, Tranquility Park commemorates the Apollo 11 moon landing. Here you’ll find all kinds of water features to introduce a sense of calm right in the heart of the city. It’s the perfect oasis.
14. Position yourself for travel
Not only are there two major airports in Houston for when it’s time for vacation (or a business trip), but Houston is close to a lot of cool spots for a weekend road trip.
The two airports are the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the William P. Hobby Airport. The George Bush is the busiest airport in Texas. Houston Hobby is smaller, with fewer flights, but its proximity to downtown can make it easier to get to.
When it comes to road trips, Houston is a great home base to explore more of Texas. You can head to:
- College Station to visit Texas A&M and the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
- Waco and see what all the fuss is about with Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV fame
- Galveston for a little time along the Gulf of Mexico
- Texas City and its quieter beach vibes
- Austin, the state capital, and an all-around fun destination
- San Antonio for the River Walk, the Alamo and Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Dallas, if you’ve got a little more time to spend in the car
15. Act like a cowboy
Living in Houston lets you experience a piece of culture you can’t find in many other places. You can slide into a pair of cowboy boots, put on a cowboy hat and leave the house without the risk of any sideways stares. This is the home of the cowboy, so soak up the local rodeo and blast that country music. You can even finally take up horseback riding (in a Western saddle).
The Space City has so much to love
Houston is one of those magical places where you’ll continually find more reasons to call it home. It’s a big place (but what in Texas isn’t?) full of amazing communities and so much activity. There’s an opportunity for fun, work, culture and nature almost around every corner. Do you need any more reasons to move to Houston? Are you ready to love this city as much as the locals already do?
Source: rent.com