Thinking about moving to Houston?
Check out our guide below for everything you need to know about moving to and living in Houston, Texas!
Navigation Jump Links
- Houston At-a-glance
- What it’s like to live in Houston
- Economy and job outlook in Houston
- Real estate in Houston
- The top neighborhoods in Houston
- How to get around in Houston
- School and education snapshot
- Weather and climate in Houston
- 10 can’t miss things to do in Houston
Houston At-A-Glance
You’re not alone. H-Town attracts nearly 250 new residents every day. The metropolitan area landed at number three in the nation in terms of population growth year over year as of July 1, 2020. It’s the home of Beyoncé, the NASA Astronaut Corps, and more Fortune 500 company headquarters than anywhere in the U.S. except New York.
Houston has no shortage of world-famous events. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo takes place every March, and is the largest livestock show and rodeo in the world. Each Spring, residents line the streets for The Art Car Parade. Twice a year, thousands flock to The Bayou City Art Festival, one of the top art festivals in the nation. Other popular events include the Hermann Park Kite Festival, the Discovery Green Scream on the Green and Frostival!
Houston’s neighborhoods are as diverse as its population. From charming houses in Montrose to modern condos in The Heights, you’ll always have a place to call home. Not sure where to start? Read our guide to top Houston neighborhoods, then consult our list of best Houston realtors to help make your search easy.
The Most Culturally Diverse Metro in the U.S.
Houston boasts the most racially and ethnically diverse large metro area in the U.S. (yes, even more than New York!). Couple that with a tradition of southern charm, and you’ve got yourself some of the most friendly and interesting neighbors anywhere. More than 145 languages are spoken throughout the Houston area, and it has the second-largest Hispanic and third-largest Mexican population in the U.S. In addition, over 500 cultural, visual and performing arts organizations call Houston home, 90 of which are devoted to multicultural and minority arts.
With more than 11,000 restaurants, Houston is a food city like no other. It’s where southern comfort joints have lines out the door, and combinations like “Viet-Cajun” exist. It’s where generations of southern cooking tradition coexists with culinary experimentation. Where barbecue melts your heart before it melts in your mouth, and you’d drive 40 minutes for the burger you’ve been craving because it’s just that good.
And because Houston is massive and diverse, its nightlife lives up to the challenge. From upscale cocktail lounges to divey honky-tonks to quiet jazz bars to booming dance clubs, it’s just a matter of asking yourself how you want the night to end. Due to Houston’s vast geography, most residents do nights out in their respective pockets. Midtown, Heights and Montrose are popular districts for both a night on the town or grabbing a casual drink with friends.
You might consider combining sports with a night out as the Astros, Rockets, Dynamo and Dash (men and women’s pro soccer teams) all play in stadiums downtown. The Texans play at NRG Stadium. Head to Rice and the University of Houston for even more games to watch.
Houston is the Energy Capital of the World
Houston’s stellar economy has landed it on countless Top 10 lists over the past decade—and there are no signs of that changing anytime soon.
Major employers include the Texas Medical Center (the largest medical center in the world), dozens of Fortune 500 company headquarters (including Philips, Sysco, Apache, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and many more), and a wide range of aeronautics and technology companies. And with more than 4,600 energy firms calling it home, Houston is unofficially known as “The Energy Capital of the World.”
Unemployment rate: 4.6% (as of August 2022)
Average weekly wages for all industries: $1,111 (as of May 2021)
Affordable Housing and a Reasonable Cost of Living
You may be surprised to know that Houston is not only the most populous city in Texas (with 2.3 million residents calling it home) but it’s also the fourth most populous city in the country. It’s true when they say everything is bigger in Texas!
One major advantage of moving to Houston is that residents aren’t subject to a state income tax. The advantages don’t stop there. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,304. And the median home price in Houston clocks in at a very reasonable $267,000. Combine that with an average annual salary of $64,000 and you’ve got an affordable city to reside in. In fact, at 19.4 percent below the national average, Houston ranks as the second lowest housing cost of the top 20 most populous cities in the U.S.
Plus, with a lower cost of living compared with the national average, you can expect everything from groceries, entertainment and restaurants to cost less when living in Houston.
