An estimated 1,000 people move to the Lone Star State every day. If you are one of them, you may not know what to expect from the second most populous US state with so much advice out there.
On top of that, Texas is the second-largest state in land mass. Everything about this state is Texas-sized, so find out what you should expect from your move and a checklist to make the transition easier.
The Lone Star State has a lot to offer: diverse cities, job growth, temperate weather, low cost of living, and affordable housing. These factors have led to Texas-sized populations, which is why several cities are the largest in the country!
Texas is one of the best places to find diversity in the US. In Houston alone, there are at least 145 different languages spoken! It’s one of the reasons that Texas is attracting people from all over.
The state is home to quality public and private education from the youngest residents all the way through some of the largest public universities around and top-notch mid-sized private institutions.
Texas has a booming job market that even boasts 57 different Fortune 500 companies. The lower state sales tax is not only causing more people to set up small businesses and create startups in Texas but also causing major corporations to relocate to the state. The following are some of the largest job sectors in Texas.
With the lower cost of living, you are able to keep more of your money. All of this combined makes Texas a real gem for young professionals, especially Millennials.
You can expect sunshine year-round in Texas, but the state also gets hot, especially during summer. Some parts of the state even reach temperatures of 100 degrees. Depending on where you live, you can expect anything from dry air or sticky humid air to extreme weather like hail storms, hurricanes, or tornadoes.
One way to beat that summer heat is investing in a pool. The overall upside of Texas weather is the mild winters, where temperatures are rarely below freezing.
Since Texas is a hot state, electricity rates are a concern when moving here. Saving on your electric bill while staying cool is especially important in Texas. They will still spike in the summer, but you will still pay less than you expect coming from a state with regulated electricity.
Depending on where you move in Texas, people can choose their energy suppliers in Texas, like Value Power, to get the best pricing and plans. The deregulated marketplace in Texas is why people can choose the company that fits their families’ electricity needs depending on where they live. As of right now, there are over 350 deregulated cities in Texas. Be sure to check if the city you are moving to is one of them.
The lower cost of living is continuously driving people to the state to live and find affordable houses for sale in Texas. Some places in the state have a low cost of living, but housing is higher than in many Texas cities. The overall lower prices still give you more money to spend on where you want to live in your chosen city.
Another draw to Texas is that there is no personal income tax for the state, along with lower sales taxes. The tradeoff for these is that homeowners in Texas pay some of the highest property taxes in the US. You should look into the specific city where you want to move to discover your cost of living.
Knowing what to expect from moving to Texas doesn’t necessarily help you figure out what part of Texas might be right for you. These are some of the largest areas in Texas.
Dallas might be the third largest city in Texas. Still, the DFW Metroplex is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the US, along with a thriving economy. Here you’ll find a variety of professional sports teams (Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Maverick, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, and Dallas FC), entertainment, outdoor activities, and amazing food. One drawback is that Metroplex might be scorching hot in the summer, but there are water parks throughout the area to cool you down.
The Greater Houston area is known for art, culture, food, and diversity. The lower cost of living than Dallas and Austin helps draw people in too! Being the most populated metropolitan area in the state doesn’t hurt, and having nearby access to Galveston Bay. The healthcare industry, NASA, and great professional sports teams are also a plus for the area.
Keep Austin weird! The area has many of the same perks as the other major metropolitan areas, such as a great food scene, cultural activities, outdoor recreation, affordable housing, and a good job market. Austin’s incredible music scene sets it apart from other parts of Texas and brings people to the area.
Home to The Alamo, Greater San Antonio is known for affordable housing, great food, history everywhere, outdoor recreation, education, booming economy, sports, high safety, and tourism. In fact, San Antonio is the most visited city in the state of Texas. San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the US.
You still need a car in Texas, even if you work remotely. For some, this is a challenging part of living in Texas since everything is spread out in the state, which unfortunately leads to heavy traffic. Throughout Texas, you will find plenty of walkable neighborhoods and many near city centers too! While Texas public transportation might not be the best, it is home to Dallas’s DART light rail, the most extensive light-rail system in the country spanning 85 miles across 61 stations.
Having a car in Texas allows you to explore all the wonders across the Lone Star state.
Whether you’re into the outdoors, a slew of professional sports, history seeped into everything, the various arts, or the impressive music scene; Texas has something to satisfy everyone’s interests.
Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Texas. Living in the Houston area is perfect for water lovers, having the Buffalo Bayou Park and being in close driving distance to the beaches of Galveston. The Dallas area has the central park of Dallas, White Rock Lake Park, and Cedar Ridge Nature Ridge nearby. San Antonio has the Riverwalk, and the area has the convenience of the beauty of Texas Hill Country. The Austin area has the historic Barton Springs Pool with underground springs or the luxury of enjoying everything surrounding Lady Bird Lake.
Sports are a big deal in Texas. Every major metro area has a least one professional sports team. Then, there are minor leagues, college sports, high school sports, and on down. The two most popular sports in the state are football and baseball. Whether you are a fair-weather fan, a sports fanatic, or an athlete, Texas has something to offer.
Texas is a vibrant cultural hub for arts and culture between art galleries, performing arts, history museums, and science museums. Greater Houston alone has over 150 museums to visit. The San Antonio Riverwalk is perfect for browsing art galleries and openings. Dallas and Fort Worth both have distinguished art and cultural districts to round out the Metroplex.
You can’t go anywhere in Texas without discovering another part of its rich history. History buffs can learn about the various Native American tribes of Texas. Or take a look at the history of the state’s involvement in space travel at Space Center Houston. Walk in the dinosaur’s footsteps at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Texas is rich in Spanish and Mexican history and the fight for Texas independence at The Alamo.
While Austin holds the title of “Live Music Capital of the World,” there is more to the Texas music scene than South by Southwest, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and The Continental Club. San Antonio has an eclectic music scene that appeals to all music lovers. Greater Houston and the DFW Metroplex are great places to catch major artists and local live acts.
The above is just a little of what you can find to do across the Lone Star State.
Food is a serious pastime for Texans. BBQ and Tex-Mex are iconic foods that the state is known for globally. However, you’ll find foodies everywhere with the best global cuisine in this highly diverse state. The food scene is full of fine dining, fusion-themed dishes, food trucks, James Beard award-winning restaurants, and so much more for your tastebuds to explore!
Great Texas food doesn’t solely lie in eating out. Farmer’s markets and specialty shops make creating mouthwatering cuisine in your home achievable. If cooking at home isn’t your thing, you can take culinary tours around the state.
Now that you know what to expect when moving to Texas, here is a checklist to help you move easier.
The checklist above isn’t exhaustive, but it will help you get started for your specific moving needs.
Value Power helps customers always get great electric rates without complicated pricing and confusing plans. Moving is already complicated, so let our team of seasoned retail electricity experts who have been serving residential customers since the beginning of deregulation and Power To Choose in Texas almost 20 years ago. Discover how Value Power provides transparent, low-cost, no-gimmicks electricity plans and great service for our customers.
